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Free Rivals (excerpt)

6/9/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>Illinois has potential <HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1></TD></TR><TR><TD>JC Shurburtt
Rivals100.com </TD><TD noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Potential is the word best-used to describe the top 50 prospects in the state of Illinois for the Class of 2006.


<!--Start Image--><SCRIPT ********************>document.write(insertImage('/IMAGES/Camper/PHOTO/ISIAHWILLIAMS3_16A200.JPG', '', 0, 267, 200, 1, 'Quarterback Isiah Williams has the strongest arm in the state of Illinois.', 'Rivals.com', 1118263963000, '', 880, 'Align=Left'));</SCRIPT><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=202></TD><TD width=6 rowSpan=4></TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>Rivals.com</TD></TR><TR><TD height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Quarterback Isiah Williams has the strongest arm in the state of Illinois.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End Image-->While last year's crop, particularly on the offensive line, was one of the best in history, this year's group has more skill position players at the top and doesn't have quite the deep quality that the Class of 2005 had.

"Last year, Chicago was a destination," Rivals.com recruiting analyst Tim O'Halloran said. "This year, it is a stop-over."

Click HERE to view the 2006 preseason Illinois Top 50.

But that doesn't mean that there isn't a talented group in the Land of Lincoln. Led by Rivals100 quarterback Demetrius Jones, the preseason Illinois Top 50 is full of potentially great college football players, particularly at the skills positions.

"This class has a chance to be average or above average," O'Halloran said. "Overall, it is down from last year."

Jones, a dynamic dual-threat quarterback, is a four-star rated prospect and the No. 53 overall prospect in the country. He brings intangibles to the game that can't be taught.

"He might not have the strongest arm or be the fastest kid," O'Halloran said. "But he's a special player and you want him to have the ball in his hands. I've seen him take over games and you won't see that very often. "He fits the prototype of what colleges are looking for in a quarterback."

The 2006 preseason Illinois Top 50