The List so far 2018

[Total Red]

Peter Bussone 6'1 280 DL Normal Comm HS, IL
Mike Gardner 5'10 180 DB Desoto HS, TX
Zach Mueller 6'5 295 OL DC Everest HS, Schofield, WI
Zach Starforth 6'4 285 OL Raymore-Peculiar HS, Peculiar MO
BB Adams 5'7 170 RB Sacred-Heart Griffin HS, Springfield, IL
Jacob Carl 6'4 215 TE/DE Galesburg HS, IL
Tristan Bailey 6'3 185 WR Columbus North HS, IN
Joey Malinowksi 6'1 245 LS Bloomington Central Catholic HS, IL
Clayton Isbell 6'2 195 S/Ath St. Charles East HS, IL
Damien Jackson 6'3 210 OLB Concord HS, Elkhart, IN
Bryce Jefferson 6'2 195 QB Decatur Central HS, Indianapolis, IN
Landen Vesley 6'2 205 LB Sterling Newman Catholic HS, IL
Cooper Burton 5'10 160 DB Benton HS, St. Joesph, MO
Kenton Wilhoit 6'1 205 LB/RB Oak Grove HS, MO
Nathan Bax 6'4 225 TE Helias HS, Jefferson City, MO
Peyton Asche 6'7 310 OL Pearl City-Eastland HS. Pearl City, IL
Giavion Mason 6'0 200 S/OLB Kankakee Bishop McNamara HS, IL
Julian Haynie 6'1 185 S Rockford Guilford HS, IL
Austin Nagel 6'1 170 WR Lemont HS, IL
Dewaylon Jones 5'11 180 S Dallas Lincoln HS. TX
Stephen Halusan 6'3 205 WR New Berlin Eisenhower, WI
Charles Woods 6'1 170 WR/DB Kimball HS, Dallas, TX
Josh Dinga 6'5 220 DE Sun Prairie HS, WI
Eric Rogers 6'3 190 WR East St. Louis HS, IL
Trevor Bond 6'0 180 K Mt. Vernon HS, Fortville, IN
Dalton Tevis 6'3 240 DE Normal Comm HS, IL
Iverson Brown 6'1 180 DB Altoff HS, Belleville, IL
Luke Bennyhoff 5'10 185 DB Dunlap HS, Peoria, IL
Jude Okolo 6'4 245 DL N. Plainfield HS, NJ
Nick Hesse (wo) 5'10 175 RB Normal Comm HS, IL
EJ Smoot 6'1 180 WR Beggs HS, OK
Taylor Grimes 5'11 170 WR Godley HS, TX
Spencer DeForest 5'11 160 DB Cambridge HS, WI

Transfers
Gabe Megginson 6'5 300 OL Jr. Jacksonville HS, IL (Univ of Illinois)
Paul Engram 5'11 225 LB Jr. Loyola HS Detroit, MI (College of DuPage JC, IL)
Braxton Haley 6'1 185 WR Jr. Monsignor Donovan HS, Athens, GA (Dodge City JC, KS)
Jordan Fuchs 6'6 230 WR Sr. Christ the King HS, Queens, NY (Indiana Univ, IU-East)
Romeo McKnight 6'4 255 DE So. Crystal Lake Central HS, IL (Univ of Iowa)
Brady Davis 6'4 205 QB Jr. Starkville HS, MS (Univ of Memphis)

 

[ISUBU]

Will be interesting to see if we're still on Iloilo Jr.'s list now that his brother is leaving.

 

[Total Red]

Yes, keeping an eye on Iloilo's twitter.

 

[cubird]

Did not see the entire sports cast on WCIA Champaign tonight, but it appears Khule WR from Mt. Zion is walking on. Think he originally was going to Iowa.

 

[Total Red]

Khule is 2017 so he should arrive shortly. Nice addition

 

[Total Red]

Khule is 2017 so he should arrive shortly. Nice addition

 

[Birdfan 4Life]

https://twitter.com/brycejefferson4/status/890982758130036737
Indiana starting to be our go to for QB prospects. Anyone know what the 1 and the 8 are in Illinois State?

