CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Four new members of the Fighting Illini football team began classes today at the University of Illinois. Three graduated from high school early – Owen Carney Jr., Carmoni Green and HoJo Watkins Jr. – and one came from junior college – Del’Shawn Phillips – to enroll at Illinois for the spring semester and start workouts with the Illini. The rest of the 2017 Illini Signing Class will be announced on Feb. 1 when the National Letter of Intent period begins.
Here are Illinois’ four early enrollees:
DE Owen Carney Jr. (6-3, 230), Miami, Fla. (Miami Central)
» Four-star recruit by Rivals
» Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Scout
» Ranked as a top 500 recruit in the nation by 247Sports
» Ranked No. 16 weakside defensive end by Rivals and No. 30 by 247Sports
» Ranked No. 43 defensive end in the nation by Scout and No. 54 by ESPN
» Ranked No. 46 recruit in Florida by Rivals, No. 78 by 247Sports and No. 90 by ESPN
» Ranked No. 13 recruit in Miami by the Miami Herald
» Helped Miami Central win its fourth straight state title in 2015
» Played high school football at Miami Central for head coach Roland Smith
» High school teammate with fellow Illini Carmoni Green
» Honor Roll in high school
» Offers included Cal, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Mississippi State, Navy, UCF, Utah and Wake Forest
» Verbally committed to Illinois on Christmas Day 2016
» Picked Illinois because, “of the relationship developed with the coaching staff.”
» Plans to major in business
» Born Feb. 8, 1999
» Son of Owen Carney Sr. and Valeria Elmore-Carney
» Has one sister, O’Neshia Carney, and one brother, O’Juan Carney
» Relatives Keir Thomas (South Carolina) and Da’Marrio Jackson-Smith (Kansas State) play college football
WR Carmoni Green (6-1, 190), Miami, Fla. (Miami Central)
» Four-star recruit by Rivals
» Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Scout
» Ranked No. 52 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals, No. 84 by 247Sports and No. 93 by Scout
» Ranked No. 55 recruit in Florida by Rivals and No. 82 by 247Sports
» Ranked No. 9 recruit in Miami by the Miami Herald
» Played high school football at Miami Central for head coach Roland Smith
» High school teammate with fellow Illini Owen Carney
» Helped Miami Central win its fourth straight state title in 2015, catching one touchdown in the 48-13 championship game win over Armwood
» Caught 25 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns as a junior
» Offers included North Carolina, Pitt, South Florida, UCF and Utah
» Verbally committed to Illinois in August 2016
» Picked Illinois because, “My family loved this school and I felt like I can play early and help the team get back on top.”
» Listed Antonio Brown as his favorite athlete because they are from the same area and their playing style is similar
» Born Oct. 22, 1998
» Son of Carmela Ross
» Has two sisters, Charleshia Green and Carmeshia Green, and one brother, Alvin “Chico” Wallace
» Cousin, Deatrick Nichols, plays football at South Florida
LB Del’Shawn Phillips (6-1, 230), Highland Park, Mich. (Detroit Cass Tech/Garden City C.C.)
» Will enroll at Illinois with two years of eligibility left
» Four-star recruit by Scout
» Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN
» Ranked No. 14 junior college recruit in the nation by Scout, No. 19 by 247Sports and No. 44 by Rivals
» Ranked No. 2 junior college linebacker in the nation by 247Sports and No. 3 by ESPN
» Led Garden City to a junior college national title in 2016
» Garden City team leader with 95 tackles (52 solo), 12.5 TFLs and two forced fumbles in 2016
» Also had 2.0 sacks, three interceptions, four pass breakups and one forced fumble in 2016
» Played high school football at Detroit Cass Tech for head coach Thomas Wilcher
» Led Cass Tech to 2014 city championship
» 2014 all-city selection
» Signed with Western Michigan out of high school
» Offers following junior college included included Arizona, Louisiana Tech, Syracuse and UCF
» Verbally committed to Illinois in December 2016
» Picked Illinois because he, “felt like it was the best place to develop as a student-athlete.”
» Plans to major in sports management
» Listed Floyd Mayweather as his favorite athlete because he, “always finds a way to win.”
» Born Oct. 9, 1996
» Son of Latashia Phillips and Shawn Gaines
OL HoJo Watkins Jr. (6-5, 280), Cincinnati, Ohio (Colerain)
» Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals, ESPN and Scout
» Ranked No. 22 offensive guard in the nation by Rivals, No. 66 by 247Sports and No. 75 by Scout
» Ranked No. 27 recruit in Ohio by Rivals and No. 50 by 247Sports
» Three-year letterwinner at Colerain
» 2015 All-GMC first team
» Academic Scholar honoree
» Played high school football at Colerain for head coach Tom Bolden
» Offers included Cincinnati, Colorado State, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville and Rutgers
» Verbally committed to Illinois in December 2016
» Picked Illinois because of, “the coaching staff and chance to play in the Big Ten.”
» Plans to major in kinesiology or business
» Listed Orlando Pace as his favorite athlete because he wants to be like him
» Born Oct. 29, 1998
» Goes by “HoJo” because his grandfather also went by “HoJo”
» Son of Stephanie Watkins and Howard Watkins
» Has two sisters, Jordan Watkins and Jaedan Watkins, and one brother, Stephon Watkins