It is great that the Illinois football team has started to build some solid recruiting classes.
The class of 2018 isn’t getting talked about enough. While only ranked as the No. 52 class in the nation, the Illini were able to snag some really talented players from areas of the map that were previously unfamiliar. Players like Calvin Avery and Verdis Brown – to name a few – will do great things in the Orange and Blue.
Lovie Smith and the Illinois coaching staff then parlayed the recruiting momentum from the class of 2018 into the class of 2019. This class is only seven strong right now, but there will be more players to come. There are quite a few recruits who have the Illini on their “top” list and, hopefully, the coaching staff can close the deal.
The top of the class of 2019 is pretty special as well. While I am excited about the entire group that will be coming in, the two players who will take this class from good to great are Isaiah Williams and Marquez Beason. These two recruits are both ranked in the top 100 for the class of 2019.
As a fan, the resurgence of the Illinois recruiting base is fun to watch. I enjoy seeing what recruits the coaching staff has been after and which players decide Champaign is the place to be. With only 10 wins in the last three seasons as a program, it is nothing short of remarkable what Lovie and the other coaches have done to secure the type of talent they have the last two classes.
But, is this level of recruiting sustainable for the Illinois football team? The answer is, yes but with one caveat. Winning needs to accompany the talented recruits that are coming into the program. And, honestly, the winning needs to start in 2018.
I don’t need to tell Illinois fans how hard it has been over the past few decades. Besides for Kurt Kittner and the magical Rose Bowl run, Illinois has been somewhat of a disappointment, to say the least. That disappointment was all topped off by an absolutely embarrassing run by the previous coaching regime.
This stigma of what Illinois football has become could all change starting with this upcoming season. Scratch that, this stigma of what Illinois football has become needs to change starting this upcoming season. The only way the coaching staff can sustain this recruiting momentum is if they start putting wins on the board.
And, if you look at the class of 2020, winning now will only help build that group of players up to legendary status as well. There are so many highly ranked players keeping an eye on the Illini. Winning now will translate into success in 2020 on the recruiting trail.
I don’t know how many wins Illinois will have this season. I will probably do a prediction article later this year that will tally up the total number of wins that my slightly bias brain will come up with. The magic number I am looking for out of the Illini is at least four victories. This will show improvement as a program. They also need to be competitive in their losses.
Next: 3 Illini recruiting headlines this week
The 2018 season is going to be huge for the Orange and Blue. Find success on the field this season and success will surely follow on the recruiting trail. Winning solves everything.