We don't care about recruiting rankings, how many stars a prospect has next to his name...

No head coach ever has a bad recruiting class.

*Illini great Pierre Thomas turned 39 this week....running back prepped at Thornton (Ill.) Fractional South High School.....his coach there an 'Illini guy' who talked up the program to the three-star prospect......Thomas verballed to Ron Turner's program February (2002) junior year of high school.... Illini fresh off the 2001 Big Ten championship/Sugar Bowl....He never wavered from his commitment even though plenty of schools came calling during the Illinois 5-7 2002 campaign.

A four-year letterman....led the team in rushing three seasons.....ran for 2,545 yards/20 touchdowns/4,451 total yards....sixth leading rusher in school history....never played on a winning team....amazing to watch Thomas run for all those yards behind what could be called an inconsistent offensive line/questionable QB play.....like Robert Holcombe earlier, Thomas took a helluva beating all that inside running.

Un-drafted 2007....signed as a free agent by New Orleans....former Illini assistant Greg McMahon then Saints special teams coach played key role in getting Thomas to the Crescent City.....,made team as special teams demon/earned 2007 all-rookie honors....special teamer to rushing for close to 4,000 yards/40 touchdowns in his nine-year NFL career......member of the 2010 Saints Super Bowl championship team.....New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer.....add to it Thomas good dude/great teammate/fun to watch all the success he had at the pro level...deserved it.

*Top five recruits signed by Bret Bielema's Fighting Illini football program on Wednesday...

1, Trey Petty quarterback Starkville (MS.) High School-Three-star recruit....'the MHSAA Mr. Football 7A winner, led Starkville to the state title game. He threw for 2,414 yards with 26 touchdowns and rushed 921 yards with 11 touchdowns on the season’ .(Courtesy Jackson Clarion-Ledger)....rare player who improved his senior season after committing to Illinois last summer....too many times committed players...senior season doesn't mean all that much....not Petty...best Illini quarterback recruit since four-star Nathan Scheelhaase recruiting class of 2009....potential difference maker at the position.

2. Chase Canada cornerback Trinity Valley (TX.) Community College-6-foot, 185-pound press man cover cornerback....excellent footwork/technique....majority of 2023 season played the field side cover corner vs. plenty of passing teams....not the most physical tackler but isn't coming to Champaign to tackle...all about improving the cornerback position off-season….Canada should be a major upgrade from the 2023 starters.

3. Easton Baker linebacker Tooele (UT.) Stansbury High School-Earned defensive player of the year honors...like Petty improved as a senior...physical with excellent instincts to the ball/game...would think he is going to make an impact at Illinois early in his career.

4. A.J. Dennis interior offensive line Mount Pleasant (Mich.) High School-will enroll in January....love this signing....wrote before about Dennis.....physically mature player that can compete for early playing time....reads like he could be tried at center....good.

5. Ca'Lil Valentine running back Chandler (AZ.) High School-another commitment that improved his senior season....ran with more power/physicality....area back of the year after running for over 1,200 yards last fall....speed back potential to break big run each time he touuches the ball....comparison? very similar to former Indiana Hoosier/NFL'er Tevin Coleman.

-Under-rated.....Carlos Orr wide receiver Gatlinburg (TN.) Pittman High School-another Illini recruit that had a strong senior season....nowhere near as raw on film last fall as he was junior season....6-foot-4 pass catcher improved most running routes/sharp cuts in and out of his patterns/kept balance ability to bring in the tough pass most impressive.

-I'm not sure I agree with you a hundred percent on your analysis there Lou.....2024 Illini recruit don't think should be ranked as high as some have him....Eddie Tuerk lineman Lyons (Ill.) Township High School-some recruiting 'services'/in-state analyst have Tuerk four-star/promoted 'ten best senior prospect’ in the state.....not me....didn't see a whole lot of improvement from his sophomore year to his senior season....Bielema, d-line coach Jamison indicate Tuerk going to first be tried on the d-line....don't see the movement skills burst off the ball to play that side of the ball...should end up on the other side of the line when all said and done.

