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Illinois Football: Top 5 Illini targets from Trinity Catholic

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 11: Illinois cheerleaders lead the team on to the field before a Big Ten Conference football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini on November 11, 2017, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 11: Illinois cheerleaders lead the team on to the field before a Big Ten Conference football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini on November 11, 2017, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 05: Fans wave the ‘Hail to the Orange’ flag over Dad’s day as the Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Michigan State Spartans during the Big Ten Conference game on November 5, 2016, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Shammond Cooper

Getting Marquez Beason is going to be huge for the defensive backfield for the Illini. He is going to come in and be a starter day one for this Illini team. Another player Illinois could add who would help the defense is Shammond Cooper.

Cooper is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound inside linebacker. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 245 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 7 inside linebacker in the nation. Cooper just cut his list down to 10 teams and included Oklahoma, LSU, Georgia, Florida, Ohio State, Texas, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas A&M and Illinois.

The Illini are going to have their hands full with trying to get Cooper. He has so many talented teams after him and it will be hard to pry him from a team like the Sooners. But, much like Isaiah Williams, the Illinois coaching staff has built a nice relationship with Cooper.

Cooper also continues to visit Champaign as well. His last visit to a school was the Illinois junior day back in February. He then cut his list down a few days ago. Right now, Oklahoma is at 100-percent for Cooper and that was updated back in January.

I think Illinois has a legit shot at landing Cooper and will probably make his next cut. But, this one is going to be tough. I think the NFL experience with Lovie Smith and Hardy Nickerson could be a huge factor.

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