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Illinois Football: Dominic Stampley’s hard work is paying off

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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The Illinois football team is bringing in a solid class of 2018 that may not be quite finished yet.

Cultivating the right talent to take this program from struggling Big Ten bottom feeder to a contender for the conference title every year takes time and patience. The class of 2018 will help expedite the process of bringing the Illini back to the promise land.

A piece of the puzzle for the class of 2018 could be Dominic Stampley. He is a wide receiver from Coffeyville Community College where he played one season for the Red Ravens. Stampley is now getting some serious recruiting attention as the Illini came in with a scholarship offer just four days ago.

Stampley showed that he could play last season, and he is finally relieved to see his hard work paying off. In an interview with the Writing Illini, Stampley let us know what the first thoughts were when the Illini offered him the scholarship.

“I’ve overcome a lot in my life and it was just destined,” said Stampley, “I work hard day in day out and when I was notified it was a sigh of relief.”

There is nothing better than hard work finally paying off. An offer from the in-state program is a big deal, and the possibility of playing in the Big Ten has to be exciting.

Stampley has had his eye on the Illini for a while too. He is very familiar with the campus being that he is from Champaign and he has visited the campus before.

“Yeah I did (referring to visiting), great guys as a whole everybody on the staff was just so welcoming and honest with me from the jump,” said Stampley, “I have been around the campus my whole life, and the facilities are top notch and with the renovations and everything, they are only getting better.”

The recruitment of Stampley is pretty far along in the process. Illinois is by no means the only team vying for his commitment.

“I’ve got two other officials set in Northern Illinois and I already took an official to Pittsburgh,” said Stampley, “Schools showing me the most interest are Illinois, Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, UT Martin and Northwestern State Louisiana.”

There are some solid programs wanting Stampley to come to their school. But, what does he like most about Illinois?

“It’s ‘ILLinois’ where I’m from, the state’s team I grew up on, those boys always wanting to play for the Illini and childhood dreams to bring Illinois back to the top premier program,” said Stampley, “And with a great head man like Coach Lovie Smith, the sky is the limit.”

Next: Top 5 most important players for the Illini

The idea of having Stampley come into the Illinois football program is exciting. The kid bleeds Orange and Blue and that is who I want on the field on Saturdays. The fight will continue for this talented wide receiver and, hopefully, the Illini will prevail.

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