Lovie Smith certainly isn’t afraid to pursue committed players, it appears. Illinois football offered a scholarship to three-star quarterback and Florida State commit James Blackman (FL) on Monday. The 6-foot-5 Glades Central product is rated as the No. 655 overall player in 247Sports’ composite rankings.
Blackman committed to the Seminoles on August 3; he’s the second quarterback committed to the program, which is apparently part of Jimbo Fisher’s plan for this recruiting cycle.
It’s interesting that Illinois is still scanning the high school ranks for help at the position. The Illini do need to add another quarterback now that Jimmy Fitzgerald has transferred, though opting for the JUCO/graduate transfer route would seem to make more sense.