'He begged to get that job and then a year later he goes back to the NFL? Screw him.'
Illini football news and notes...
*Illini head football coach Bret Bielema fills three coaching staff vacancies…
Below comments from NFL scouts/others in college football about the Illini hires/departures….none quoted have any connection to the current Bielema staff/Illinois athletic department.
-David Gibbs hired as assistant head coach/defensive backs off the Central Florida staff replacing the fired Anthony Fenelus….Comments: ‘Good defensive back coach….he will make them better clean a lot of that shit up that didn’t get corrected last year’….’his schemes are OK’….’not going to beat anyone with his in-game adjustments….you know what he will switch to when the blitzing doesn’t work.’
-Archie McDaniel has been named Illinois' linebackers coach replacing the fired Andy Buh….’McDaniel spent the previous three seasons as linebackers coach at Houston from 2021-23. He helped the Cougars to two bowl wins, a top-20 finish in 2021, and the transition to Power-5 in the Big XII in 2023……McDaniel joined the Cougars' coaching staff after spending two seasons at Texas State, coaching a pair of All-Sun Belt Conference linebackers during the 2019 season. He coached 2019 All-Sun Belt First-Team selection Bryan London II, who ranked second in the conference with 118 tackles in 2019 and linebacker Nik Daniels, who was also selected as an All-Sun Belt Third Team performer. (Courtesy University of Illinois Sports information)….Comments: “My understanding was he was told he would have a role on the new staff (Tulane’s Willie Frtiz took over the Houston program)…..when Fritz hired someone else, McDaniel hadn’t gone after any other jobs’…’Bielema’s top choices stayed in the NFL getting McDaniel late like he did…probably better than he could have hoped for.’…’good enough coach better recruiter can be effective getting Texas 2’s to Illinois’…..2’s? blue chipper ranked as a ‘1’ on your recruiting sheet….’2’ a player recruitable but might not be as big/fast/strong as a blue chipper….Illini’s Johnny Newton a state of Florida ‘2’ not quite good enough for the SEC powers developed into an all-conference player.
-Bielema named Justin Stepp wide receivers coach replacing the departed George McDonald (left for Ole Miss)…..Stepp joins the Fighting Illini after spending the past six seasons as a wide receivers coach in the SEC (South Carolina/Arkansas), coaching seven receivers to 5+-touchdown seasons and six receivers to 500+-yard seasons. Six of his former wide receivers are currently on professional rosters, including five in the NFL, with another - Xavier Legette - projected as a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft……Stepp led South Carolina's wide receivers to big years in each of the last two seasons, finishing in the top 40 in the nation and top six in the SEC in passing offense in back-to-back years with an All-SEC First Team wide receiver in 2022 and an All-SEC Second Team wide receiver in 2023. (Courtesy University of Illinois sports information)….Comments: ‘Good coach good recruiter as good or better coaching than McDonald’….(laughing) ’How bad must South Carolina be to leave that job for Illinois?’
-Last week…..Illinois lost outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen to the New York Giants leaving staff after one season in Champaign…Bullen on the Arizona Cardinals staff that got left go after the 2022 season….Comments: ‘He called all over to get coaches to recommend him for Illinois….wanted to get back to college’…’He (Bullen) begged to get that job and then a year later he goes back to the NFL? Screw him'…’Charlie didn’t have the impact on the defense I thought he would'.’
*When in doubt…blame NIL..
In an interview with 247 Sports….Maryland head football coach Mike Locksley said, “Because of this portal, NIL. Your third-team tailback coming in and saying, ‘I need $100,000 or I’m going into the portal.’ And you’re like, ‘Where does this magic $100,000 number come from?’ And it just, I mean, I sat in my office and every meeting I had was basically – and we’re seven wins and going to a bowl and taking the next step – but everything coming in was like, ‘I want this. I want that.’ And the greatest team sport has now become kind of individualized.”
Have known Locksley since he arrived at Illinois 2005…we got along well first couple of years covered the program….then Lox wanted to get credit for everything ‘promoted’/fanboys to suck up to him (the guy from the News Gazette happy to do that HA)…sorry I don’t have the ass-kissing gene in me so we didn’t get along after that….majority in and around the program happy Lox left for New Mexico after the 2008 season…anyway….know how the head coach works….only time he ‘discloses’ information when he has an agenda…his team isn’t going to be much good next season Lox already laying the groundwork of excuses media can use for him when/if that happens…again just my opinion….how college football/hoops work now….when in doubt….blame NIL.
*Six Illini invited to the NFL combine…
-Six Illini are set to travel to Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium from Feb. 26-March 4 for the annual NFL Combine…..guard Isaiah Adams, defensive tackle Johnny Newton, tackle Julian Pearl, defensive tackle Keith Randolph Jr., tight end Tip Reiman and wide receiver Isaiah Willaims will interview and work out in front of NFL scouts and front office representatives from all 32 teams at the event televised by NFL Network….six participants are the most in program history. The Illini's 14 invitees during the Bielema era are Illinois' most ever over a three-year stretch. (Courtesy University of Illinois Sports information)
‘Illini's 14 invitees during the Bielema era are Illinois' most ever over a three-year stretch’…..Could make a comment about going to only one bowl game with all that talent but won’t…. My view Illini player with most to gain or lose at the Combine?….wide receiver Isaiah Williams….He had an excellent week of practices at last month’s East-West Shrine All-Star game.
Certain internet draftniks have Williams as a possible 2nd to 3rd round pick…..his ‘people’ have been peddling that narrative…..comparing Isaiah to former Louisville/Rams wide receiver Tu Tu Atwell…..Atwell and Williams both about 5-foot-9, 170-pounds out of college…..Atwell dominated at Louisville/ran 4.35 to 4.39 40’s at the combine….Los Angeles picked him in the 2nd round.
Don’t know that Williams has the same speed/explosion/dominance Atwell same stage….most NFL teams have a standard size they want for wide receivers picked early at least six-foot/at least 4.5 40 speed….off the charts combine by Williams might move him into the 3rd round….if not….4th to 7th round for Lil’ Uno.