When you lose six of your last eight games largely because your defense ranks 113th in the nation against the run out of 114, it’s easy to decide where you need help.
Illinois coach Ron Turner is hoping his new 22-man recruiting class will be able to provide help in a hurry for a team that finished 5-6 last fall after a 3-0 start. The class is heavy on defensive backs and linebackers. Five defensive starters were lost to graduation from a unit that was depleted by injury during the season.
Turner signed six defensive backs, four defensive linemen and five linebackers. High school All-Americans Matt Sinclair, a linebacker from St. Louis University High, Lionel Williams, a defensive lineman from Addison Trail, and safety Chuck Moore of Elk Grove are considered the cream of the group. Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming ranks Sinclair and Williams among the top 25 players in the nation at their position.
The vast majority of the class committed early–long before Oklahoma State’s Mike Cassity was hired to replace Tim Kish as defensive coordinator. Turner said almost all of the defensive recruits have met Cassity, however.
“This is our fifth class and we believe each class has gotten better,” said Turner. “The key to recruiting is meeting needs–and we think we did that. The emphasis was on defense. That’s where we needed the most help right away. Any of the five linebackers have a chance to play right away and any of the cornerbacks also have a chance to play.”
Two junior college transfers and one high school graduate also could provide immediate help on defense. Defensive end/outside linebacker Mario Ivy of Ellsworth Junior College in Edwardsville, Ill., defensive tackle Jamie Hanton of Chaffey College in Corona, Calif., and linebacker Jim Goranson, who graduated from Elk Grove High in 3 1/2 years, are already on campus and will participate in spring drills.
The Illini also signed several high-profile prospects on offense. Lemming claims Urbana’s Morris Virgil, who rushed for 1,585 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior, is one of the best running backs to come out of Illinois in a long time. Turner is also high on Abe Jones, who ran for 1,100 yards last fall for Rolling Meadows.
Illinois signed 6-foot-5-inch quarterback Matt Dlugolecki of Coto De Caza, Calif. With Kurt Kittner entering his senior year, Dlugolecki will compete for a backup role with Christian Morton and Dustin Ward.
