Top50 LB Garrett Gets To Illinois

Steve Wiltfong
8 months ago
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Inside Illinois head coach Tim Beckman’s office hangs a poster headlined Dawn Of A New Era.

Garrett's next scheduled visit is for Ohio State.

On it are pictures of top Illini recruiting targets.

While sitting in Beckman’s office and talking to him, Joliet (Ill.) Plainfield South Top50 junior linebacker Clifton Garrett saw his face on the poster.

“It was really cool and it shows how much he really wants me,” Garrett said.

Illinois was the first program to offer the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Garrett back in May. Since then, the nation’s No. 1 outside linebacker according to the 247Composite has seen scholarships come in from the likes of Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Wisconsin.

Garrett has been to Champaign a couple times in the past, and Saturday’s loss to Indiana was his first game at Illinois this fall.

“I had a really good time there,” Garrett said. “It was a good game-day atmosphere. It wasn’t the best game-day atmosphere I’ve seen like Notre Dame or Michigan State but it was still a good game-day atmosphere. I got to do a tour and had a really good time down there.”

Garrett made the trip with Illinois class-of-2013 commit Reggie Spearman and fellow class-of-2014 prospect Jake Kolbe.

“I talked with the coaching staff,” Garrett said. “Coach Beckman is a good guy. Obviously they’re not doing so good but they have a new coaching staff and everyone had to get used to changes. I think they’re going to have a really good program the next few years.”

The next scheduled game visit for Garrett is Ohio State over Thanksgiving weekend for the Michigan game. He added he could take trips prior to that.

Steve Wiltfong
National Recruiting Writer - 247Sports

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8 months ago

http://247sports.com/Article/Clifton-Garrett-feels-wanted-at-Illinois-98318
Joliet (Ill.) Plainfield South LB Clifton Garrett is the nation's No. 1 OLB according to the 247Composite. He visited the Illini campus on Saturday.
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8 months ago

In my opinion, Ohio State and Notre Dame are out in front. Michigan State is right there in the thick of it. Still a lot of things to develop here and many more offers to come. Two schools to watch are LSU and USC. Those are two offers Garrett would like to consider. I see Garrett taking his time with the recruiting process and I would not be surprised to see him uncommitted as he heads into his senior football season.
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8 months ago via 247Sports Mobile

Steve Wiltfong said...
In my opinion, Ohio State and Notre Dame are out in front. Michigan State is right there in the thick of it. Still a lot of things to develop here and many more offers to come. Two schools to watch are LSU and USC. Those are two offers Garrett would like to consider. I see Garrett taking his time with the recruiting process and I would not be surprised to see him uncommitted as he heads into his senior football season.

Do you think OSU is leading or is it OSU/ND? I seem to recall his mom not liking the idea of him heading out to SC. Do the parents want him to stay in the Midwest? Does he plan on getting back to ND this year? Watched his film a few days ago and when he hits someone, they drop to the ground. Really liked seeing him kill kids at the FB position. Would like to see some film of him in pass coverage, looks like all his opponents do is run the ball though.
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8 months ago

star69 said...
Do you think OSU is leading or is it OSU/ND? I seem to recall his mom not liking the idea of him heading out to SC. Do the parents want him to stay in the Midwest? Does he plan on getting back to ND this year? Watched his film a few days ago and when he hits someone, they drop to the ground. Really liked seeing him kill kids at the FB position. Would like to see some film of him in pass coverage, looks like all his opponents do is run the ball though.

Like I said, I believe LSU and USC will be players if they choose to offer.
I think he could get back to ND this fall b/c of close proximity, but no date is set
I don't necessarily think Ohio State is the team to beat. I think ND is right there. Also, early leaders don't mean much here as I think Garrett's recruitment has a long way to go. He'll have plenty more to see and evaluate.
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8 months ago

Illini
TJMMBuckeyes ●
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8 months ago via 247Sports Mobile

I think michigan state is a serious contender, I don't think ohio state is the team to beat for him.
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8 months ago

elite44 said...
I think michigan state is a serious contender, I don't think ohio state is the team to beat for him.

Not sure if serious, explain please...
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star69 said...
Not sure if serious, explain please...

Been quiet on the Ohio State front ever since the FNL incident, Michigan St is talking with a lot of the Core 6 guys which I think helps them a lot with Garrett.
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elite44 said...
Been quiet on the Ohio State front ever since the FNL incident, Michigan St is talking with a lot of the Core 6 guys which I think helps them a lot with Garrett.

I doubt Garrett cares that MSU is recruiting a bunch of core 6 guys. OSU and ND are also recruiting several core 6 guys. Garrett's recruitment has been quiet since his football season started so that's nothing to worry about either.
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8 months ago via 247Sports Mobile

Sgeason56 said...
I doubt Garrett cares that MSU is recruiting a bunch of core 6 guys. OSU and ND are also recruiting several core 6 guys. Garrett's recruitment has been quiet since his football season started so that's nothing to worry about either.

What other core six guys are we actually perusing to be buckeyes?
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8 months ago

elite44 said...
What other core six guys are we actually perusing to be buckeyes?
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8 months ago

I wouldn't say it's a big deal that MSU is recruiting other Core 6 guys, but I don't know how tight-knit that group may or may not be. Doubt it's gonna be a package deal thing though, so I don't think it will have a huge impact.
I would still say we have a chance as he's enjoyed his visits here and is getting familiar with the coaching staff. But as Kelly and Meyer become more stable in their positions, ND and OSU could form the same relationships. A few months ago, Kelly's future wasn't certain and Meyer hadn't coached a game at OSU.

This post was edited by Cuba Gooding Jr on 10/28/2012 at 9:31 PM
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