CHAMPAIGN – One player is a no-brainer, a safe bet to make a contribution on a Big Ten Conference program trying to climb back to relevancy. The other is a freak of nature athletically who needs to find a home where he can develop, but it’s hard to say at this point if he’s a home run or a strikeout.

But as Illinois rebuilds under coach Lovie Smith, the Illini know where to fish the talent pool. Garden City (Kan.) Community College just posted a 12-0 record and won the junior college national championship. Garden City coach Jeff Sims can assemble a roster. In his coaching career, he developed 41 players who reached the NFL, including 13 of them on active rosters.

“If you want to come to junior college to get a player, where I’m coaching is a pretty good place to do it,’’ Sims said.

Illinois grabbed commitments from Garden City quarterback Dwayne Lawson and linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips. While Phillips relied on his work ethic and desire to build himself into a leader and an impact player in major-college football, Lawson is a prospect with great upside and natural ability who just needs to find a home where he can grow as a player. If that happens, he could be a first rounder.

When a Division I programs grabs up JUCO commitments, the plan is to sign impact players. If so, the Illini would give these two Garden City products every possible chance to earn significant playing time next fall.

Of course, everyone’s favorite quarterback is the next one in line, so Lawson’s commitment with the Illini attracted the most attention. When he left Virginia Tech, he was hailed as a prospect who didn’t work out during the coaching transition. A physically gifted player, he’s still a work in progress, Sims said, but Lawson could blossom into something extraordinary.

“There’s not many people in America as athletic as Dwayne,’’ Sims said. “Dwayne is 6-foot-6, 230 pounds. He was a state champ long jumper and triple jumper. He’s got a cannon for an arm. The key with Dwayne is that Dwayne is still young. He doesn’t even know what to do with all that athleticism.

“I’m sure Illinois wants him to come in and play right away. He needs a little bit of development. He’s so talented. He’s not worked at the level for him to be great. The upside for Dwayne is tremendous.’’

Lawson was rated as the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback nationally by Rivals.com when he committed to Virginia Tech out of Hillsborough High School in Tampa. He played sparingly as a true freshman for Virginia Tech in Frank Beamer’s final season as head coach in 2015. When the preseason drills began last fall under recently hired coach Justin Fuente, Lawson found himself behind two players, including a recent junior-college transfer.

Virginia Tech announced Lawson was transferring to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, but Illini offensive coordinator Garrick McGee helped place Lawson with Sims at Garden City, Sims said. McGee and Sims have known each other for 15 years.

“They let us know, and we jumped on him,’’ Lawson said. “They trust our process here.’’

Lawson didn’t arrive at Garden City until the season had already started. He played quarterback but was essentially a backup in a stacked program already on the fast track toward a championship. Lawson was a team player who logged time at quarterback and special teams, where he blocked a punt and a field goal, Sims said.

Athletically, Lawson is “a freak of nature,’’ Sims said.

But there’s still plenty of coaching to do.

“He legitimately can be anything he wants to be,’’ Sims said. “He’s the most athletic guy on any teams he joins. Everybody likes to say he’s Cam Newton. He’s not Cam Newton, but he looks like it. Dwayne’s No. 1 problem is everyone wants him to be the No. 1 player in America when he shows up. He has all the tools, everything everybody wants him to be. We still have to understand he’s a guy who played a few plays at Virginia Tech and a few plays in junior college.’’

Lawson has academic work to complete before he arrives in Champaign in June. When he sets foot on campus, Lawson faces a busy offseason of learning the playbook and getting comfortable in another system. That’s the fourth coach in three seasons for Lawson.

“He has the tools to be the best player in the Big Ten, but he’s not the best player in the Big Ten right now,’’ Sims said. “He needs some coaching. He needs some time. If people can give him time to develop, he’d be great.’’

Illinois is likely recruiting Lawson to start, unless the Illini staff land a fifth-year senior transfer who has the ability to start this fall and allow Lawson to develop as a redshirt. Yet it still might be hard to hold back Lawson’s physical tools.

Phillips’ story is a little different.

“The difference between him and Dwayne is that God gave Dwayne 50 coins and Del’Shawn got about 25.’’

But, Sims said, that’s not to detract from Phillips’ ability as a 6-3, 230-pounder who is made to play in the middle. He was a hard worker and a leader in a program that flipped from a perennial loser (taking an 84-21 loss in its final game before hiring Sims) to national champ in two years.

“Del’Shawn is the total package,’’ Sims said. “He’s hard working, intelligent and made himself into everything he is. He put the work ethic out there to be the best he can be. He’s one of the main reasons we played for the national championship. Everybody follows him. Del’Shawn is as vital (to the championship) as anybody on the football team.’’

Phillips originally committed to Western Michigan from Cass Tech in Detroit but eventually ended up at Garden City because of grades. Like Lawson, Sims sees a bright future at Illinois for Phillips. And Sims knows the territory. Before he took over at Garden City, Sims worked as the senior director of player personnel at Indiana under former Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson.

Phillips will enroll for the spring semester and compete in spring practice with the Illini. Cornerback Mike Hughes is a third Garden City prospect coveted by the Illini, but it appears TCU and Auburn lead the chase in the hunt for his commitment.

But getting two key players from the JUCO national champion is a good start for the Illini. Sims knows what these players can do.

“I’ve coached in Conference USA and the Big Ten,’’ he said. “I’ve coached two first-rounders. We have great players. Del’Shawn and Dwayne are two of 20 guys on my team that are Division I guys.’’

Illinois could use a few more impact players. Lovie and his staff apparently found two at Garden City.

John Supinie is a columnist for Orangeandbluenews.com. During the day, he’s an Audi Brand Specialist at Green Audi in Springfield. Call or text him at 217-377-1977 if you’re looking for an Audi, Volkswagen, Toyota or preowned car. Ask for the Illini deal.