A second-year evaluation of coach Ron Turner would be based on two telling factors: (1) Did the Illini show progress from the 0-11 football season of 1997, and (2) Is the Turner staff developing strong recruiting ties despite on-field disappointments?

The report card on the 3-8 season was mixed. Wins over Northwestern and Indiana were uplifting, but the point margin of eight losses was 28, and attendance at home sank another notch below 40,000. Turner claims progress but quarterback remains an open question, the red-hot juco receivers fizzled and the offensive line must be reshaped.

The ability of this UI team to be successful and draw back disenchanted fans is in question.

As for issue No. 2 – recruiting – the arrows generally point up. Not straight up, not when you scan Chicagoland and see Ohio State nab Rich East cornerback Richard McNutt, Iowa pick off Wheaton Warrenville South's 60-TD passer Jon Beutjer, Michigan attract USA Today All-American Tony Pape of Hinsdale South, Wisconsin take Loyola fullback Salvatore Dimucci, Notre Dame grab Naperville's Glenn Earl, and Northwestern come up with Wheaton's record-breaking receiver Jon Schweighardt and suburban linemen Darrell Campbell and Gabe Nyenhuis.

The Illini desperately wanted Campbell, who favored NU despite the Wildcats' winless Big Ten season, the gambling scandal and all those Gary Barnett rumors. And the UI certainly had a place for Pape and McNutt.

But it is always the case that while the Illini come out better than anyone else in Chicagoland, they are picked to pieces by surrounding schools concentrating on this player or that. How do you win the quest for Pape, for example, when Michigan's defending national champions dazzle the young giant by making him virtually the only player they're recruiting in the area?

UI did well in St. Louis

Illini positives are based on more quality defensive backs, five offensive linemen including Rich Central star Aaron Hodges, and three solid strikes in St. Louis (34-catch Beaumont receiver Lance Young remains firm after announcing for Wisconsin earlier).

As of now, and assuming no squad member departs at the semester break, Turner has 23 scholarships to hand out, plus a trio of previously recruited standouts. Those three are Mesa cornerback Johnny Harris, soon to return, and in-school Prop 48s Antoineo Harris and Carlos Lattimore.

It is the understanding here that Turner has filled his Christmas stocking to the brim, and the late rush of Hodges, tight end Ken Boyle, safety Marc Jackson and juco defensive lineman Terrell Washington put the Illini over the top. While it'll be several years before we know the outcome, prep scout Tom Lemming builds hopes by saying that Hodges, Jackson, Rantoul's big Sean Bubin and St. Louis quarterback Christian Morton probably will make his national Top 100, and Boyle also is being considered for the blue-chip list.

Athletic director Ron Guenther, watching closely as he recovers from knee surgery, obviously is pleased by what he sees.

Morton could be 'genuine article'

Following are the key additions by position:

Quarterback – Missouri's all-time passer, Morton, offers speed at a position where the Illini haven't had it and could develop into the genuine article if he isn't rushed.

Receivers – Boyle possesses exceptional size and mobility at tight end, and wideouts Eric McGoey, Dwayne Smith and Lance Young boast track-level speed.

O-line – Only time will tell, but Hodges arrives from a season in which he has been described as the state's most productive blocker.

Backs – With Antoineo Harris becoming eligible, the UI went for the moon, but All-American Dantae Walker apparently chose Ole Miss.

D-line – Washington should offer immediate help, and Aurora's Jeff Ruffin is a top-drawer All-Stater.

Linebacker – Mount Carmel's Jerry Schumacher is a vital catch, but the key is getting Proviso East super-athlete Phil Macklin in school even though he isn't eligible. Macklin and Schumacher could produce after seniors Eric Guenther and Danny Clark graduate.

Secondary – Marc Jackson could challenge in the fall, as will juco transfers Jacoby Shepherd and Trayvon Waller. Just because the jucos didn't work out in 1998 is no reason to stop trying.

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette.