Illinois Fighting Illini Thread

[BCB mwat15]

A couple of updates here.

1. For anyone that didn't know, the ASU game will be a night game.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...llinois-pac-12

2. Darius Mosely is still going to announce his decision on the 23rd, but he took an unofficial visit to Vandy last Friday. That can't be a good sign which is fairly disappointing.

[IlliniCubs]

HUGE pickup for the Illini today as 4* DB Caleb Day commits!!!!!!!

Way to go Beck and staff!!

Word is we may/should be getting 3 more DB commits in the coming weeks too

[BCB mwat15]

Beckman and co. pulled of a mini-coup today. 4* Ohio Athlete Caleb Day committed to Illinois today:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/illinois/foo...leb-Day-123585

To get a highly rated Ohio kid with an Ohio St offer, and even a Michigan offer, is really impressive. Beckman and this staff are really doing work on the recruiting trail. I'll update the OP to reflect our current commits.

[CubbieSteve]

That's BIG!

Nice.

Rivals National Analyst Greg Ladky tweets this:

#Illinois will enter top 25 in the team recruiting rankings with a commit from #Rivals250 Caleb Day. http://bit.ly/KflHao @Rivals

[BCB mwat15]

Another commitment for Beckman today. Plainfield Central DT Bryce Douglas committed today. He's the 4th DL commitment for Illinois already and we are still going after Josh Augusta who was on campus for an unofficial visit recently.

[CubbieSteve]

Darius Mosely committed to the Illini today!

The train keeps rolling for Beckman and company. Awesome.

[BCB mwat15]

Mosely is one of the bigger commitments IMO, no matter whom Beckman lands from here on out. The past few seasons we have lost a ton of talent and experience in the secondary; particularly at CB with Bellamy, Tavon, Hawthorne, and Justin Green all moving on (or moving on after next season). But, we don't really have a lot of talent to replace them with. Valdon Cooper is probably first in line, but after that it could be Mosely's job to lose.

I will say that I think getting commits like Mosely are huge. He is the type of player that Wisconsin and Michigan State have brought in, and continue to bring in, to build their programs to annual 9+ win teams. He doesn't have the flashy 4th or 5th star, but he can develop in to a similar player as those guys.

Augusta and Finley are hopefully the next two in, but I will say that the longer Treadwell remains uncommitted the better I think our chances are. A month ago I thought he was a Michigan lock. But, if we can continue to recruit at a high level and open the season with some wins I think we have a decent shot.

[BCB mwat15]

Another commitment for Beckman. 3* DE Dawuane Smoot from Ohio committed today:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/illinois/foo...e-Smoot-130847

He had interest from other B10 programs, but it looks like Indiana and us were the only BCS conference offers. But, Rivals has him listed at 6'3" and 225 lbs and he runs a 4.5. Sounds like an athlete that we can mold behind Caldwell.

[IlliniCubs]

ho hum...another day, another commitment for the Illini. Nice job Beckman and staff!!!!

[BCB mwat15]

3* Ohio Safety Joshua Jones makes it an even 15 for Beckman and Co.

http://illinois.scout.com/a.z?s=169&p=8&c=1&nid=6159409

He had some interest from bigger programs like Michigan, Michigan St, and Pitt. But, Iowa and us were his only offers from BCS conference programs from what I can tell.

Also, Illinois offered to Simeon LB Reggie Spearman recently. He's on the traveling team with Mosely and seems like he really likes Illinois. he would be a good pickup I think but, TBH, I'm only concerned with this for now. He tweeted this recently:

Talk to @SuccessfulQuon taking a visit back to Illinois with him soon

SuccessfulQuon would be Laquon Treadwell. Getting him on campus as much as possible can only help us, and if Spearman gets in his ear about coming to Illinois I don't think that can do anything but help.

[IlliniCubs]

Hey just wanted to let everyone know about a website done by a guy named Robert. It's a blog that he started about Illinois football/basketball. He puts up GREAT stuff and is currently in the middle of his "90 most important Illini" for the upcoming season. He posts a short synopsis about each player, each day until the start of the season.

Alioneye.com. I'm sure most on here have read stuff on there already but if you haven't I would highly suggest checking it out.

[BCB mwat15]

http://twitter.com/SuccessfulQuon/st...431104/photo/1

Now that is just painful to see. I still think he will end up at Michigan, but damn Treadwell looks good in that Orange and Blue.

[MichiganSports]

^I hope you are right! How are ya'll feeling about the upcoming season?

[BCB mwat15]

Aaron Bailey and Bolingbrook were at my old HS last night so I stopped by to see him throw. I have to say I'm pretty excited after what I saw last night. He's got all of the physical tools: cannon arm; good size; and of course he can move. Like any HS QB of his athletic ability, that ability is masking some mechanical flaws but he wasn't as raw as I expected to see. Hopefully he can be an early enrollee. He's goin to be a stud.

[BCB mwat15]

OL Ryan Nowicki just told Illinois coaches he will be playing for them, leaving Penn State

https://twitter.com/azc_obert?tw_i=2...w_p=tweetembed

At least that debacle resulted in landing us a talented OL.