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Illini Sneak In 2014 Commit WR Raphael Barr

I don't entirely understand it myself, but hey, another wide receiver for this season is never a bad thing.

By Mark Primiano
Lose a receiver, gain a receiver.
Lose a receiver, gain a receiver.
Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

In a bit of news at least I wasn't expecting, the Illini landed a new football commitment this morning. It being June, that's not very surprising in and of itself. No, the odd thing is that it's not a class of 2015 commit, but one for 2014.

Barr attended Citrus College out in Glendora, CA, meaning he is yet another JUCO transfer Illini on a squad rapidly refilling its depleted depth chart with them. Which is fine by me.

Raphael is 6'2" and weighs 205 lbs, so he's got nice size that should come in handy. Other than Steve Hull, the receiving corps wasn't anything impressive last fall. There's nothing wrong with your tailback having the second most receiving yards, but when no one else is even over 400 yards on the season, something needs to give.

I'm not ready to declare the problem completely fixed, but the additions of Geronimo Allison, Mikey Dudek, Tyrin Stone-Davis (so hard to not type Tyrion), and now Raphael Barr certainly don't make things any worse. Wes Lunt (or Aaron Bailey) will have all sorts of targets this fall.

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