University of Illinois head coach Ron Zook announced Wednesday the signing of 27 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play football for the Fighting Illini in 2011. The class is made up of 15 skill players, 11 linemen and a punter. Twelve of the 27 players rank in their state’s Top 30, including five of the top 26 from Illinois. The group features players from 11 different states: Illinois, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, New York, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Texas.
The Illini haul does not include any 5-star recruits, but there are three 4-star, twenty 3-star and three 2-star. But before you get too excited, let me remind (because if yuo watched ESPNU at all today, you heard this a million times) former #1 overall draft pick Alex Smith had only one scholarship offer; and Green Bay Packers Super Bowl QB Aaron Rodgers had zero offers entering college.
2011 University of Illinois Football Signees. Names in bold are 4-star, italics denote 3-star
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Willie Beavers Line 6-5 310 Southfield, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup
Chris Boles Line 6-5 315 Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic
Darrius Caldwell Line 6-5 210 Atlanta, Ga./Mays
Ralph Cooper Back 6-1 222 Winnsboro, S.C./Fairfield Central
Valdon Cooper Back 5-10 170 Elberton, Ga./Elbert County
Jon Davis Back 6-3 230 Louisville, Ky./Middletown Eastern
Henry Dickinson Back 6-4 210 Memphis, Tenn./Memphis University HS
Tony Durkin Line 6-3 260 Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew
Justin DuVernois P 6-1 190 Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas
Josh Ferguson Back 5-10 180 Naperville, Ill./Joliet Catholic
Pat Flavin Line 6-7 260 Lisle, Ill./Benet Academy
Jordan Frysinger Back 6-0 175 Corning, N.Y./Corning
Zeph Grimes Back 5-11 212 Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt
Chris Jones Line 6-5 305 Jacksonville, Fla./Raines
Ted Karras Line 6-3 292 Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral
Dondi Kirby Back 6-3 190 Monroeville, Penn./Gateway
Kenny Knight Back 6-4 190 Beverly Hills, Mich./Country Day
Matt LaCosse Back 6-6 220 Naperville, Ill./North
Scott McDowell Line 6-5 280 Hinsdale, Ill./Central
Kenny Nelson Line 6-6 245 Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech
Nick North Back 6-1 195 Hollywood, Fla./McArthur
Chris O’Connor Line 6-5 240 Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew
Reilly O’Toole Back 6-4 215 Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South
Eaton Spence Back 6-0 175 Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Day
Clint Tucker Line 6-2 285 East St. Louis, Ill./East St. Louis
Jeremy Whitlow Back 6-2 190 Cleveland, Ohio/Central Catholic
Donovonn Young Back 5-11 215 Houston, Texas/Katy
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net , a Midwest webzine. He’s also a regular contributor to the Tribune’s Chicago Now network, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports.com
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