 

[Redbirds18]

https://twitter.com/brycejefferson4/status/890982758130036737
Indiana starting to be our go to for QB prospects. Anyone know what the 1 and the 8 are in Illinois State?

I'm thinking it's because he is a 2018 recruit?

 

[isuquinndog]

https://twitter.com/brycejefferson4/status/890982758130036737
Indiana starting to be our go to for QB prospects. Anyone know what the 1 and the 8 are in Illinois State?

I'm thinking it's because he is a 2018 recruit?

Also hence the hashtag Birdgang18

 

[Birdfan 4Life]

https://twitter.com/coachschoonie/status/897290914435092489

Some new recruits coming soon...?!

 

[isuquinndog]

Two new recruits:

https://twitter.com/Pg_Reinhardt/status/897264786358116352

https://twitter.com/Pg_Reinhardt/status/896780678800584704

 

[Total Red]

Peter Bussone 6'3 280 OL Normal Comm HS, IL
Mike Gardner 5'10 180 DB Desoto HS, TX
Zach Mueller 6'5 285 OL DC Everest HS, Schofield, WI
Zach Starforth 6'5 300 OL Raymore-Peculiar HS, Peculiar MO
BB Adams 5'8 175 RB Sacred-Heart Griffin HS, Springfield, IL
Jacob Carl 6'5 225 TE/DE Galesburg HS, IL
Tristan Bailey 6'2 180 WR Columbus North HS, IN
Joey Malinowksi 6'1 245 LS Bloomington Central Catholic HS, IL
Clayton Isbell 6'3 195 S/Ath St. Charles East HS, IL
Damien Jackson 6'4 210 OLB Concord HS, Elkhart, IN
Bryce Jefferson 6'2 185 QB Decatur Central HS, Indianapolis, IN
Ty McCaskill 6'5 300 OL Penn HS, Mishawaka, IN
Landen Vesley 6'3 205 LB Sterling Newman Catholic HS, IL
Cooper Burton 5'10 160 DB Benton HS, St. Joesph, MO
Kenton Wilhoit 6'2 205 LB/RB Oak Grove HS, MO
Nathan Bax 6'5 225 TE Helias HS, Jefferson City, MO
Bobby Lawrence 6'8 300 OL Central HS, St. Joesph, MO
Peyton Asche 6'7 310 OL Pearl City-Eastland HS, Pearl City, IL
Giavion Mason 6'0 190 S/OLB Kankakee Bishop McNamara HS, IL

 

[Redbirdfan21]

Brian "BB" Adams had 147 years on 5 carries and 2 TD's last night in SHG's opener vs Jacksonville.

Article: http://www.sj-r.com/sports/20170825/sacred-heart-griffin-football-opens-season-by-thumping-jacksonville

Highlights: http://www.channel1450.com/2017/08/25/shg-shows-out-in-all-phases-in-rout-of-jacksonville-to-kick-off-the-season/

 

[Redbirdfan21]

Well shit

https://twitter.com/derekparris/status/901337759994040320

 

[Total Red]

Well shit

https://twitter.com/derekparris/status/901337759994040320

Wishing BB a speedy recovery. Hopefully he can improve on that 30 yards per carry average.

 

[redbirddad10]

Interesting pattern developing in our recruiting. Seems to be getting a lot of players from IN, MO, KS, and WI.. Texas and IL still are big markets for ISU also. But we seem to have lost our connections in the Pacific Northwest [Seattle] and FL??? We are starting to dominate central IL.. I know ISU has become the dominant FCS school in Chicago. Thinking this will be a big year for recruiting. Last year was a strange year, beat Northwestern, lose 4 games in a row, sneak into playoffs, lose round 1. But still made Playoffs and BEAT NORTHWESTERN! Bounce back like we did in 2014 from mixed 2013 and we solidify the impression we are the program to beat in IL.

