There are so many talented players that are on the Illinois football radar right now.
The class of 2019 still needs to be completed but Illinois is off to a great start there. That class will be one of the best groups of players to come to Champaign in the last two decades. Lovie Smith and the Illini coaching staff continue to work on the class of 2020 recruits as well.
Josh Helmholdt of Rivals tweeted out that wide receiver Jadon Thompson says Illinois, Minnesota and Purdue have all made good connections with the young wide receiver. The fact the Illini are in the discussion for Thompson is big for the program.
Thompson is a 6-foot-2, 160-pound wide receiver from Marist High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 305 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 60 wide receiver in the nation.
4-star class of 2020 Chicago WR Jadon Thompson says #Illini #Gophers and #Purdue have made a good connection with him early in the recruiting process: https://t.co/25AcWzMWhr pic.twitter.com/UxeckjDc2q
— Josh Helmholdt (@JoshHelmholdt) August 29, 2018
The wide receiver corps will be interesting when 2020 rolls around. Ricky Smalling will likely still be leading the way entering his senior campaign. Carmoni Green will, hopefully, be a superstar alongside Smalling. The development of the rest of the wide receiver core will be something to watch over the next two seasons. Who will step up for this program?
You also have to take a look at the incoming class of 2019 as well. Fabian McCray continues to rise on people’s radars. He is coming in and should make an impact on this Illini team year one. When 2020 rolls around, there is a chance he is our No. 3 pass catcher.
I also really like the trajectory Casey Washington is on too. He is an underrated wide receiver from the class of 2019 who continues to impress on the field. Watch for him to have a breakout senior season in high school and then enter the Illinois program with so much talent. He should see playing time early as well.
As of right now, though, there isn’t much I can guarantee at wide receiver. Smalling is the sure-fire No. 1 for the rest of his time with the Illini. But, beyond him, nothing has been proven. That means there could be plenty of room for Thompson to step in the fire year one and potentially steal some snaps or even a starting job immediately. Illinois needs more playmakers and that is what Thompson brings to the table.