Nathan Scheelhaase is the most important football player to wear an Illini uniform in at least the last five years.

That statement isn’t aiming for shock value; it’s just a fact. Even though that time frame extends to Illinois’ last BCS bowl game - the Rose Bowl no less - there hasn’t been another individual player that meant so much to the program. That Rose Bowl team was stacked with talent and regularly struggled at the quarterback position. Tailback Rashard Mendenhall might have been that team’s MVP, but he wasn’t carrying the burden of a team in full upheaval.

No, that player is Nathan Scheelhaase…

Recruiting is as crucial an element of a college football team’s success as any other. This is well documented. When a new coaching staff comes in - especially at a non-premier football school such as the University of Illinois - there is generally not a whole lot to gain from analyzing the first recruiting class…