Illinois Football: Illini showing interest in ECU commit Javonte Sherman

Who is Georgia All-State wideout and Illinois football target, Javonte Sherman?

Sherman is one of the latest recruits to catch Illinois’ attention. He is an ECU commit and three-star recruit, sporting a 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame at the wide receiver position. He also has offers from Akron, Appalachian State and Cincinnati, to name a few. He hails from Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Georgia as a member of the class of 2021.

Sherman’s Valdosta squad finished 10-3 in 2019, as they got off to a hot start. In the team’s first five games, they scored a total of 240 points. After a 24-0 loss to Lowndes on September 27, the Wildcats got rolling again.

Two-straight wins followed that tough loss. A 52-20 thumping of Houston County, followed by a 28-7 road win against Coffee, gave Valdosta a 7-1 record through the first eight contests of the year. A back-and-forth thriller against Lee County ended in a 53-50 home loss the following week. Eventually, the Wildcats cruised through the remainder of their schedule, as they were eliminated in the quarterfinals against Dacula, 56-21.

Sherman finished the season with 54 catches for 1,163 receiving yards, making him a key contributor to a prolific offense.

The Tale of the Tape

It’s safe to say that Sherman propelled the Valdosta offense throughout the season, and if he were to choose the Illini, I would have little doubt that he would fit right in with Rod Smith’s offensive system.

From the film, Sherman can make the tough catches and turns on the afterburners when needed. In addition, he runs his routes efficiently and can hit the big play every time, which is a reason why he’s rated as a top-50 player in the state of Georgia. He has a similar game to Ricky Smalling or Sam Mays and could make for an exciting outside threat for years to come.

For now, as Illinois continues its recruiting trail, only time will tell. Sherman would be a great addition to the roster if the Illini are able to flip the talented wide receiver.