Fighting Illini football is a finalist for three-star defensive end Bobby Roundtree (FL). The 6-foot-5, 215-pound pass rusher narrowed his college choices on Thursday, including Illinois, Indiana, and N.C. State. Michigan State, Louisville, and Virginia Tech were eliminated from a previous list that was made public in early October.
Additionally, at least one member of the Illini coaching staff was in Florida recently to personally check in with Roundtree.
Blue-chip @LargoFootball DE Bobby Roundtree shifts full focus to 3 schools, and locks in final official visit
— Corey Bender (@Corey_Bender) January 12, 2017
--->https://t.co/mkc0a3A2Uh pic.twitter.com/fGUKszDQgO
Illinois Stop By to Show @RoundtreeBobby Some Love!!! #TheMovement #TrustTheProcess pic.twitter.com/ivZXUMZVCb
— Largo Football (@LargoFootball) January 12, 2017
According to 247Sports, Roundtree is rated as the No. 1245 overall prospect and No. 61 SDE in the nation. Other Power 5 programs that extended scholarship offers include Iowa State, Kansas State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Oregon State, Rutgers, and Vanderbilt.
Roundtree has taken official visits to Illinois (November) and N.C. State (December). He’ll also be checking out Indiana sometime before National Signing Day.
While the Orange and Blue already have verbal commitments from three other defensive lineman (four-star DT Kendrick Green, three-star DE Owen Carnery, and three-star DE Olalere Oladipo), Roundtree may be one of the most important targets remaining on the board. Looking ahead to the 2017 depth chart, there’s essentially no depth on the exterior of the line, meaning Illinois will need impact performances from multiple underclassmen to succeed.