Ryan (Bmore, MD): I ask every week...please just say no news if there is nothing. Puh puh puhlease. Melvin Alaeze...whats the latest? Thanks.

 

Craig Haubert: (3:57 PM ET ) What we have heard he is trying to attend Illinois and they are trying to get him into school

wow, this is big melvin alaeze was a 5-star DE out of maryland just a few years ago and it looks like he maybe headed to UI. this worries me just a little because if they can land someone like him then they are cappable of grabbing benn, wilson and hughes (benn will be irish).

Yeah, Illinois worries me some. Benn a little, but more so with Hughes and Martez Wilson. Maybe Zook is telling them you will be the man if you come here. That's true, but I doubt that group can remedy anything fast...If they attend a game where they are shellacked, that should take care of it.

 

OSU worries me more. Today is was reported that Martez Wilson, Hughes and our old friend Josh Brent will visit (officially) in Decemeber...

 

Hopefully by that time we are gearing up to play in a BCS Bowl, preferably the National Championship game

Kinds worried about Tez, in that he could follow Hughes if to Illinois. But I think when it comes down to it they just wont want to go to a lousy team like that.

If they got only Hughes I wouldnt be heartbroken. We need an elite speed/all purpose back in this class more than power.

Fellas, don't fret too much.

 

U of I is a basketball school. Their game day atmosphere blows cow dung, which is what you smell when you go to a game (seriously).

 

ND is closer to Hughes and Tez, they'll win there and get a better education. U of I is a good school, but football is not there just yet. They would need to have a very good 2006 season to attract the likes of kids like Benn, Hughes and Wilson.

 

When Zook was at Florida, Florida was Florida to recruits. He's going to have to sell twice as hard and win fast or he won't get these guys.

jigga thats great

 

nice to see u over here

I'm not sure that the ability to recruit Melvin Alaeze shows that Zook is going to recruit the best and the brightest... definetly not the brightest.

 

This kid was a nonqualifier that had to go to Hargrove Military Academy, yes the same institution that the NCAA recently banned but then changed their mind after being threatened with a law suit, where he was able to get a degree and qualify, part of the money back garuntee.

 

He then did something that got him kicked out of school completely from Maryland... It had to be bid for RF to kick out the biggest recruit he has landed in years. Although I'm sure he would be a good polayer... I know I would not want him on my team.

im getting sick of writing this to you guys every time you get worried

 

Benn is irish quit worrying about the illini

im getting sick of writing this to you guys every time you get worried

 

Benn is irish quit worrying about the illini

Yea, I am not the least bit worried about a school who is known more for it's hoops squad than it's football team. Benn and Hughes will be Irish and unless 'Tez gets 'Tha U' offer, he will be coming on board too.

It was a marijuana possesion charge for getting kicked out of Maryland and Zook is getting him in when no one wants him because he is desperate for some talent, but I think in three and four years we are gonna see a competetive Illini football team. I dont think that Zook is a great coach, but he will seriously upgrade teh talent there and it is a very fun school with the most greeks of anywhere in the nation and awesome bars. It can be attractive to young people, especially if they know people there.

Read about this kid and it is a similar situation to that of Randy Moss or Lawrence Phillips. "At what price success?"

Zook only has guys listening because of his Florida and Maryland connections. That's it.

 

If you are really worried about Benn going to ILL over ND, I feel sorry for you.

 

Clearly, not paying attention.

Don’t worry about Illinois doing well this year in the Big Ten. They play Iowa and Ohio State at home, but they play michigan state, Penn State, Wisconsin and Northwestern on the road. PSU, Wisconsin and Tosu are 3 games in a row that they will lose. Don’t worry about anyone that is looking for a winning team, especially Benn. They have 2 give me games this year with Eastern Illinois and Ohio at home, plus they play Syracuse, Rutgers, Indiana and Purdue and will not win all 4 of them.

watch out for purdue this year

I'm not sure we should be worried about Illinois grabbing Martez or Hughes. They are an emerging program. But with inferior academics and being a middling team in the Big Ten at best, what do they have over ND.

 

I'm not too concerned about either of the Chicago kids going to the in state school. Martez has a reasonable shot to come in and start right away. When you can do that at a program like Notre Dame, that has to count for something.

What's sad is that U of I will probably have Josh Brent to go along with Darryle Ballew at DT. I'm curious to see how the DT recruiting shakes down by February.

 

They've got a loooooong way to go. Indiana thumped them last year. They should be closer to IU even in defeat. That Penn State lashing was like watching a televised execution.

 

They're going to have to have a BIG year in 2006 to get guys like these. Zook can recruit and work the sale, but this ain't Florida.