Edgy Tim's Recruiting News and Notes

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Wednesday was the annual National Letter of Intent Signing Day. While several high school football players across the country did indeed sign scholarship papers, at least from the Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision standpoint, it's becoming clear that the December early signing period for football has now become “The New February.” Need proof? Here is a recap of in-state FBS and FCS schools from yesterday. 

Illinois- Head coach Lovie Smith and the Fighting Illini signed two additional recruits on Wednesday to its Class of 2019, giving Illinois a total of 13 new faces in the class. The program wound up ranked last in the conference according to the Rivals.com Big Ten team recruiting rankings, yet the Fighting Illini landed some key impact players with this group. It includes two standouts from St. Louis Trinity Catholic High School in four star-ranked QB Isaiah Williams (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) and three star-ranked OLB Shammond Cooper (6-foot-2, 205 pounds). Illinois also added five in-state names in this class, led by Montini Catholic two star-ranked RB Nick Fedanzo, Brother Rice three star-ranked OL Evan Kirts plus Bloomington two star-ranked TE Griffin Moore, Phillips three star-ranked DB Joseph Thompson and Belleville West three star-ranked DE Keith Randolph.

Northwestern- Coach Pat Fitzgerald had a very calm day on Wednesday, as the Wildcats added just one new face in Maple Grove two star-ranked RB Evan Hull (5-foot-11, 185 pounds). Hull joins 18 names who signed Letters of Intent in December including three in-state recruits in Bolingbrook three star-ranked DB Cameron Mitchell (5-foot-10, 175 pounds), New Trier three star-ranked T Duke Olges (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) and Batavia three star-ranked LB Michael Jansey Jr. (6-foot-2, 210 pounds). The Wildcats ended up being ranked 11th in the Big Ten according to the  Rivals.com conference team recruiting rankings.

Northern Illinois- New head coach Thomas Hammock was able to sign three new names on Wednesday to the Huskies Class of 2019 with Milwaukee (Wisc) Whitefish Bay OL JJ Lippe (6-foot-4, 275 pounds), Detroit Cass Tech DL James Ester (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) plus Irvington NJ wide receiver Mohamed Toure (6-foot-3, 290 pounds). They join the 16 names already signed to Letters of Intent back in December. NIU’s Class of 2019 includes nine in-state scholarship players, led by Phillips three star-ranked WR Fabian McCray (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) plus Raby 3 star-ranked DB Romel Goston (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) while also adding transfers in former Glenbard North DB Tyrik Henderson plus former H-F WR Ty Richie. 

The in-state Football Championship Subdivision schools (Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois and Western Illinois) will generally load up with in-state talent. That is the case this year, with the exception of Eastern Illinois and new head coach Adam Cushing. They inked 18 of 26 to the Panthers Class of 2019 from within the Land of Lincoln. The remaining FCS in-state programs had modest in-state hauls. 

Eastern Illinois’ feature recruit in this class is Chicago Perspectives three star-ranked defensive linemen Dominic Moore (6-foot-7, 285 pounds). Moore, who didn't announce his college choice until Wednesday morning who already has Power 5 level size and physical tools signed with the Panthers after narrowing down his top schools list to EIU along with Illinois and New Mexico. 

Illinois State and head coach Brock Spack added four in-state named to their Class of 2019 and the headline recruit is Lincoln=-Way East QB Jack Baltz (6-foot-5, 190 pounds). Southern Illinois and head coach Nick Hill added three new in-state names led by East St. Louis OL Devin Hunt (6-foot-2, 290 pounds) while WIU and head coach Jared Elliott added four in-state namesd led by Westinghouse S Tryvis Ously (6-foot-1, 190 pounds). 

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