Recruiting Wrap

Florida LB commits to Illini

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Monday, August 25, 2008 7:13 AM

Illinois coach Ron Zook received a verbal commitment from St. Augustine (Fla.) defensive end/linebacker Darryl Lee this weekend. According to ESPN.com, Lee chose the Illini over South Carolina, West Virginia, Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana.

Lee, the 14th verbal commitment for Illinois, will play linebacker for the Illini. As the first prep senior linebacker to commit to Illinois, Lee fills a void in Zook's Class of 2009. With three senior linebackers on the roster (Brit Miller, Sam Carson and Rodney Pittman), Lee could give the Illini much-needed depth.

Lee boasts great speed (4.52-second 40-yard dash) and athleticism (34-inch vertical). Lee is the second Florida prospect to commit to the Illini, joining Tallahassee offensive lienman Andrew Carter.

RECRUITING RAMBLINGS

- Running back Brandon Wegher (Sioux City, Iowa) decided to stay in state, committing to Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound recruit chose the Hawkeyes over Illinois, Iowa State, Auburn, Nebraska, Kansas and Penn State, among others. Wegher is Scout.com's highest rated prospect from the state of Iowa. He rushed for 2,334 yards and 34 touchdowns as a junior at Bishop Heelan Catholic.

 - Scout.com reports that Zion-Benton junior Lenzelle Smith is gaining interest from Billy Gillespie and the Kentucky Wildcats. Smith said he has received about 10 scholarship offers from schools. Some that have shown interest include: Illinois, Marquette, Northwestern, Ohio State, Virginia, Boston College, Florida and USC, to name a few.

 With three scholarships already slotted to be filled by Crandall Head (Crane), Jereme Richmond (Waukegan) and Meyers Leonard (Robinson), Smith has been forced to look out of state. But Illinois continues to recruit the big guard, learning from its past failures that you can never stop recruiting.

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