Illinois Football: Illini make top 10 for 2019 DE Ahmad Craig

When the Illinois football team makes a top list that is unexpected, that is what gets me excited in the recruiting game.

On Wednesday, the Illini made one of those unexpected lists. Ahmad Craig decided to narrow his recruitment down to just 10 teams and included Tennessee, Oklahoma, Memphis, Auburn, UNC, UCF, Duke, Mississippi State, North Carolina State and Illinois.

Craig is a 6-foot-6, 240-pound strong-side defensive end from Buford High School in Buford, Georgia. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 738 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 50 strong-side defensive end in the nation.

This top list came as a surprise to me considering 247Sports hasn’t even updated their list of scholarship offers to include the Illini. They don’t even have Illinois on the radar for this kid yet here we are in his top 10. Illinois originally offered Craig back on May 2.

Being in the top 10 for Craig is amazing for the Illini. This kid has everything you want and more at the defensive end position. He is aggressive off the line and can get through the offensive line with ease. He has great strength that will help him at the next level. I like his will and the drive to not give up on a play as well. This toughness will be an asset to the Illinois football program.

Looking at the list that Craig put out, I would imagine some of the SEC schools are pretty appealing. I am surprised there aren’t any Georgia schools in there considering how good this kid is, though.  I think Illinois will have a shot when it is all said and done. I would imagine there is another cut coming down the road, and I could see Illinois making it.

The defensive end position is actually one of the strengths for the Illini. Last season, there were a few players who really developed nicely. I think Lere Oladipo, Jamal Woods, Isaiah Gay, Bobby Roundtree and Owen Carney Jr. will all be vying for the starting jobs their season. This is a nice core of young defensive ends.

If Craig picked the Illini, he would have a shot at a starting job depending on what he brings year one. I realistically see him redshirting and then being a primary backup during his redshirt freshman campaign. He would then transition into a starting role the following season.

Next: Top 8 Illini targets confidence level for 2019

Illinois made the top 10 for a talented defensive end in Craig. Hopefully, they can make the next cut and move on to securing his commitment. He would be a big pickup from SEC country.