The mid-year recruiting cycle is heating up and the Illinois soccer team is in the middle of the action.
With three players already signed for 2023, the Illini aim to build one of the best recruiting classes in the country. About a week ago there was a crystal ball prediction for Dante Barone. He’s a defender who would help the program tremendously. It looks like more predictions are coming true in favor of the Illini.
Two different Crystal Ball predictions were made Wednesday for Illinois to land 2023 offensive lineman Zach Aamland. He will pay an official visit to Champaign over the weekend of June 3rd. Hopefully this is a prediction that will come true in the coming weeks.
Aamland also already has a lot of recruiting attention. In addition to the official visit to Illinois, he also has scheduled visits to Pittsburgh and West Virginia. This recruiting attention comes for a good reason. Aamland is a rising star in the high school ranks. He is currently a three-star recruit ranked as the No. 93 offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 21 player from New Jersey.
Zach Aamland would bring a lot of greatness to the Illinois football program.
I know the rankings don’t jump off the page when it comes to Aamland. 247Sports don’t have him at national level yet, but based on the lad’s size alone, I’m curious to see what he could form up front.
Aamland enters the collegiate ranks at 6-foot-6, 285-lbs. This is a high school level monster, and I imagine a college training program like the one in Illinois will only make him bigger and stronger.
The main thing that strikes me about Aamland’s game is his willingness to find and block a defender. I know that doesn’t sound like much but Aamland clearly just wants to hit someone. He doesn’t just stand around. This boy has an urge to enter his man’s body and that’s what I want on the Illinois offense.
I would also like to add that I like Aamland’s draft ability. This will make him more versatile at the next level as he can be used in either the tackle or guard position for the Illini.
I’m always happy when Illinois is predicted to land an offensive lineman. Bret Bielema has a great ability to develop players on offense and Aamland could be the next great player he sends to the NFL.
