CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 16: A general view of Memorial Stadium as the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 16, 2013 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 60-35. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Lovie Smith and the Illinois football team continues to recruit out of the state of Florida. They are starting to develop a pipeline with some of the programs down there.

One of the programs they are getting closer with is Cardinal Gibbons High School. Illinois doesn’t have a player on the team from that high school right now. But, the class of 2018 coming in brings two Cardinal Gibbons players. Carlos Sandy and Ron Hardge III both committed to the Illinois football program and will be sensational players for Lovie.

These two players committing is going to be huge for two reasons. The first reason is because they are needed pieces to a Big Ten Championship puzzle. Illinois will always need more wide receivers like Sandy and the safety help Hardge will bring is invaluable. The second reason getting these two is a big deal is because of recruiting.

Illinois is already recruiting the class of 2019 pretty hard and a few Cardinal Gibbons players are in the crosshairs. Nik Scalzo has already been offered by the Illini and he is a three-star quarterback who is the No. 506 player in the class of 2019. The Crystal Ball also has him 100-percent to the Illini.

Another player to watch out for is Khris Bogle. He is a four-star weak-side defensive end who is the No. 212 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 14 weak-side defensive end in the nation. Normally, Illinois wouldn’t be in the running for this talented of a player but things are changing in Champaign. Lovie has brought a level of recruiting we haven’t seen in a long time.

Bogle was just offered by Illinois yesterday. This offer was a long time coming considering this kid is a top 300 player for the class of 2019, and he has specifically said on Twitter, “It would be nice to play with Ron (Hardge III) and Los (Carlos Sandy) at Illinois”.

It would be nice to play with Ron and Los at Illinois🔶⚪️🔷 ✍🏾🎥#illinifootball #Tru19 pic.twitter.com/SmgDHYWm2K — Khris Bogle 🔱 (@khris_a1) August 30, 2017

From the sounds of it, Bogle wants to play football at a big program with his friends. Illinois can provide that and the program continues to improve and build. Bogle could be part of something pretty special up in Champaign. Illinois could also use more defensive end help. They have a few nice pieces right now but there is always room for more. The Illini could have one of the best defenses in the Big Ten in the next few years.

Bogle will be a tough get for the Illini, though. He does have some big-time programs after him like Clemson, Florida State and Miami. But, he has expressed interest in playing with a few Illini commits and this has to be a big draw for him. Illinois has a chance to snag a top 300 defensive end and if they do, watch out Big Ten.