Punter grabs B1G offer, plans visit

National Signing Day came and went, but Illinois is still in the market for punter.

The Illini offered Ryan Stonehouse from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei on Friday and are in the process of setting up a visit.

Illinois special teams coach Bob Ligashesky was out in California earlier this month to see Stonehouse.

An offer didn't come before NSD, but when Illinois missed on another target they once again reached out to Stonehouse.

"I've been talking to Illinois for a while," Stonehouse said. "It's a big offer for me."

The highly respected Kohl's Kicking ranks Stonehouse the No. 7 punter in the nation. He averaged 45 yards per punt last season as a senior.

The next step for Illinois is to get Stonehouse on campus for a visit, and a date is being worked to do just that. The offer puts Illinois in Stonehouse's top group.

"My top three are Cal, Illinois, and Colorado State," Stonehouse said. "I'm trying to narrow down my choices and make my decision as quick as I can. I want to be able to evaluate all three schools. "

The signing period runs through April 1, but Stonehouse said he hopes to have his decision made by the end of this month. He is set to visit Colorado St.

Stonehouse also wants to visit Cal, but he is waiting for the school to hire a special teams coach.

"Once I take my visits to all three schools I'll have a better idea of where I really want to go," Stonehouse said. "Right now its coing to come down to opportunity, opportunity, and level of football. All three schools are high level."

Illinois graduates senior punter Ryan Frain, so a spot is open for Stonehouse right away.

"They are selling me on the opportunity, " Stonehouse said. It would be huge to be able to start for four years. That's really an opportunity that Illinois has."