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Illinois Football: 5 biggest Illini commits from the state of Texas

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 25: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith looks on 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: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith looks on 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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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) /

2. Calvin Avery #216

The history of snagging talented Texas recruits before Lovie Smith took over the Illinois football program was practically nonexistent. Lovie has secured three of the five on this list and No. 2 is Calvin Avery.

Avery is a 6-foot-2, 310-pound defensive tackle from Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas, Texas. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 216 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 19 defensive tackle in the nation.

Getting Avery sent shockwaves through the recruiting world. Illinois was in turmoil as a program and landing someone like Avery seemed nearly impossible. But, Lovie did great work in the state of Texas and beat out top Big 12 programs like TCU and Oklahoma for his commitment.

Avery is now coming into an Illinois football program that needs help on the interior defensive line. I have no doubts he is going to be playing serious snaps year one and even might start the majority of games for the Illini. He will make an impact day one for this program.

Illinois is going to get better by getting quality players to come to Champaign. Having someone like Avery willing to take the challenge of building this program back up is a great first step.

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