CHAMPAIGN — Tim Beckman has been playing catchup. Just like 25 other Division I-A football coaches.

They have all been rushing to National Signing Day after taking over at new places.

Three are in the Big Ten, Beckman joined by Ohio State's Urban Meyer and Penn State's Bill O'Brien. At least Beckman and Meyer have been able to give their undivided attention to recruiting. O'Brien is coaching in Sunday's Super Bowl with the New England Patriots.

Illinois hired Beckman on Dec. 9, giving him less than two months to hire a staff and put together a signing class.

As of Tuesday night, Illinois had 18 commitments. The Illini coaches were hoping to hear a "yes" today from two or three others.

"It's been extremely busy," Beckman said on the eve of his first Illinois signing class.

To Beckman, recruiting really started with four players already on campus: bandit Michael Buchanan, cornerback Terry Hawthorne, center Graham Pocic and defensive tackle Akeem Spence. The four all considered early entry in the NFL draft before deciding to return to Illinois.

"Those four will be at our Signing Day (celebration) because those young men made commitments to this program to stay and be involved," Beckman said. "That hasn't been the norm around here. They decided it's very important that they fulfill their senior years."

The Illinois recruiting class wasn't empty when Beckman took over. Half of his current list of players had made a commitment to Ron Zook's staff. A big part of Beckman's job was convincing the players to stay with Illinois.

"I told them exactly what the intentions are of this program and what we wanted to get accomplished in this first year," Beckman said.

Beckman's recruiting philosophy doesn't change, whether he is recruiting at Illinois or Toledo.

"It's about trying to fit the people into your program who you believe in," Beckman said.

While they have been trying to put together the best possible class for 2012, Beckman and his assistants also have been working ahead on 2013.

There is a strong group of high school junior prospects in the state.

"We've had multiple weekends where we've brought in the 2012 class and the next day we brought in the 2013 class," Beckman said. "It's very important for us to get out and be seen and to showcase our new coaching staff."

Beckman has handed out recruiting assignments to his assistants.

"We've tried to get coaches in those areas so they can start building the relationships," Beckman said.

All nine will have a segment of Illinois, with Luke Butkus, Alex Golesh, Mike Ward and Steve Clinkscale working in the Chicago area.

Co-offensive coordinator Billy Gonzales will have the middle part of the state. Co-offensive coordinator Chris Beatty will work Illinois' side of the St. Louis metro area and the rest of southern Illinois. Tim Salem will work the Missouri side of St. Louis.

Outside of Illinois, the recruiting areas will include Ohio, Michigan, the Southeast, East, Texas and California.

"We all have our contacts in our areas," Beckman said.