Illinois?!?!

[Yankee_In_TX]

After meeting with Buckeye Dave this morning (our outgoing Houston alumni club president of 14 years), I have a big question.

I thought ehhh, Michigan did ok. Ohio State has a SMALL but quality class, hence us being 20. Big 10 just didn't have a good showing.

WAIT! WHAT?! Illinois at 12?!?! A 2-10 team? A school generally known for their basketball? A school with outdated football facilities?!?!

Can ANYONE explain how Illinois has the ESPN 12th class?

[kastofsna]

ron zook.

[aj.]

Recruiting rankings are very subjective. Rivals has Illinois at 17. I happen to prefer the way rivals breaks down their analyses. They have a good amount of detail on the players and they have a pretty active network of people following these kids in HS.

Looks like the two 5-star commits shot them up the list. Looks like Zook is a good recruiter. Beyond that, who knows.

http://rivals100.rivals.com/teamrank.asp?SID=880

[Yankee_In_TX]

Thanks AJ. Dave was saying something about star wise OSU had a good class, but I was lost.

Much different looking at average stars. I could see how Zook could get 2 5 star players. Thanks.

[bah007]

Michigan had the best class in the Big Ten (mostly cuz they landed the best QB in the nation, IMO).

Illinois did come in with a great class tho. Zook has always been a great recruiter. I read somewhere that on the Florida championship team, 22 of the 24 starters were recruited by Zook.