When Lovie Smith was hired by Illinois, it was only a matter of time until the Orange and Blue began focusing on the talent-rich fields of Texas for recruiting. Smith, a native of the Lone Star State, scheduled a few local satellite camps and the interest was noticeable. Over 400 players showed up at the program's Dallas-area showcase on June 8.
It's probably impossible for coaches to truly scout that many prospects over the course of a few hours, but three players from Cedar Hill high school -- one of the state's top programs -- evidently caught the staff's attention.