LB Lavar Gardner commits to Illinois

Twitter: @LavargardnerJrLet's hope the recruiting floodgates open for the Illini going forward in this football class of 2020.

It started with a huge wave Thursday with the commitment of Hutchinson Community College linebacker/safety hybrid Lavar Gardner, which he announced on Twitter.

At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Gardner presents a large, physically imposing presence in the back end of Illinois's defense.

The former Georgia native is a feather in the cap for Lovie Smith and this recruiting staff, as Gardner is a long, rangy athlete who could play multiple positions in the defensive secondary. He also helps fill the void left by Stanley Green, who graduates after 2019, and has stabilized the…