Lovie Smith and the Fighting Illini are about to host one of their top recruiting targets in Champaign. According to Illini Inquirer’s Jeremy Werner, three-star defensive end Owen Carney (FL) will take an official visit to Illinois on the weekend of December 6. Carney, who’s currently rated as the nation’s No. 479 overall prospect by 247Sports, took a previous three-day unofficial trip to campus in July.
(FREE) Three-star DE Owen Carney (@Giftedowen_) tells #Illini Inquirer he will take an official visit to Illinoishttps://t.co/WpK6dUvXRC
— Jeremy Werner (@JWernerScout) December 1, 2016
Carney holds additional Power 5 scholarship offers from Florida State, Kansas State, Kentucky, Maryland, Syracuse, Utah, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, LSU, Mississippi State, Purdue, Tennessee, and Wake Forest.
Scout’s evaluation of the 6-foot-4, 225-pound prospect labels him as a, “gifted pass rusher that provides nice closing speed and athleticism.”
Carney is a gifted pass rusher that provides nice closing speed and athleticism when busting through the offensive line. Carney is a young man that certainly makes his presence known when making initial contact, and really does a nice job of having his motor switch turned on at all times as well. Exploding off the ball and disengaging off blocks are areas of improvement moving forward.