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Illinois Football: 4 assets Bret Bielema will bring the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

Oct 21, 2017; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema looks on during the first half against the Auburn Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2017; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema looks on during the first half against the Auburn Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 18, 2017; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema talks with quarterback Austin Allen (8) during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mississippi State Bulldogs won the game 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2017; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema talks with quarterback Austin Allen (8) during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mississippi State Bulldogs won the game 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Recruiting

Along with winning and player development, Bret Bielema has been able to bring in solid talent from the recruiting ranks. This is something Illinois doesn’t have much experience with over the past decade.

In Bielema’s first class he pulled in, he had 13 top 1000 players, which included two top 100 recruits. Then in 2008, he brought in 17 top 1000 players. In the following class, Bielema brought in 13 top 1000 recruits. This trend didn’t stop with Bielema either. He continued to snag top 1000 recruits.

Bielema did a lot of winning while at Wisconsin, and his recruiting ability is one of the reasons why the program was so solid. He could bring in a lot of really good talent.

In the six recruiting classes Bielema brought in from his time at Wisconsin, he was able to land 73 top 1000 recruits, which comes out to just over 12 top 1000 recruits per year. Just that many top 1000 recruits would put Illinois into a bowl game every year.

Bielema would average about four top 500 recruits in every class as well. These are the guys who will take a program to the next level. Having top 500 recruits makes you a contender for a conference title game.

And then there were the best of the best recruits. Bielema landed three top 100 recruits and a top 25 recruits during his time at Wisconsin.

The recruiting prowess is there with Bielema. This guy could pull in some of the best talent in the nation. I am curious if this recruiting ability comes to Champaign.

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