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Illinois Football: Illini first Big Ten team to offer Jaden Payoute

By Rees Woodcock

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 23: Head coach Lovie Smith of the University of Illinois football team looks on before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on July 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs won 5-3. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JULY 23: Head coach Lovie Smith of the University of Illinois football team looks on before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on July 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs won 5-3. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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The Illinois football team made a big-time wide receiver a target on Wednesday morning.

Jaden Payoute was extended a scholarship offer by the Illini. He is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound wide receiver from Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is rated as a four-star recruit in the most recent recruiting rankings by 247Sports, and he continues to pile up offers from some big schools.

As of right now, Payoute has roughly 16 scholarship offers. Some of the bigger ones include the likes of Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Boston College, in addition to Illinois. The Illini were the first Big Ten team to get in on this up-and-coming player.

It is fun to watch what Payoute can do on the football field. This kid is a playmaker to the truest form. If you ask him to play wide receiver, he can be the best wide receiver on the field. If you ask him to play defensive back, he can be the best defensive back on the field.

Payoute really can do everything. But, if he decides to pick Illinois, I would like for him to either line up as a wide receiver or safety.

I love the size Payoute brings to the table at wide receiver. He would be a nightmare to defend against standing at 6-foot-3. Illinois would have an additional red zone threat for their new stable of quarterbacks as well. But, lining him up with Bennett Williams would be fun to watch as well.

Payoute has solid speed and the ability to tackle. This kid would be dangerous as a strong safety or free safety for the Illini. He has the ability to move around the field and see where the ball is going. Being on the offensive side of the ball has probably helped him with his defensive abilities.

The recruitment of Payoute isn’t finished by any means either. 247Sports has Virginia Tech as the leader at 100-percent, but I don’t think his recruitment is close to being over. I think Illinois will get a shot at getting into the top 5, 7 or 10.

Next: 3 positions that will improve the most

Getting a player like Payoute would be big for the Illini program. He is a good player who would help this team out.

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