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2023 three-star OLB/DE commit Calvin Smith detailed that beyond football, what made Illinois stand apart from his finalists was the College of Veterinary Medicine. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 23, 2022

(Cover photo Calvin Smith's Twitter page)

Calvin Smith has a plan beyond sports and after today’s announcement, the newest verbal commitment to the Illinois football program began to put that plan into action. 

Smith, who is the 12th verbal pledge to the Illini’s 2023 recruiting class, announced his decision to attend Illinois by penning a special edition article to the USA Today Network detailing the factors involved in his recruitment. 

Last season, Smith had 62 total tackles and tied for his team’s lead with 29 solo tackles last season at Ocoee (Fla.) High School - which is approximately 13 miles east of Orlando. Smith, who has also been recorded with a 4.6-second time in the 40-yard-dash and a 35-inch vertical leap, was also second on his team with 10 sacks and 12 quarterback hurries. 

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound edge rusher will be expected to be a factor on the field for Illinois outside linebacker coach Kevin Kane, who was Smith’s primary recruiter along with defensive backs coach Aaron Henry and wide receivers coach George McDonald, as his speed, body type and athleticism all fit within what Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters wants in his 3-4 scheme. 

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By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

June 23rd, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Daytona Beach New-Journal)

They say you can’t win championships without playing defense, Illinois added another piece to the puzzle today with a commitment from Calvin Smith.

Smith is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound DE from Ocoee, Florida who picked the Illini over schools like Arkansas, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

June 23, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Chicago Sun-Times)

Andrew Scharnowski is a 6-foot-9, 195 pound wing who had scouts looking through their program book last weekend at the Riverside-Brookfield Shootout in Chicago.

Class: 2023

Why Illinois:  Illinois was looking at another prospect when they came across the Burlington Central standout. The class of 2023 is not very strong in the state nor the country. When the Illinois staff - especially Coach Underwood - along with other coaches saw his skills, they started to ask questions; where he plays AAU basketball, who has offered, etc. Illinois is looking to add to the class of 2023 and he fits the build of what their new style of play will look like.

Leary is hopeful his spring workouts with ‘Quarterback University’ founder Donovan Dooley has him prepared for his first fall camp this coming August. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 22, 2022

(Photos courtesy Chris LaChall/Cherry Hill Courier-Post)

The simple goal for Donovan Leary was to arrive on the Illinois campus this past weekend as physically prepared as possible to begin his quarterback development. 

Despite not being able to graduate early at Timber Creek High School in New Jersey after signing with Illinois during the early period this November, Leary spent the spring months working with private quarterback coach Donovan Dooley on the similar fundamentals that new Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. will want to see when fall camp opens in early August.

“I’m not easy as Don because he deserves somebody who will coach him hard and get the best out of him,” Dooley said. “In the same line of thinking though, my wish is everybody gets to see how unbelievably physically gifted he actually is.” 

Leary arrived on the Illinois campus on the June 17th weekend and will immediately participate in summer workouts with the Illini football strength and conditioning staff led by Tenarius ‘Tank’ Wright. 

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting June […]

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

June 21st, 2022

Weeks ago, IlliniGuys caught up with Mason Muragin, a 6-4 235-pound DE from Warren, MI.

Bret Bielema walked the tightrope of making sure the scholarship offer to Kevin Hardy’s son was on his merit while also making sure dad, the former Illini Hall of Famer, felt welcome. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 21, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Camden Hardy's Twitter page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Following his performance in the second showcase camp, Bret Bielema walked Camden Hardy into his office to offer a scholarship to the 2024 pass rusher prospect knowing this wasn’t a normal conversation.

Bielema’s job on that Thursday afternoon was three-fold. 

The first task was already accomplished because the two-hour on-field work of the 2024 pass rusher prospect from Atlantic Coast High School in Jacksonville, Fla., was easily impressive enough to prove he could play as an outside linebacker in the current Illinois 3-4 system. Camden Hardy, who is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, proved the film of his sophomore season where he had 57 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five sacks while leading Atlantic Coast High School to the Class 7A playoffs with his father, former Butkus Award winner Kevin Hardy as his the position coach, was not deceptive in any way. 

“Honestly, I was not expecting the offer,” Camden Hardy said. “We were first sitting in his office and you know that whole family motto he’s preaching at Illinois? You felt that presence because first of all, he has his office set up like a living room and not an office. Once the offer bomb came from Coach Bielema, a rush of emotion came over me but then, I immediately wondered if this was happening because of my dad.” 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

June 18, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Rock Island Dispatch-Argus)

Back in early March, Illinois was all alone in second place in the Big Ten.  It was a day in which eight potential recruits were on campus to see them face their bitter rivals, the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The stars aligned for the Illini, as the last place team in the conference (Nebraska) went into Madison and knocked off the front-running Badgers, giving Illinois a chance to play for a Big Ten title later that night.

I remember like it was yesterday--all the recruits were fired up and rightly so! They were on a visit and would have a front row as Illinois played for a title.

Bettendorf, Iowa's Caden Wilkins, a 6-foot-6, 202-pound forward, considered by Prep Hoops to be the top junior in the state, was one of those recruits.

This past week, DI coaches were allowed to contact juniors and Wilkins got a call.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

June 20, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy The Hoop Hustle)

The class of 2023 has a big man that you can expect the full-court press in coming weeks. Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso is a 6-foot-11, 195-pound center from Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut.

Because of Onyenso’s size and skill, he is becoming one of the top players being pursued in his class.

Onyenso was offered a scholarship by the Fighting Illini staff last Tuesday. But Illinois coaches will have their work cut out for them.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

June 18, 2022

When I first saw McMillen's film, I wondered if I was really looking at a high school junior because he executes so well from so many positions.

Three-star defensive back Jaheim Clarke became the 10th commitment of the Illini’s 2023 recruiting class and second verbal pledge coming out of this weekend. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer and Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 19, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Sunshine State of Florida has been very fruitful to the Illinois football program and the commitment of Jaheim Clarke simply adds to that total. 

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

June 19th, 2022

David Olano courtesy Illinois Athletics

David Olano a 5-10, 160-pound, 2023 Kicker from Naperville, IL committed to Illinois today.

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer June 19, 2022 This […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

June 18, 2022

(Cover file photo courtesy Richard Barron's Twitter page)

(EDITOR'S NOTE: IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy and Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince were both in attendance at RBS on Friday.  Brad offers his day one thoughts below and will post updates all day during day twoj on the IlliniGuys message forum.

-Brad Underwood and Tim Anderson were in attendance at this event, while Chester Frazier (DMV) and Geoff Alexander (AZ) were elsewhere.

-James Brown and Morez Johnson will head to Colorado for USA Basketball Saturday morning and did not play on Saturday. Brown talked Illinois to Kedric Prince and was very complimentary of the program. Illinois is really in deep with Brown.