-Instant impact....three players in the class not transfer portal recruits that would expect to make an immediate impact at Illinois....expect all will be mid-year transfers/able to go thru spring ball with the Illini.....Mario Sanders wide receiver Iowa Central Community College..... with slot receiver Isaiah Williams departing for the NFL....Sanders recruited to play that position........Daniel Brown outside linebacker Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College...likely Gabe Jacas permanently moved from outside backer' to weakside end.....pass rushing specialist Brown gets every opportunity to take Jacas' spot....Chase Canada cornerback...should be day one starter.

*Class grade-C+....good not great class...early season slump lost a lot of momentum for a much needed 'big year' recruiting....offensive line/quarterback strength of 24'....with Bielema's staff not getting much out of their 2021/2022 classes...2023/2024 classes together much better……should form core of the program moving forward.

*Illini land four from the transfer portal…

Below scouting report below from either NFL scouting/recruiting coordinator types about the three transfer portal players committed to Bielema's program....my review of the Michigan State transfer.

-Anthony Johnson defensive line Youngstown State-From Pittsburgh...signed with Bowling Green out of high school before transferring to FCS Youngstown State....6-foot-3,290-pounder with one year of eligibility remaining...NFL scout on Johnson...’He is a scrapper....doesn't do anything fancy just butts heads every play back into a stance and goes again.....held his own against Ohio State last fall didn't look out of place...should get at least 25 snaps a game out of him….best as a strong side end in a 3-4 scheme.'

-J.C. Davis offensive tackle University of New Mexico-From Oakland, California...played at Contra Costa (Cal.) Community College before signing with New Mexico....6-foot-5, 310-pounder two-year starter at left tackle for the Lobos...has one year of eligibility left....NFL scouts on Davis...'We liked both their tackles (right tackle D.J. Wingfield transferred to Purdue this month)....problem at New Mexico was they couldn't stop anyone on defense....offense had their moments....in the NFL Davis projects to guard.....college level you can get by with him at tackle...physical run blocker....decent feet pass set punch got better ...played against a lot of under-sized guys in the Mountain West going to have to adjust to the power/speed of the Big Ten....New Mexico coaches recommended J.C. talked about how he had improved...will work.....definite draftable player."

-Enyce Sledge nose guard Auburn University-6-foot-3, 320-pound plus pound nose guard....originally from Monroe, Louisiana with three years of eligibility remaining....college recruiting coordinator whose staff recruited Sledge out of High School...."Nose guard....put him over the center and tell him to knock the shit out of whoever gets in his way.....he is good at that....got lost in the shuffle at Auburn coaching change changed their front, his position coach...talented but one of those kids needs the right coach, motivation...you need to keep on his ass cause if he develops......worth the effort.'

-Kevin Wigenton offensive guard Michigan State-Played at the Hun School in New Jersey with a couple of current Illini players.....6-foot-4, 320-pounder will compete at guard for Illinois....two years of eligibility….bio reads 8 starts in two seasons at Michigan State.....massive man with short area quickness...film flashes effort/plays with balance/power/physical....see the potential just don't see the consistent production....get Wigenton going in the right direction....excellent shot at starting for Illinois next fall.

*2023 Illini football season in review...

So pissed after the Northwestern loss...held off the 'season in review' thoughts...saw some 'media' that cover the team tried to show why Bielema program went 5-7 with charts and 'the refs screwed us again' rationalization.....here in a nutshell short and sweet why Illini went 5-7 last fall....didn't play disciplined football....poor attention to detail on the field/sidelines from the coaching staff...not physically or mentally tough....leadership/talent from last year's seniors like the Brown brothers so missed in 2023....cause of all of the above...couldn't win a close game in the fourth quarter against 'good' teams like Iowa or Northwestern.

Talked to a long time Champaign sports media type recently and he said, 'if Bielema doesn't get to a bowl next season, Josh (Whitman) is going to take a very close look at his program'...I just laughed, replied 'Bielema went 13-11 with a bunch of NFL talent left by Lovie but if he doesn't get to a bowl next year Whitman's going to then take a close look at the program?'....ah never mind….now I am pissed off again.