No favorites yet for Rivals250 linebacker

Illinois had 4-star linebacker Cameron McGrone from Indianapolis Lawrence Central on campus for a visit last fall.

“I was there for a game during the season,” McGrone said. “It went great. It’s a nice place to see. The fans were great, and the coaches treated me well.”

A member of the Rivals250, McGrone holds over 15 offers, including Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Louisville, and numerous others.

Illinois appears to have an uphill battle to land McGrone, but he does hold Lovie Smith and his staff in high regard.

“It’s a great staff there,” McGrone said. “I’m looking for a coach who shows interest in my well-being and knows what they’re talking about. That’s what matters to me right now."

McGrone isn’t ready to put out a list of top schools. He’s going through the process and getting to know the coaches.

“I don’t have any favorites, just seeing what schools fit that bill,” McGrone said. “My coaches told me at some point this is going to be tough because of all the schools now interested in me.”

In recent weeks, McGrone has taken visits to Wisconsin, Tennessee, Indiana, and Ohio State.

McGrone broke down some of the things he’s looking for most in a school.

“I want a school I can see myself going to even if I wasn’t playing football,” he said. “I want to get a meaningful degree and the successful football career would be a bonus. I do envision myself playing in the NFL too.”