 

[redbirddad10]

Interesting pattern developing in our recruiting. Seems to be getting a lot of players from IN, MO, KS, and WI.. Texas and IL still are big markets for ISU also. But we seem to have lost our connections in the Pacific Northwest [Seattle] and FL??? We are starting to dominate central IL.. I know ISU has become the dominant FCS school in Chicago. Thinking this will be a big year for recruiting. Last year was a strange year, beat Northwestern, lose 4 games in a row, sneak into playoffs, lose round 1. But still made Playoffs and BEAT NORTHWESTERN! Bounce back like we did in 2014 from mixed 2013 and we solidify the impression we are the program to beat in IL. Love to see us getting our pick of the players out of BLO-NO. That always bugged me that we would lose any local kids. I know its more complicated than that but still like to see a recruit or two every year choosing to stay home even if they are walk ons.

 

[jbird]

Brian "BB" Adams had 147 years on 5 carries and 2 TD's last night in SHG's opener vs Jacksonville.



Article: http://www.sj-r.com/sports/20170825/sacred-heart-griffin-football-opens-season-by-thumping-jacksonville

Highlights: http://www.channel1450.com/2017/08/25/shg-shows-out-in-all-phases-in-rout-of-jacksonville-to-kick-off-the-season/

Are we going to want him if he just aged by 147 years.........LOL.

 

[BallwinBird2012]

Interesting pattern developing in our recruiting. Seems to be getting a lot of players from IN, MO, KS, and WI.. Texas and IL still are big markets for ISU also. But we seem to have lost our connections in the Pacific Northwest [Seattle] and FL??? We are starting to dominate central IL.. I know ISU has become the dominant FCS school in Chicago. Thinking this will be a big year for recruiting. Last year was a strange year, beat Northwestern, lose 4 games in a row, sneak into playoffs, lose round 1. But still made Playoffs and BEAT NORTHWESTERN! Bounce back like we did in 2014 from mixed 2013 and we solidify the impression we are the program to beat in IL. Love to see us getting our pick of the players out of BLO-NO. That always bugged me that we would lose any local kids. I know its more complicated than that but still like to see a recruit or two every year choosing to stay home even if they are walk ons.

A lot of that is a function of our coaching staff. On Spack's first staff, he had Stubblefield and Huard who were both from Washington and Shula who was from Florida. On the current staff, Schoonover played college ball in MO and is the primary recruiter in the state. Nowinsky came from WI, so clear connection there.

A lot of it can also just depend on the amount of talent in a given recruiting class. MO is LOADED with D1 talent the next few years. More so than usual. From what I've heard/read, Illinois is a little lighter than usual on D1 talent this year. Lots of things to consider, but good points on your part.

 

[redbirddad10]

Just interesting in light of what Coach Spack said his recruiting model was going to be when he took the job and referred to ISU as a "diamond in the rough".
Recruiting Priorities [As I remember them]:
1. Recruit players you want early regardless of ranking. Don't wait for kids to be passed over by FBS. Lots of early commitments since hes come on board. Doesn't appear to be a lot of last minute pick ups. Late recruiting and late commitments very common for FCS schools traditionally.
2. Own top FCS Talent out of Central IL- Check!
3. Be top FCS Program in Chicago-Check!
4. Strong Presence in markets within an few hours drive of Blo No; Milw, St Louis, Indianapolis [Kansas City, Detroit,???]
5. Sprinkle in FL,TX,CA,??? (National Profile)
6. Add FBS players as needed; players from programs Spack knows and that vouch for the player.[Reality of FCS recruiting]

I've heard him state that the staff is putting more and more weight behind the Summer camp. He thinks Blo-No and ISU sell themselves. He also likes kids who show some interest in ISU. Hes found some great Central IL talent at the Camp. I'd think they get a chance to prove that even if they play at a small school they can compete with Div 1 talent. Something for anyone with a prospective ISU recruit out there should know.

Likes multi-sport athletes who are from winning programs. Interesting to see how many multi-sport athletes he's recruited. Some who weren't necessarily focused on football as their primary sport in H.S., ie Kobe Buffalomeat. Lots of past examples but the Himmelman kid comes to mind. Basketball player in HS. Lots of tall Hoop players apparently???
Go Birds