Illinois Football: OL Pat Bartlett High on Lovie Smith
The Illinois football team still has a lot of work left to do to close up the class of 2017.
It is fun to look at the skill position players and see a fast recruit commit or a great arm come to the program to play quarterback.
But, the players who don’t get enough attention are the offensive linemen.
Class of 2017 recruit Pat Bartlett is a player to keep your eye on if you are an Illinois football fan.
Bartlett is a 3-star offensive lineman who is the No. 1343 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 20 player in the state of Pennsylvania. He stands at 6-foot-6 and 315-pounds.
The recruitment of Bartlett is a little slow right now with three scholarships offered from Florida Atlantic, Monmouth, and Illinois.
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But, more scholarships are bound to follow. Bartlett has taken unofficial visits to Penn State, UConn, Rutgers, Boston College and Michigan State.
I wouldn’t doubt by the time National Signing Day rolls around, Bartlett will be sitting with near double-digit offers.
Illinois could use a player like Bartlett, though. They are always in need of offensive line help, just look at the struggles on the field this season.
Joe Spencer and Austin Schmidt will both be departing after this season. That potentially leaves Harry Black to step in at center and Adam Solomon to fill in at left tackle.
The entire offensive line is a big question mark, though.
I am sure, based on what has happened this season already, that in 2017 there will be an open competition for all five starting offensive line positions.
Bartlett at the very least would be a nice addition for depth on the offensive line. I don’t know if he would get much playing time year one, but he would have the opportunity.
Right now, Bartlett is just looking for a place where he can reach his fullest potential as an athlete and student. He potentially sees that place at Illinois.
“I like the new staff,” according to Bartlett, “because they bring a lot of experience to the table, and they will be able to get the best out of me.”
This is a little bit of the Lovie Effect taking place with this talented offensive lineman. When the coaching changed happened, it made a lot of recruits take notice.
When it comes down to a commitment for Bartlett, he told us that Illinois will be in play once he gets down to a decision. He is also trying to find time to get over to Champaign for a visit as well.
Don’t look for a commitment anytime soon, though. Bartlett is projecting a decision sometime either in late January or at the latest early February.
Initial signing date for the class of 2017 is February 1, 2017.
Bartlett is one of many recruits Lovie and the Illini are still recruiting. Building that offensive line is a huge task, but it has to be done because We Will Win.
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