In 2010, the Illini were coming off a 3-9 season, their second losing season in as many years. Two years removed from an improbable Rose Bowl appearance, Illinois was in desperate need of playmakers.
Ryan Lankford, a three-star recruit out of Florida, chose Champaign-Urbana as his home for the next four years. Illinois’ head coach at the time, Ron Zook, was nothing if not charismatic. Lankford was a dynamic playmaker in high school and was named to the Florida Times Union’s Super 24 Team as well as a SuperPrep All-Southeast Region winner.
Now, Lankford, at 26, suits up for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.