Illini restock in a big way

Ron Zook doesn't have a bigger fan than his older brother Bob, who does his utmost to ensure his schedule as a private pilot doesn't conflict with Illinois games.

Bob still regrets that work kept him from being on the sidelines when the Illini knocked off top-ranked Ohio State on Nov. 10.

But now Bob has loftier games he hopes to attend.

When the Zook brothers spoke before dawn on national signing day, Ron had to do his best recruiting job to keep Bob from going out and getting sized for a national championship ring.

More Coverage Links U. of I. recruiting class [02/07/08] Notre Dame recruiting class [02/07/08] Northwestern recruiting class [02/07/08] NIU recruiting class [02/06/08]

"I was talking about, if this thing goes the way I think it can go, then I think we've got a chance of it being the best class I've ever been around," Ron said.

"Now of course, he started naming off some classes (at Florida) and he said, 'They went on to be national champions.'

"And I said, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. There's a lot of things that have to happen to get into that game.' "

But there's little question that one of those things occurred Wednesday when Illinois unveiled its 29-man recruiting class.

Though the Illini couldn't lure superstar running back Jamie Harper from Clemson at the last minute, Rivals.com ranked Illinois' class No. 23 and Scout.com said it checked in at No. 18.

According to both Internet gurus, Illinois' top recruit was Hialeah, Fla., defensive lineman Corey Liuget, a Top 100 pick who spurned national champion LSU and others to stick with his long-held Illini commitment.

But Illinois figures to get the most immediate impact from its four receivers, two tight ends and two running backs.

Cleveland wideout Cordale Scott, who turned down Ohio State, and Jacksonville, Fla., product A.J. Jenkins, who initially committed to Georgia Tech and eventually turned down all three Florida schools, should be on the field with Big Ten freshman of the year Rejus Benn next fall.

Then, too, so could Tampa's Fred Sykes and Simeon High School's Jack Ramsey.

"We still don't have enough receivers, but we've helped that immensely this year," Zook said. "(Scott and Jenkins) had people in their families that didn't want them to leave. And I think that says an awful lot for the type of character they are.

"Just like 'Rejus,' they want to blaze their own trail and be their own type of person #8230; that's part of winning. That's part of having the type of guys that are going to be special for you on the field."

Scranton, Pa., tight end Hubie Graham, a four-star recruit, and Cahokia's London Davis tripled Illinois' numbers at tight end. Both should play immediately alongside junior Michael Hoomanawanui.

Rashard Mendenhall's early NFL entry leaves a gaping hole at running back, which means Belleville's Jason Ford and Champaign's Mikel LeShoure have legitimate chances to play in the Aug. 30 opener against Missouri.

Ford, one of eight Illini recruits who initially committed to another BCS school, rushed for 6,415 yards and 75 touchdowns at Belleville Althoff.

"The last thing I told Jason Ford (Wednesday) was, 'All right, Jason. Now you've got to get ready to go,' " Zook said. "Obviously Jason Ford is a guy that we're hoping can come in and contribute very, very early."

Safety Donsay Hardeman, the lone junior-college transfer in the group, stacks up as the other incoming recruit who will contend for a starting job immediately.

Sophomores Travon Bellamy and Nate Bussey -- as well as sophomore receiver Brian Gamble, should he switch back to defense -- also are in line to fill the holes created by the graduations of Kevin Mitchell and Justin Harrison.