Illinois Football: Top 5 Illini recruiting targets left for 2020

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 09: Illinois head coach Lovie Smith watches his team warm up prior to a college football game between the Michigan State Spartans and Illinois Fighting Illini on November 9, 2019 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 09: Illinois head coach Lovie Smith watches his team warm up prior to a college football game between the Michigan State Spartans and Illinois Fighting Illini on November 9, 2019 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
2 of 6
Illinois football
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 02: The Illinois Fighting Illini helmet on the field after a win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

I believe the top recruit Illinois should be targeting right now is Antonio Doyle. This kid is one of the best players left on the board, and he seems to have a strong interest in the Orange and Blue.

Doyle is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound outside linebacker from Lutheran North High School in St. Louis, Missouri. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 141 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 10 outside linebacker in the nation. He is also the No. 4 player in the state of Missouri.

At one time, Doyle was committed to play for Missouri. This looked like a lock for the Tigers, but a lot has changed in Doyle’s life. He has since reopened his recruitment. Doyle reassessed the landscape and took a couple more official visits.

On October 11, Doyle visited Texas A&M. According to 247Sports, they are the favorite to land the talented linebacker. But Illinois has made some waves as well. Doyle took his last visit to Champaign on October 18.

Back on October 29, Doyle cut his list down to just three teams keeping Texas A&M, Missouri and Illinois alive for his commitment. Since then, it has been silent on the recruitment front. His last tweet was on October 31 stating that he has handled social media poorly and Coach Reed has taken his social media privileges away.

I assume we hear a commitment from Doyle sometime in the near future. But it will probably be after the Lutheran North season concludes. They have advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2A tournament. I have to imagine Illinois is right there for Doyle. I think this is their recruitment to lose. I would bet it is between the Illini and Aggies.