Where's the Beef?
So far, with miles to go before we sleep, Lovie Smith's 2019 recruiting efforts show as follows:
— There's more in the pipeline but, at seven, the Illini have the fewest commitments in the Big Ten. They're far behind Minnesota (18) in numbers, and even farther behind Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State in quality.
— Big Ten football is a daunting game for lightweights. St. Louis quarterback Isaiah Williams and Dallas wide receiver Marquez Beason are spectacular four-star athletes at 170 and 175 pounds, but they'll need some hefty sidekicks. At this stage, the only 2019 UI commitment in excess of 200 pounds is Bloomington's two-star TE Griffin Moore at 225.