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Illinois Football: Ezekiel Holmes added to list of official visits for the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 25: The Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders cheer during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Northwestern Wildcats on November 25, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 25: The Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders cheer during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Northwestern Wildcats on November 25, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Illinois football team continues to add recruits to the list for official visits this weekend.

There are currently almost a handful of players coming to check out the campus in Champaign. Matthew Robinson, Dylan Wyatt and Jacob Hollins are all part of that group. You can now add Ezekiel Holmes to that list as well. This is according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.

Holmes is a 6-foot-5, 205-pound weak-side defensive end from Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls, Texas. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 1170 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 60 weak-side defensive end in the nation.

The recruitment of Holmes never really picked up with only two scholarship offers, one from Air Force and the other from Washington State. But, Illinois is getting this kid into Champaign and, I assume, they will offer him a scholarship this weekend.

From just looking at what Holmes can do on the football field, he won’t blow you away. Now, I don’t mean that as he isn’t a good player. I think the Illinois coaching staff clearly sees a blank canvas with this kid. He has the size – at 6-foot-5 – to be special. There are a few areas that I want to see improve, though.

I think Holmes needs to get strong. He is only 205-pounds and will get pushed around in the Big Ten if he doesn’t bulk up. But, the Illini have the training staff to take care of that. I would also like to see him get a little quicker too. In high school, you can get away with not being the fastest as long as you are physically dominant. I am sure the training staff will help with that as well.

There are some things I love about this kid too. Holmes never gives up on plays. He gives it his all every down and that is important. I want to see fighters out there and he is that player. I also like the potential he has as well. Lovie and Hardy Nickerson know how to get to the NFL and what it takes. They can mold this kid into that type of player.

Next: 6 Illini recruits to watch on National Signing Day

Hopefully, Illinois can finish the class of 2018 out strong. Getting someone like Holmes would help accomplish that goal.

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