First Power 5 offer in for Florida defender
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An Illinois offer went out this weekend to 2016 South Florida prospect Rashad Weaver, his first from a Power 5 conference program.
Weaver is a 6-foot-5, 245-pound defensive end from Cooper City (Fla.). Illini defensive line coach Mike Phair watched Weaver at a spring practice recently, and the Illini staff decided to pull the trigger on an offer.
"It's the biggest offer I have yet," Weaver said. "They told me they are looking for a pass rusher. They looked at my film and decided to offer me."
New quarterbacks coach Ryan Cubit works the Broward County area for the Illini and will be the lead recruiter for Weaver, who could play the hybrid Leo position at Illinois, or strong-side defensive end.
With the offer on the table, Weaver wants to make a trip north to check out Illinois first hand.
"Most of my family lives in Indiana, so I plan on going up there this summer and have my dad drive me to the campus for a visit," Weaver said. "I want to look at the education at Illinois. That's one of the biggest things for me."
Location isn't a factor, according to Weaver. He's looking for the best balance between football and academics.
"My other offers are Colgate, Lafayette, and Air Force, and I have several Ivy League school recruiting me," he said. "I 've talked to Iowa State, Vanderbilt, Georgia Southern, and FIU. I'm just looking for the best school for me."
Some other trips may be in the works for Weaver this summer, and he plans to attend some camps. He participated in the Rivals Combine Series earlier this summer in Tampa.
Though Illinois is the first big school to offer, others are likely to follow. Weaver attributes the uptick in his recruitment to the work he has put in during the off season.
"I've made so much progress," Weaver said. "Not only in the weight room, but with my technique. I'm definitely ready for the season coming up."
Look for Weaver to make his final college decision sometime before the beginning of his senior year in high school.
"The plan is most likely towards the end of the summer before the season," Weaver said. "Right now I'm focusing on my spring and trying to get bigger."