S-S-S Signing Day!

Way to get r dun today, Zook! Signing day always measures an 11 on the stress-chter scale but I get the sense its one of your favorite days of the year.

You're so cool.

All in all the class seems strong, albeit not spectacular. It would have been nice to top off the class with a 5-star like, say, Jelani Jenkins, but I'm not complaining. As I look over the class I see a lot of guys who look like "football players." They're talented sure, but maybe not so talented that they'll arrive in Champaign and coast. They look like guys who have a little something to prove.

They look like guys with a little bit of hunger.

Here are the main storylines I see with this class:

1. Terry Hawthorne. Getting Hawthorne in the fold was huge. Some experts say he might start opposite Arrelious as early as next September. At a minimum it will be interesting to watch the built-in rivalry with his high-school teammate, Kraig Appleton, who bailed on the Illini for the 'Sconsin Badgers.

2. Nathan Scheelhaase. By my count, now that Nathan has signed, the Illini have four stud quarterbacks on the roster: Nathan, Juice Williams, Eddie McGee and Jacob Charest. I like the way you operate, Zook.

3. Defensive Linemen. Craig Drummond and Tank Carradine were notable drop outs from the class in the last week but I still like what I see here. Lendell Buckner reeks of studlydom, and Michael Buchanan was a choice last-minute addition when he picked the Illini over the Annoilermakers. Not to mention Akeem Spence and Tim Kynard, two guys who I get the feeling fell under the radar but will bloom in college.

4. Running Backs. Bud Golden and the coup of the day, Justin Green. Me likey. Golden seems like an athletic, do-everything back that can make plays, not to mention he has an awesome name. And Green is an absolute speedster who might also run track at Illinois when he's not galloping toward the end zone on Saturday afternoons in the Fall. I sense good things from these two guys.

There are a few more stories with this class, but I'll leave it at that for now. Can't wait to see these guys at Camp Rantoul.

Craig Drummond: Kindly Get Back On Board

Craig,

You committed to the Zooker back in November but now have re-opened your commitment and are considering the likes of Michigan St., Ole Miss and, most recently, the Syracuse Orangemen.

Hey Craig, what's up that?

You are from Illinois, my friend. You go to high school outside Chicago at Morgan Park High. Do I have to tell you that those other three schools are not in the state of Illinois? Where's the loyalty for your home state? Don't you realize how huge you would be in Chicago and the entire state of Illinois if you followed through on your initial commitment and dominated in Champaign for four years. You'd be the next Juice Williams. Except on defense. It'd be epic.

What's got you down about Illinois? Is it the whole Blagojevich thing? Are you upset Obama is no longer one of the state's two senators? Are you disappointed with the Zooker's defensive coaching changes? I hope whatever the problem is we can get it ironed out before you sign with another school. I think you would really like Champaign and I can tell you, watching the Illini last season, they can use a player of your tenacity and demonstrated skill. Sirod Williams is back, but the Illini need you to come in and compete with Josh Brent, Corey Liuget and would-be fellow freshmen beasts, Cornelius Carradine and Lendell Buckner.

So, please, Craig, get to know new D-Line coach Keith Gilmore and go ahead and sign that LOI with the Illini. I'm certain you won't regret it.

Best,
Bevormo

[Update 1/26/09: Well, Craig, I see you have gone and chosen Ole Miss and are heading to Oxford to enroll as early as tomorrow. Dubious decision as far as I'm concerned, though, granted, rumor has it the ladies of the SEC may be a bit more alluring than the ladies of the Big Ten. I can't say for certain if that's true, that's just a rumor I've heard. Anyway, good luck. But if the Illini ever see you in a bowl game I hope Andrew Carter and the other Illini O-Linemen put you on your backside.]