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Illinois Football: Top 5 in-state recruiting targets for the Illini

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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CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 14: Illinois Fighting Illini fans are seen during the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 14: Illinois Fighting Illini fans are seen during the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

1. Keith Randolph

Lovie Smith and Hardy Nickerson are building one of the best defenses in the Big Ten, and a good piece to add to help accomplish that goal would be Keith Randolph.

Randolph is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound strong-side defensive end from Belleville West High School in Belleville, Illinois. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 886 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 16 player in the state of Illinois.

The scholarship offers continue to come in for Randolph, and I expect more to follow. This kid is talented and will be a great get for whoever lands him. A few months ago, Randolph had rave reviews about the scholarship offer given by the Illini. He mentioned to the Writing Illini that he was shocked because THE Lovie Smith gave him an offer.

I assume that name recognition hasn’t worn off yet. Randolph is a big-time player and someone who could help the Illini in the immediate future. Teams like Wyoming, Northern Illinois, Ball State and Western Michigan have all been in contact with him a lot as of a few months ago. I am sure more teams have really been putting pressure on him in regards to recruiting.

Illinois has some good defensive ends right now. Jamal Woods, Isaiah Gay, Bobby Roundtree, Lere Oladipo, Owen Carney and Deon Pate will all be vying for starting jobs the next few years. When Randolph would come into the program in 2019, most of these guys will be juniors. I am thinking the game plan should be redshirt Randolph year one and then have him be the main starter in 2021 as a redshirt sophomore. This will enable him to get more experience and be dominant.

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