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Illinois Football: Illini extend offer to 2020 WR Monterren Parks

By Rees Woodcock

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - NOVEMBER 04: An Illinois football helmet sits on the field before the start of the Big Ten Conference game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Purdue Boilermakers on November 4, 2017, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - NOVEMBER 04: An Illinois football helmet sits on the field before the start of the Big Ten Conference game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Purdue Boilermakers on November 4, 2017, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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While the Illinois football team tries to put together one of the greatest classes in program history for 2019, they are still focusing on the future and the class of 2020.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Illini extended a scholarship offer to Monterren Parks. He is a 5-foot-11, 172-pound wide receiver from Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas. He isn’t ranked or rated by the recruiting sites yet because they haven’t put in the full numbers for the class of 2020.

Despite not being ranked yet by the recruiting sites, I have confidence in saying he will end up being ranked pretty high. The list of scholarship offers he has already received is impressive. The likes of Houston, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Utah have all extended offers, among others. With this group of offers this early in his recruitment, I would assume Parks is a top 500 player with a borderline four-star skillset.

Illinois wants playmakers on the offense and that is exactly what Parks would bring to the team. This kid has superstar potential written all over him. The biggest thing that stands out to me is his speed. He can fly on the football field and having that in the Illini offense would help the quarterbacks tremendously.

Another thing that pops when I watch Parks play is his route running ability. The out routes and the bubble screens he runs are impeccable. This kid is extremely polished for only entering his junior year of high school this fall.

Illinois is going to need some wide receiver help in 2020 as well. Ricky Smalling and Carmoni Green will both be seniors when 2020 rolls around, but those are the only two players on the roster right now who have been solid contributors. Carlos Sandy and Edwin Carter are coming in from the class of 2018 but it still remains to be seen what they can do.

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Lovie Smith and the Illini have built a solid pipeline to the state of Texas in the last few recruiting classes. Adding a top wide receiver like Parks would continue the dominance in this state. I would be impressed if the Illini can pull this one off.

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