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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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CHICAGO, IL – JULY 23: Head coach Lovie Smith of the University of Illinois football team looks on before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on July 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs won 5-3. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

3. Lovie has one foot in the door at IMG Academy

Building pipelines to big-time programs like Bishop Dunne is important. This helps get the big-time players from these programs to come to Champaign. One powerhouse program Illinois has opened the door to is IMG Academy.

IMG is one of the best high school programs in the nation. They consistently put out talented players who come to play for them from all over the country. Illinois was able to snag a few of these players in the class of 2018.

The most notable IMG player to sign with the Illini was Verdis Brown. Brown is a Chicago kid who transferred down to play for IMG before last season. He is a four-star defensive tackle who was ranked as the No. 343 player in the class of 2018. Illinois also snagged his teammate Reuben Unije.

Unije is a three-star recruit by 247Sports but a four-star by Rivals. He is ranked as the No. 453 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 33 offensive tackle in the nation. Getting both of these players for the Illini lines – Brown on defense and Unije on offense – is huge for the program. They will both make the team better right now and will hopefully make it easier to recruit IMG as well.

There are a lot of talented players coming from IMG in 2019. One of the players Illinois is after is Cameron Coleman. He is a four-star wide receiver who is the No. 128 player in the class of 2019. He is one of many players the Illini will be pursuing.

It is great that Lovie has his foot in the door at IMG. Once those players see playing for Illinois can do great things for your career, they will start looking at the program and potentially committing to play in Champaign.

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