ILLINI ADD FIVE DURING FEBRUARY SIGNING DAY
Lovie Smith and staff add class of 24 between December and February signing periods
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois head football coach Lovie Smith announced Wednesday the signing of five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the February signing period.
The five new Illini join 18 student-athletes that signed NLIs during the new early signing period in December and graduate transfer from WR Shaedon Meadors in the 2018 incoming class.
The 24-man class includes 10 players from the state of Florida, four from California, four from Illinois, four from Texas, one from Missouri and one from South Carolina. The class is balanced, with 11 defensive players (3 DL, 2 LB, 6 DB) and 13 offensive players (3 QB, 2 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR, 4 OL).
The Illini have one scholarship slot remaining in the 2018 class.
Five of the early signees already are enrolled at Illinois during the 2018 spring semester and will participate in spring ball – freshmen Verdis Brown, Jakari Norwood, Reuben Unije, Nick Walker and Meadors.
| 2018 February Signees (5) | ||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/Previous School |
| Jacob Hollins | LB | 6-2 | 215 | Fresno, Calif./Central East |
| Ezekiel Holmes | DL | 6-5 | 205 | Wichita Falls, Tex./Hirschi |
| Matt Robinson | QB | 6-1 | 180 | San Juan Capistrano, Calif./J Serra Catholic |
| Kenyon Sims | RB | 5-11 | 195 | San Diego, Calif./Lincoln |
| Coran Taylor | QB | 6-3 | 205 | Peoria, Ill./Peoria |
| 2018 Early Signees (18) | ||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/Previous School |
| Calvin Avery | DL | 6-2 | 310 | Dallas, Tex./Bishop Dunne |
| Daniel Barker | TE | 6-4 | 230 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Deerfield Beach |
| Sydney Brown | DB | 6-0 | 190 | Bradenton, Fla./St. Stephens Episcopal School |
| Verdis Brown* | DL | 6-3 | 295 | Chicago, Ill./IMG Academy (Fla.) |
| Edwin Carter | WR | 6-3 | 180 | Jacksonville, Fla./Sandalwood |
| Ron Hardge III | DB | 6-1 | 175 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons |
| Kerby Joseph | DB | 6-2 | 185 | Orlando, Fla./Jones |
| Jartavius Martin | DB | 6-0 | 175 | Lehigh Acres, Fla./Lehigh Acres |
| Kievan Myers | OL | 6-5 | 330 | Dallas, Tex./Dishop Dunne |
| Jakari Norwood* | RB | 5-10 | 175 | Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach |
| Julian Pearl | OL | 6-7 | 250 | Danville, Ill./Danville |
| MJ Rivers | QB | 6-4 | 215 | Frisco, Tex./Lone Star |
| Carlos Sandy | WR | 5-9 | 165 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons |
| Jordyn Slaughter | OL | 6-5 | 295 | Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic |
| Khalan Tolson | LB | 6-0 | 200 | St. Petersburg, Fla./Admiral Farragut Academy |
| Reuben Unije* | OL | 6-6 | 310 | Bradenton, Fla./IMG Academy |
| Nick Walker* | DB | 5-10 | 175 | St. Louis, Mo./Cisco College (Texas) |
| Delano Ware | DB | 6-0 | 190 | El Cerrito, Calif./El Cerrito |
| 2018 Graduate Transfers (1) | ||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/Last College |
| Shaedon Meadors* | WR | 6-2 | 180 | Duncan, S.C./Appalachian State |
* Early enrollee, Jan. 2018