Countdown of the 50 most important Illini for the 2009 season.
Read more…Each weekday, Jeremy Werner writes a recruiting blog for HQ. For all of Monday's, click here. A sample:
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.
The Class of 2009:
PLAYER POS. SCHOOL
Kraig Appleton WR East St. Louis
Lendell Buckner DL Chicago Leo
Andrew Carter OL Tallahassee (Fla.) Leon
Jake Feldmeyer OL Centerville (Ohio)
Greg Fuller RB Thornton
Bud Golden RB Cincinnati Sycamore
Terry Hawthorne WR East St. Louis
Leon Hill OL Chicago Leo
Tommie Hopkins DB East St. Louis
Steve Hull WR Cincinnati Sycamore
Darryl Lee DE/LB St. Augustine (Fla.)
Nathan Scheelhaase QB Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst
Hugh Thornton OT Oberlin (Ohio)
Joelil Thrash DB Washington (D.C.) H.D. Woodson