OT: Former Players

[Redbird222]

James Robinson is active and playing. He just got his first carry.

 

[fourthandshort]

James Robinson is active and playing. He just got his first carry.

great to hear !!! not real productive, but got chances at least .. 1 carry 2 yards, 1 catch for -2 yards

 

[MadBird]

If you're watching the Division III playoffs (I know, I know, I'm probably the only one) there are two former Redbirds playing key roles for the top-seeded North Central Cardinals.

RB Sean Allen, from Homewood-Flossmoor, who only got a few carries in his short time at ISU (sat out 2021 due to injury and 2022), is third leading rusher for the top-seeded North Central Cardinals, from Naperville. He's got 10 TD's and about 650 yards carrying the ball in 13 games.

WR Joey Lombardi is second leading receiver with 32 receptions for 777 yards and 9 TD;s. He played during 3 seasons at ISU, 2019 and the two 2021 seasons.

They take on Wartburg in Iowa Saturday in the semi-finals. You can find it to stream. Should be a great game. North Central averages 62+ ppg and only gives up 14. Wartburg only gives up 40 yards rushing per game. They've got a fair number of Illinois kids on the roster. Both teams 13-0.

 

[cpacmel]

 

[Redbird15]

Congrats to former ISU players WR-Joey Lombardi and RB- Sean Allen of North Central IL win 34-27 against Wartburg to advance to Division 3 National Championship Game.

 

[fourthandshort]

Congrats to former ISU players WR-Joey Lombardi and RB- Sean Allen of North Central IL win 34-27 against Wartburg to advance to Division 3 National Championship Game.

Cardinals are Redbirds !!

 

[MadBird]

Well, JRob is sure getting plenty of practice, with all the practice squads he's been on this year!!! Now, the Saints.

New Orleans Saints sign RB James Robinson to practice squad

Shift4 Transaction Alert: Robinson was originally signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois State in 2020

www.neworleanssaints.com

 

[cpacmel]

Former ISU asst

 

[MadBird]

New Mexico State promotes former assistant Ghaali Muhammad-Lankford to OC / WRs coach. Former WR coach at ISU and one of the "co-OC's" so many of us couldn't stand (including me).

 

[Redbird15]

New Mexico State promotes former assistant Ghaali Muhammad-Lankford to OC / WRs coach. Former WR coach at ISU and one of the "co-OC's" so many of us couldn't stand (including me).

You do Realize some times some titles are given to to peers to sound nice when really the the lead janitor title was change to CO-Executive Janitor but in reality the National Janitorial Boss told the worker below the Janitor to call the shots !

 

[dpdoughbird06]

You do Realize some times some titles are given to to peers to sound nice when really the the lead janitor title was change to CO-Executive Janitor but in reality the National Janitorial Boss told the worker below the Janitor to call the shots !

I’m getting my youngest a custom t-shirt that says “Quesadilla Inspector”. He’s very discerning with regards to texture and softness/crispiness, and will now have a lofty title to match his exigency.

 

[MadBird]

I couldn't explain what it means, but it seems good - announced that Mr. Robinson signed a "futures contract" with New Orleans. Means he can work out with them during the offseason? Has a head start on training camp?

 

[fourthandshort]

I’m getting my youngest a custom t-shirt that says “Quesadilla Inspector”. He’s very discerning with regards to texture and softness/crispiness, and will now have a lofty title to match his exigency.

I would gladly work for free and am sure I will do as well or better given my decades of applicable experience ... it makes up almost 1/3rd of my linkedin profile.

And I never had to be told ....

 

[fdbird83]

I couldn't explain what it means, but it seems good - announced that Mr. Robinson signed a "futures contract" with New Orleans. Means he can work out with them during the offseason? Has a head start on training camp?

A reserve/futures contract (also known as a “futures contract”) gives the Giants (or any other NFL team) the rights to a certain player who did end the previous season on a 53-man roster.21 hours ago

 

[MadBird]

Speaking of futures contracts, TE Tanner Taula signs one with Tampa Bay Bucs! Didn't know he was still "viable". Good for him.

Upon further review, it appears he was on the TB practice squad all year.

 

[MadBird]

Today's Springfield Journal-Register has a story about KC Chiefs Linebacker coach Brendan Daly, from Springfield, who played at Sacred Heart-Griffin. Coached TE's at ISU in 2004.

 

[cpacmel]

 

[MadBird]

New tight ends coach at U of Minnesota Eric Koehler - QB coach at ISU in 2013 (one year only). From his bio:

Koehler spent the 2013 season at Illinois State where he coached the quarterbacks. In his one season with the Redbirds, Koehler helped coach Blake Winkler to the Missouri Valley All-Newcomer Team, while helping Illinois State average 24.7 points per game and finish fourth in the conference in passing efficiency.

I know fourthandshort particularly values the Winkler era! One of those Spack HS QB projects.

 

[Total Red]

New tight ends coach at U of Minnesota Eric Koehler - QB coach at ISU in 2013 (one year only). From his bio:



I know fourthandshort particularly values the Winkler era! One of those Spack HS QB projects.

Speaking of... I have wondered if Blake Winkler wasn't part of the reason Coach Spack did not make more of an effort to recruit Nic Baker (Rochester IL- HS, SIU). Maybe he thought Baker was too similar to Winkler, but it turned out that Baker was better. Winkler wasn't a bad QB for us, he was OK, but not Championship level.

 

[MadBird]

Speaking of... I have wondered if Blake Winkler wasn't part of the reason Coach Spack did not make more of an effort to recruit Nic Baker (Rochester IL- HS, SIU). Maybe he thought Baker was too similar to Winkler, but it turned out that Baker was better. Winkler wasn't a bad QB for us, he was OK, but not Championship level.

Very possible. Winkler had some stout stats coming out of HS, HS player of the year in Illinois. Never really worked out. Well, and Tre . . . .

Lincoln Way East HS: Multi-year starter for head coach Rob Zvonar ... named the Gatorade Illinois Football Player of the Year by ESPNHS ... named a Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA) Class 7A First-Team All-State selection ... also named an IHSFCA All-State Academic Team selection ... Chicago Tribune Second-Team All-State pick ... Chicago Sun-Times All-State Special Mention recipient ... earned conference offensive player of the year plaudits and all-area selections from the Herald-News and the Southtown Star ... completed 131-of-213 pass attempts for 2,369 yards and 30 touchdowns against just five interceptions as a senior in 2011 ... led the Griffins (10-1) to the second round of the IHSA Class 7A playoffs ... as a junior in 2010, started all 11 games and threw for 1,929 yards and 21 touchdowns with a quarterback rating of 197.0 ... named an honorable mention all-state selection as named by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times after junior season ... also selected as an all-conference and all-area pick ... concluded his career as Lincoln Way-East's leading passer, throwing for 4,297 yards and 51 touchdowns while leading his team to a 19-3 record during junior and senior seasons.

And not all that bad as a RS Freshman:

2013: Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team selection ... played in 10 games, with nine starts to the end the year ... completed 127-of-217 pass attempts (58.5 percent) for 1,637 yard and 12 touchdowns ... ranked fourth in the MVFC with a pass efficiency rating of 132.8 ... finished 8-for-11 with 144 yards and two touchdowns in first career game against No. 9 Eastern Illinois ... completed 20-of-29 passes for a career-high 234 yards with two touchdowns in a win over Western Illinois ... threw a career-high three touchdown passes in a win over South Dakota ... threw a career-long 73-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Meredith at Youngstown State ... completed 10 passes of over 30 yards or more.