What Illinois' Bret Bielema said during NSD press conference
The 2022 recruiting cycle comes to an end Wednesday with National Signing Day going on across the country.
With it, Bret Bielema is completing a solid class for Illinois after a 5-7 finish to his first season in Champaign. As things currently stand, the Illini have the No. 45 ranked recruiting class in the country, nearly a 30-spot jump from last year’s No. 73 finish.
That group is headlined by 3-star ATH Aidan Laughery with a decided focus on in-state prospects and the offensive line. Bielema’s staff is adding 11 players from the state of Illinois and 7 recruits along the offensive line.
Following the action from Wednesday, here is what Bielema had to say at his National Signing Day press conference:
#illini Bret Bielema: Matt Bailey has been on our radar since last spring. A great story.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 2, 2022
Bielema on signee Matt Bailey “For me I said I was going to recruit the State of Illinois. The opportunity to grab Matt, this was the definition we were looking for.” https://t.co/JWebjwsfG6
— Alessandra Pontbriand (@APontbriandTV) February 2, 2022
#illini Bret Bielema: Saw Zylon Crisler in the fall. Had him on list to recruit for Class of 2023 but found out he was a full qualifier out of HS and pursued that before any other schools knew it.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 2, 2022
#Illini HC Bret Bielema on the next signee, Zy Crisler from Mississippi “He has unbelievable athleticism. Plays left and right tackle, great versatility. Big athletes tend to slow their feet when they begin to move, he stays on his feet and stays engaged.”
— Alessandra Pontbriand (@APontbriandTV) February 2, 2022
#illini Bret Bielema: Had set aside scholarships for portal players but when the opportunity came to get Matt … he’s the definition of what we’re looking for: length, athleticism, football IQ and a great person as well.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 2, 2022
Bielema: Syracuse transfer QB Tommy DeVito gives immediate QB competition as a grad transfer. Very excited about his arm talent.
— Andy Kimball (@byAndyKimball) February 2, 2022
#illini Bret Bielema: From an NFL standpoint, Zylon Crisler’s measurables are incredible.
— Joey Wagner (@mrwagner25) February 2, 2022
#illini Bret Bielema: Everything is going great in Art Sitkowski’s recovery.
— Joey Wagner (@mrwagner25) February 2, 2022
#illini Bret Bielema reiterates they won’t “go wholesale” on transfers. Very picky about the transfer players (and character of players) he brings in.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 2, 2022
#Illini Bielema “When you bring in a player like Tommy, I did my research with a guy with one year of eligibility. You need him to represent what we believe in.”
— Alessandra Pontbriand (@APontbriandTV) February 2, 2022
#illini Bret Bielema references having the most in-state prospects since 2003 and that that was the senior class the led Illinois to a Rose Bowl.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 2, 2022
#Illini Bielema on OC transition “The first home I sent Coach Lunney to was Donovan Leary.”
— Alessandra Pontbriand (@APontbriandTV) February 2, 2022
#illini Bret Bielema said Josh Whitman allowed him to expand walk-on program and increase roster size from 110 to almost 120.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 2, 2022
#illini Bret Bielema said they appealed to get Michael Marchese an extra season of eligibility because he missed 4 games during COVID season. NCAA approved.
Said he “has one more trick up his sleeves” that could boost the 2022 roster.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 2, 2022
https://twitter.com/JWerner247/status/1489005188157431809?s=20&t=1fMEsgwc8BtfEWhiS–s3g