State playoffs up next for Illini commit Jordyn Slaughter
After making his commitment to Illinois back in June, Belleville (Ill.) Althoff offensive lineman Jordyn Slaughter was finally able to take his official visit to Champaign the weekend before last.
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound three-star lineman had a less than ideal start to his visit after running late. Luckily, Slaughter was able to figure everything out and enjoy the remainder of his weekend.
“I got there behind schedule because of traffic and I missed breakfast, but coach (Nathan) McNeal picked us up from the hotel and took us to the stadium, where I watched the team warm up on the sideline,” Slaughter said. “After the game, we had dinner with coach (Luke) Butkus and a few players.
“That night, Larry Boyd was my host, and we were able to hang out. Then on Sunday, we had breakfast, I went to the stadium to take pictures in more jerseys, and I talked with the coaches. Overall, I really thought the visit was great, even with the tough loss on Saturday.”
Slaughter was disappointed in the result of the Illini’s contest against Rutgers, but his focus was beyond just the final outcome. As he took in the game at Memorial Stadium, his sight was set on the bigger picture.
“The team is very young out there on the field and you saw that in the game,” Slaughter said. “I saw many freshmen that have the potential to do something great, especially with our class coming in next year. And I believe that in a year or two, Illinois could be in the running the Big 10 and hopefully competing for a Big 10 championship.”
Slaughter was also able to interact with several of his future teammates over the weekend. Besides his host Larry Boyd, Slaughter spent a great deal of his time with freshmen Ricky Smalling, Louis Dorsey, and Deon Pate.
“It was a pretty fun experience with all of them,” Slaughter said. “I liked to see how the guys interacted with each other and how they all just acted like brothers would.”
Although the visit was one to remember, Slaughter’s attention is now squarely on his upcoming playoff battle. After helping guide Althoff to a record of 8-1 in the regular season, his squad will face off against Carterville this upcoming Saturday in the first round of the IHSA Class 4A playoffs.
“This game is big for us, because a lot of people didn’t even think our team would make the playoffs, or even have a winning season,” Slaughter said. “But we proved a lot of people wrong all season, and we’re still chasing a state title. Last year, we lost to Rochester in the quarterfinals, and we should be playing them next week if we win, so that could be one of the biggest games in the state. But, we just have to take it a week at a time and we’ll get where we want.”
From a physical standpoint, Slaughter definitely looks the part of a future college offensive lineman. With his large frame, he has worked hard in the weight room to transform his mass into muscle, and he believes this has helped produce better results on the field.
“My run blocking is the biggest thing that I had to improve on from last year, and I think I have done that,” Slaughter said. “And from the film I’ve watched, I believe my footwork has also improved. Last year, I definitely wasn’t as strong as I am now, and that has helped a lot, especially blocking bigger defenders.”
According to Slaughter, offensive line coach Luke Butkus remains in contact with him almost every day. Slaughter added that Butkus makes him feel as if he's "already a player.”
Slaughter’s connection with the staff is something that has stuck with him since the beginning of his recruitment, and it is also a large reason why he is so eager to eventually getting on campus.
“The biggest thing I’m looking forward to at Illinois is being coached by a staff with so much NFL experience,” Slaughter said. “I have a lot of trust in all these guys, and I am looking forward to seeing how they are going to transform me in my time at Illinois.”