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Illinois Football: 5 takeaways from the Illini recruiting class of 2018

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 09: An Illini cheerleader carries the Block I flag across the field after a touchdown during a non-conference college football game between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini, September 09, 2017, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. Illinois won, 20-7. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 09: An Illini cheerleader carries the Block I flag across the field after a touchdown during a non-conference college football game between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini, September 09, 2017, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. Illinois won, 20-7. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 25: Cam Thomas /

2. Illinois finally has quarterback competition

There were many reasons why the Illinois football team only won two games last season. But, the main reason no one can dispute is their quarterback situation.

Illinois’ starter to begin last season – Chayce Crouch – ended up moving to tight end halfway through the year and just retired after the 2017 campaign finished up. The backup to him – Jeff George Jr – continued to throw interceptions and eventually transferred after the year completed. Cam Thomas eventually took over the reins but as a true freshman, he failed to throw a touchdown pass.

The quarterback situation was looking pretty grim heading into 2018, but that was before Illinois secured a pretty good quarterback class.

Thomas is coming back for the Illini, and he is going to be the No. 1 quarterback in spring practice. But, the Illini also added two top 1000 quarterbacks from the class of 2018.

Coran Taylor is the highest rated of the quarterbacks who are entering the program in 2018. He is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound quarterback who is rated as a three-star recruit and is the No. 873 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 24 dual-threat quarterback in the nation. MJ Rivers is the other talented quarterback coming in. He is 6-foot-4, 213-pounds and is rated as a three-star who is the No. 976 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 27 dual-threat quarterback.

Illinois also had a late addition in Matthew Robinson as well. He is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound quarterback who is rated as a three-star recruit and is the No. 56 dual-threat quarterback in the nation.

These three quarterbacks will be added to the depth chart along with Thomas. I will say it right now, I think Illinois is ten times better off at quarterback heading into the 2018 campaign than they were heading into the 2017 season.

The Illini finally have some quarterback competition. The job is wide open and there are at least three quarterbacks who are all capable of being behind center to start the season. I love what the Illini did in the class of 2018 at quarterback, and I think it will pay off tremendously.

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