The first official ALE post was a signing day summary a year ago.  Granted, I didn’t post again until the spring game, and then I didn’t start posting regularly until June, and then I didn’t tell anyone about the blog until August.  But the point remains – happy birthday, little blog.

So now, for the first time, there’s precedent for a post.  I present to you my summary of Illini Football Signing Day 2010, in the same format as last year:

IMMEDIATE IMPACT PLAYERS:

Chandler Whitmer (4-star QB, Elite 11 invitee)

For some reason, Whitmer’s pedigree is being lost in all of the negativity directed towards this disappointing recruiting class.  Yes, it’s a poor class.  Leanest of the Zook tenure.  Low on studs, high on projects.

But Chandler Whitmer is good.  Probably really good.  Maybe awesome.

Making the Elite 11 camp (think “McDonald’s All American game for Quarterbacks”) is no small feat. Only one other Illini QB (Juice) has made the camp in its 12 year existence. And when they handed out the awards at the end of the camp, Mr. Whitmer was named “Most Accurate” and finished 3rd in the MVP voting. So it’s strange to peruse all of my Illini bookmarks and not see more Whitmer love. Of course, Bob Weiner loves him, and that’s probably enough for me:

Robert Weiner was out to prove to some of his players that it didn’t take much for him to spot top-shelf talent.

“We were in Champaign at Illinois’ camp and one of my players was joking around with me telling me I couldn’t spot the top players,” said Weiner, the head football coach at Tampa’s Plant High and one of the top prep quarterback coaches in the Southeast. “I told him I could tell in two throws.”

So Weiner watched an undersized quarterback with a gun sling it twice and said “that’s the one, right there.”

Whitmer will have every opportunity to win the starting job as a freshman.  He’s enrolled right now, taking classes and watching film.  I’m really excited to see this kid in spring ball.

Before we move on, a little more press from last summer so you understand that Whitmer is one of the top-5 Illini QB recruits in the last 25 years.  Here’s a blurb from the Orlando Elite 11 regional camp, where he was chosen as MVP over Brion Carnes (Nebraska’s 4-star QB of the future):

Whitmer was a ball boy for the Elite 11 event a year ago, and he held his own against the likes of Aaron Murray, A.J. McCarron and Co. in the 2009 class. He is now a bit taller and has bulked up some. He was polished, nicely groomed and displayed solid footwork, ball speed and arm strength. His natural wrist velocity gave him an edge against the wind and aided in his overall accuracy. At this stage, Illinois, Arizona and Stanford have offered, and he is also receiving interest from Northwestern, Notre Dame and Purdue.

And from the Illinois regional NFTC camp, where Whitmer was chosen as the MVP over players like Robert Bolden (Penn State’s 4-star QB of the future), Devin Gardner (Michigan’s 4-star QB of the future), and Joe Boisture (Michigan State’s 4-star QB of the future):

The quarterback position was the deepest it’s been all tour-long in Champaign, but it was the local pocket passer Whitmer bound for Illinois that emerged as the group’s MVP over a slew of other outstanding prospects. Whitmer was the day’s most consistent passer, showing great accuracy, footwork and coachability. He doesn’t have A-plus arm strength but more than makes up for it with quick decision-making and a hair-trigger release.

This kid is pretty good at throwing the football in the direction of faster athletes who like to catch it and run.

GREAT GETS:

Darius Millines (3-Star WR from Delray Beach, FL)

Watch this Youtube video, and you’ll see why this guy was such a nice pickup late in the recruiting game.  Whitmer and Millines make this class for me, and I’d love to see them get all Kittner-to-Lloyd over the next 4 years.  There are rumors of grade issues, and rumors that Florida and Alabama backed off their offers because of grade issues, and rumors that the grade issues were resolved this fall and he’s good to go.  So believe what you want.  All I know is that the people of the Commonwealth of West Virginia (it’s a commonwealth, right? no?) are very upset he’s not headed their way.  And in a year where not much went our way, it’s nice that someone is jealous.

In ESPN’s class rankings, they put Millines as our best recruit, just missing their ESPN 150 (he’s #162).  If his grade issues are truly resolved, you’ll probably see him in the two-deep this fall.

Earnest Thomas (3-star DB from Orchard Lake, MI)

To show you how thin this recruiting class is (rankings-wise), last year there were seven consensus 4-stars and at least five 3-stars with big-time offer lists.  This year, there’s only one consensus 4-star and only two 3-stars with big-time offer lists.  Guh.

But don’t let that diminish your excitement over Whitmer, Millines, and Earnest Thomas. The latter was a UCLA commit last summer, de-committed, flirted with Penn State, considered Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, and West Virginia, and settled on Illinois.  I know – I don’t know why either.  But I’ll take it.

From watching his film, I think he’s the perfect hybrid.  A lot of safety, a little linebacker, and a little corner.  Groom him as the nickel back and set him loose in 2011.

GUYS I’M EXCITED ABOUT BUT HAVE VERY LITTLE REASONING AS TO WHY:

Ryan Lankford (3-star WR from Jacksonville, FL)

I love guys with solid bloodlines.  And Lankford’s dad spent 10 years in the NFL with the Dolphins.

You don’t have to watch the whole film, but check out the punt return at the 2:25 mark of this video.  Kid is fluid with a nice accelerator.  I’m planning to use a few the-kid-was-under-recruited standbys with him: both “small school kid who was overlooked” AND “football bloodlines in his family”.  All that’s missing is “word is, USC and Alabama coaches just discovered his tape on the internet and were prepared to offer” to complete the trifecta.

