Reestablishing an in-state recruiting presence is going to take a while for the Illinois football team.
It is hard to convince coaches and players who haven’t had the recruiting attention from the Illini in a while to come to Champaign. But, with time, I believe Bret Bielema and his staff will be able to build that trust once again. Jordan Anderson wouldn’t be a bad start in building that trust.
Anderson is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound running back from Joliet Catholic Academy and resides in Joliet, Illinois. He is rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 112 running back in the nation. He is also the No. 25 player in the state of Illinois.
Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Illinois!!🔸🔹 @BretBielema @IlliniCPatt @NateMcNeal32 @mj_sbbm4keys @HilltoppersFB pic.twitter.com/NAcdKArZsl
— Jordan Anderson (@jda_anderson21) April 9, 2021
The full rankings haven’t been released by 247Sports for 2022, but Anderson seems to be in the 1,000-1,500 range in national ranking. He is starting to pile up the offers as well. Almost all MAC programs have jumped on the kid and now Illinois is the first power-five program to see his potential.
How would Anderson fit in with the Illinois football program?
First off, let me say how much I love his size. The kid is built like a linebacker. He is a monster at 6-foot-3, 215-pounds. This size factor alone makes him dangerous in college.
Anderson is an interesting running back to watch. At the high school level, you would think he would just lower his head and play bully ball. That isn’t the case at all. He is a smart runner who can see the gaps and can see what is coming next. This is a great ability to have, especially entering the college ranks.
The style of running that Anderson brings to the table reminds me a lot of someone like Matt Forte. He plays with a sense of craftiness and finesse. It is quite fun to watch.
I believe speed is why Anderson isn’t one of the top running backs in the nation right now. The kid is more of a glider and is elusive. He can hit a different speed in the open field, though. With better training at the next level, he should be able to get quicker. Illinois sees this.
I love this offer by the Illini. Anderson clearly has talent and would be an asset to the program. He wouldn’t be a year-one contributor, but this kid will do some damage at the next level after a solid year of training with the Orange and Blue strength and condition staff.