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What Illinois HC Bret Bielema said during his National Signing Day presser
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Bret Bielema didn’t recruit a lot of the guys coming to Champaign as members of Illinois’ 2021 class, but he’s looking forward to coaching them.
Wednesday, Bielema met with the media for a National Signing Day press conference, his first in a few seasons. And this one probably felt a little unusual for the new head coach of the Fighting Illini, as he’s welcoming in a class that he didn’t really recruit.
Having been hired to take over the program in December, most of the 2021 class was recruited by former head coach Lovie Smith and his staff. But Bielema says he’s welcoming the newcomers in with “open arms” and looking forward to seeing what they can bring to the program.
Illinois’ class consisted of just 14 members during the 2021 class, a low count for any school. Bielema has tried to make some late additions on the recruiting trail and has also targeted the transfer portal as a place to bring in more players.
Here’s what Bielema said while meeting with reporters on Wednesday:
#illini Bret Bielema mentions it's an unusual time with welcoming 14 players he didn't recruit but has accepted them "with open arms." pic.twitter.com/DYxO2iut0f
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bielema: "Dwayne Johnson, our version of The Rock." Calls him an outside linebacker/inside linebacker, "really will get a feel for him once he gets on campus."
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Very familiar with transfer RB Chase Hayden, who signed with him and played for him at Arkansas.
Hayden kept in touch through his college career.
"When this opportunity came, I hoped he'd reach out and he did immediately."
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Transfer DB Prather Hudson "very dynamic player" at Georgia. "I love his story, kind of like my story." Started as a walk-on and earned a scholarship.
Wanted transfers who brought in character, winning intangibles.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Wanted to leave a few open scholarships for after spring ball in case more transfer opportunities open up.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Joriell Washington had surgery on a pre-existing foot injury and will miss spring ball.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Today is the end of 2021 football recruiting. We may end one on the end but most of the focus shifts to 2022.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema now sharing a story about how he thought he was "live" when he had the huge Walkie Talkie-like cell phone when he started recruiting. Said the smart phone has changed recruiting the most.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: One of the first things we did was evaluate the 2021 signees. Bart Miller and Terrance Jamison had recruited a lot of those players.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Will have a college personnel director and HS personnel director in recruiting department. Pat Embleton will head it all.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
Bret Bielema has hired someone for his recruiting department to focus on social media and name, image and likeness. Said we'll meet him next week.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema saying he was a bit surprised by how well his staff came together, said he was surprised by the guys they were able to get toward the end of the process (likely meaning McDonald and Kane).
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema said Dwayne Johnson adds a lot of value everywhere, including special teams. Could play DE, OLB or ILB.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) February 3, 2021
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB