Fighting Illini football’s coaching staff is on the road to recruit during their BYE week, and at least one assistant put out several scholarships in Florida. The program offered a trio of four-star prospects from St. Thomas Aquinas on Thursday, including 2018 WR Elijah Moore and 2018 OLB Rocky Shelton.
Moore, a 5-foot-11 wideout, is currently rated as the No. 122 overall player by 247Sports. Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Georgia, LSU, and Miami (FL) are just a few of the schools on his impressive offer list.
Blessed to say I got an offer from Illinois #godschild @Corey_Bender @RyanBartow pic.twitter.com/PvxB4pvDlF
— ❗️Elijah moore❗️ (@e_moore03) September 23, 2016
Ranked at No. 260 overall by 247Sports, Shelton is another highly sought-after prospect with early Power 5 interest. His offer list includes the likes of Florida State, Louisville, LSU, Michigan State, Missouri, and North Carolina.
Blessed to receive offer from #Illini @Cassidy_Rob @Corey_Bender @RivalsWoody @Rivalsfbcamps @RyanBartow @HamiltonESPN @TomLoy247 pic.twitter.com/BFYyBmWXIJ
— Rocky Shelton (@rockyshelton18) September 23, 2016
Additionally, Corey Bender reported that 2019 linebacker Anthony Solomon also picked up an offer. The 6-foot-1 underclassman has already heard from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and several other major programs.
#Illinois extends an offer to 2019 4-star @STA_Football OLB Anthony Solomon https://t.co/aQ9961bE4H@Solomon_STA @JWernerScout
— Corey Bender (@Corey_Bender) September 22, 2016
Yeah, these players are all long shots to land with the Orange and Blue, but it’s good to see that the coaches are at least trying to land talent like this. Besides, maybe current Illini commit Mike Epstein can put in a good word during St. Thomas Aquinas’ next few practices.
Illinois Fighting Illini Links
- What will the 2018 Illinois Football Depth Chart look like (Illini Board)
So we’re setting up for a scenario where the 2017 team is pretty much the 2018 team. What you see on the field against Ball State in the first game next fall is pretty much exactly the same team you’ll see at Northwestern after Thanksgiving in 2018.
- Illinois DE Carroll Phillips featured in NFL Mock Draft (The Sports Bank)
Yes, Illinois is quite bad this season when it comes to stopping the run. Never mind that; as Phillips is doing his part. At the conclusion of non-conference play, he’s second in the nation in tackles for loss behind only Jabrill Peppers.
- Four-star C Jacob Epperson to visit Illinois on Monday (Illini Inquirer)
Among the head coaches in to see Epperson (on Wednesday) were Illinois' John Groce, Marquette's Steve Wojciechowski, and Toledo's Tod Kowalczyk. There were also assistants from Texas, North Carolina, Indiana, New Mexico, Creighton, Kent State, Michigan State.