Jonathan Brown (3-star LB from Memphis)

It’s been a long, long time since we signed a linebacker that was projected by the scouting services as an inside linebacker.  All of the linebackers in the 2009, 2008, and 2007 classes projected as outside ‘backers.  The last prototypical inside linebacker was Anterio Jackson in 2006 (now an offensive guard).  Before that?  Brit Miller.

When he looks over the defensive recruits he gets to coach, I think Vic Koenning might be most pleased with Jonathan Brown.  It’s nice to have a versatile athlete like Earnest Thomas coming in, but it’s really, really nice to have a guy who you could count on as your run stuffer.  Especially in the Big Ten.

Jay Prosch (2-star fullback, Mobile, AL)

The unsung hero of the 2007 Rose Bowl team? (I mean, besides the most underrated Illini player in the last decade – Antonio Steele.) The offensive unsung hero? Russ Weil. Not only did he enjoy opening holes for Rashard, he enjoyed blowing people up on special teams.

I like guys who like to hit people.  Jay Prosch likes to hit people.  Using a trick I learned in math class:  I like guys who like to hit people. Jay Prosch likes to hit people. = I like Jay Prosch.

Michael Heitz (3-star OL from Vermont, IL)

The Wisconsin Way.  1) Find a big farm boy who sees 6:00 a.m. weightlifting sessions as “getting up late”.  2) Redshirt him, put more weight on him, and teach him how to maul people. 3) Plug him in at offensive tackle and move the chains.

Miles Osei (3-star QB from Mt. Prospect, IL)

I’m getting a Johnny Johnson vibe from him.  In the summer of 1993, I could be heard telling people “between Jeff Hecklinski and Scott Weaver, we are SET at QB for the next few years”.  And then come to find that the unheralded QB recruit was the best of the bunch.

If nothing else, he’s Eddie McGee – a decent backup, and a promising receiver.

GUYS I’M JUST NOT THAT EXCITED ABOUT AND I HAVE NO REASON AS TO WHY:

Brandon Denmark (2/3-star DE/ATH from Tallahassee, FL)

When you see him on film, he kind of reminds you of a young Will Davis.  Big + athletic, played everywhere in high school, ready to rush the QB in college.  But all it took was reading a rumor on some message board somewhere that we had to promise him that we wouldn’t make him a DE if he picked us over Arkansas.  And suddenly, I had Cordale Scott flashbacks and have transferred my hatred for his situation towards Mr. Denmark.  Sorry, Brandon.  Nothing personal.

Simon Cvijanovic (2-star OL from Cleveland, OH)

I’ve never known less about an Illini recruit.  He committed during the Petrino/Koenning/revamp the coaching staff days, so I couldn’t give him my typical video/article search after a player verbals.   And then I forgot.  And then he didn’t waver with his commitment, so there was no message board chatter.  And then his fax came in yesterday, and I was all “oh yeah – totally forgot about him. He any good?” So then I watched his official film on the school website, and one of the highlights showed him continuing to block while a fumble was bouncing around behind him.  I’m now labeling him as someone who “needs more awareness on the field” and placing him here.

Mark Wilson (3-star LB from Tallahassee, FL)

My yearly “man, I should be more excited about him, because he has some pretty solid offers, but I’m just not seeing it when I watch him on tape” recruit.  This should be very, very good news for us, because 3 years ago I said the same thing about Miami Thomas.

He hits hard, which is good, because Koenning needs hitters.  Maybe it’s just that he looks a bit awkward running laterally.  I don’t know.

Trulon Henry (2-star JUCO Safety)

It’s Bo Flowers fault. I was so excited when Flowers chose football after he gave up on minor league baseball. According to me at the time, he was to bring “maturity” and “leadership” to our secondary. And then he just looked like an old guy back there.

So I’m sorry, Trulon, that I have to place you on this part of the list. It’s just that when I hear of your “maturity” and “leadership”, I have this facial tic that kicks in.

GUYS I HAVE VERY LITTLE COMMENT ABOUT BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THEM:

Spencer Harris (2-star WR from Greenwood, AR) – Weakest offer list of any of the recruits, which means, of course, he has the most to prove. Prove away, Spence.
Shawn Afryl (3-star OL from Niles, IL) – It’s pronounced uh-FREEL. That’s all I got.
Ean Days (2-star DB from Kingsland, GA) – Tailback in high school, Zook said in the press conference he will be tried at Safety.
Evan Wilson (3-star TE from Woodstock, GA) – We need tight ends, but he might need 2 or 3 years before he’s ready.
A.J. Williams (2-star TE/WR from Chesapeake, VA) – Big tight end who was recruited as a wideout.
Jake Howe (2-star DL from McHenry, IL) – With Prosch’s commitment, he moves from fullback to the defensive line.
Alex Hill (3-star OL from Slidell, LA) – Could be solid if he loses some weight. Projects as a center.
Austin Teitsma (2-star DL from Glen Ellyn, IL) – Sometimes, these guys work out great. Lower level prospect looking at MAC schools, dying for a Big Ten offer, and after they get it their career is defined by what they told the coach when they got the offer: “I won’t let you down.”

And now, the sad part.  For the most part, 2010 Illini Football recruiting will be known not just for who we didn’t get (Kyle Prater, anyone?), but for who we had and then lost.  4-star C.J. Fiedorowicz left and went to Iowa (eww).  4-star Corey Cooper to Nebraska (sigh).  Dan Foose to Florida State (eek), Daniel Easterly to Missouri (ick), Dexter McDonald to Kansas (yuck), Zach Bolton to Utah (what?), Andy Gallik to Boston College (ok, stop).  Add those seven and shave off some of our backup recruits, and this is a decent-to-good class.  Remove them, and, well, welcome to Zook’s worst class.

With something to prove.