Not sure sure how much of the development of Ayo I’d attribute to Underwood. He was a highly driven program changing recruit his senior year in HS. But let’s face it, outside of the two-three year run with Ayo and Kofi he’s been bad to mixed results.
I think he’ll be fine. But if you’re being objective, all of his success has come with those two players. Not sure I credit Underwood for making Kofi an All-American. I’m not trying to take anything away from Underwood. He’s been a very competent captain of the ship.
So, uh, who is responsible for getting those guys to play in an Illinois jersey?
That’s why this is such a weird argument.
“He did good with these guys but the jury is out on how he can do without them”
Well no shit, he specifically recruited them and then won with them. There’s no reason at all to think he can’t or won’t do the exact same thing again. It wasn’t luck, it was excellent program management and player development.