Illini sign 24; Turner decries negative recruiting
February 5, 2004
BY HERB GOULD Staff Reporter Advertisement
Facing a pivotal year coming off back-to-back losing seasons, Illinois coach Ron Turner likes the 24 recruits he signed Wednesday.
What he doesn't like is the negative recruiting he encountered as the Illini try to regroup.
Calling the negative recruiting "the worst I've ever seen,'' Turner said, "I expected some of it. But some of the schools that were heavily involved in it totally surprised me. That's the way it goes. You just put it in the back of your mind and remember it was there. There's not much you can do about it except sell your program and do things the right way.''
Turner declined to identify schools but said "a lot'' of Big Ten programs were involved. He plans to bring up the issue when he sees other coaches at league functions.
Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan and Notre Dame were among the schools pointing out Illinois' troubles, a source said.
The addition of Simeon wide receiver Bryant Creamer, who committed this week, gives Illinois two recruits in analyst Tom Lemming's national top 100. He joins Brock Bolen, a fullback from Springboro, Ohio, who already has enrolled at Illinois.
"Illinois is having a superior year,'' said Lemming, who rates the Illini's class seventh in the Big Ten and 29th in the nation. "Bolen may be their best player, but Chicago made the year special. Combined with last year's class, which was outstanding, they're going to be moving up real soon.''
Ten of Turner's recruits are from Illinois, including six from the Chicago area. The Illini also signed three players each from Georgia and Missouri. Turner, who already has four quarterbacks, signed two more: Kisan Flakes of Lovejoy, Ga., and Billy Garza of Brownsville, Texas. He seems especially intrigued by Garza.
After having serious defensive problems when they went 1-11 last fall, the Illini signed five defensive backs, four defensive linemen who could provide immediate depth and three promising linebackers: Sam Carson of Downers Grove South, Sam Weil of Minooka and Remond Willis of Lilbourn, Mo.
"Let's see where these kids are in two or three years,'' Turner said. "I don't know how much of a national name that [Bloomington cornerback] Justin Harrison, Remond Willis and Billy Garza have, but I wouldn't trade them for anybody. If [6-1] Kisan Flakes was half an inch taller, he'd be a national name. They're very good players, and that's just throwing out a few names.''
I dont think they are gonna make a sudden impact, but anything has got to be better than last year for Illinois. Im glad they at least got some decent defensive guys....wait and see....I was really suprised they were able to sign 24 guys though, so thats a good sign..
February 5, 2004
BY HERB GOULD Staff Reporter Advertisement
Facing a pivotal year coming off back-to-back losing seasons, Illinois coach Ron Turner likes the 24 recruits he signed Wednesday.
What he doesn't like is the negative recruiting he encountered as the Illini try to regroup.
Calling the negative recruiting "the worst I've ever seen,'' Turner said, "I expected some of it. But some of the schools that were heavily involved in it totally surprised me. That's the way it goes. You just put it in the back of your mind and remember it was there. There's not much you can do about it except sell your program and do things the right way.''
Turner declined to identify schools but said "a lot'' of Big Ten programs were involved. He plans to bring up the issue when he sees other coaches at league functions.
Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan and Notre Dame were among the schools pointing out Illinois' troubles, a source said.
The addition of Simeon wide receiver Bryant Creamer, who committed this week, gives Illinois two recruits in analyst Tom Lemming's national top 100. He joins Brock Bolen, a fullback from Springboro, Ohio, who already has enrolled at Illinois.
"Illinois is having a superior year,'' said Lemming, who rates the Illini's class seventh in the Big Ten and 29th in the nation. "Bolen may be their best player, but Chicago made the year special. Combined with last year's class, which was outstanding, they're going to be moving up real soon.''
Ten of Turner's recruits are from Illinois, including six from the Chicago area. The Illini also signed three players each from Georgia and Missouri. Turner, who already has four quarterbacks, signed two more: Kisan Flakes of Lovejoy, Ga., and Billy Garza of Brownsville, Texas. He seems especially intrigued by Garza.
After having serious defensive problems when they went 1-11 last fall, the Illini signed five defensive backs, four defensive linemen who could provide immediate depth and three promising linebackers: Sam Carson of Downers Grove South, Sam Weil of Minooka and Remond Willis of Lilbourn, Mo.
"Let's see where these kids are in two or three years,'' Turner said. "I don't know how much of a national name that [Bloomington cornerback] Justin Harrison, Remond Willis and Billy Garza have, but I wouldn't trade them for anybody. If [6-1] Kisan Flakes was half an inch taller, he'd be a national name. They're very good players, and that's just throwing out a few names.''
I dont think they are gonna make a sudden impact, but anything has got to be better than last year for Illinois. Im glad they at least got some decent defensive guys....wait and see....I was really suprised they were able to sign 24 guys though, so thats a good sign..
