EAST ST. LOUIS, IL (KTVI)- A three star Metro East defensive back has become the first player to commit to the University of Illinois football program since the school announced interim head coach Bill Cubit would get the permanent job last week.
Stanley Green announced the news over Twitter Sunday.
I have Officially Committed to the University of Illinois #Illini#Flyers #THESTANIMAL @CoachBellamy @CoachTimBanks pic.twitter.com/E2vDjoyGvK
— Stanley Green JR. (@StanleyGreenJr) December 6, 2015
Green’s decision is non-binding until he signs an official letter of intent. The signing period begins in early February. Green told Scout.com that the move to commit to the Illini program has been building over the last few weeks. He also had offers from Iowa State, North Dakota State and Northern Iowa. Green joins Flyer teammate and OT Trevour Simms as Illinois pledges.
The Illinois Athletic Department has been in recovery mode since the fall, when Head Coach Tim Beckman was fired prior to the start of the season. Athletic Director Mike Thomas was fired last month, just prior to the release of a report citing mistreatment of student-athletes in the football and women’s basketball programs. With the search for a new AD still in it’s early stages, the school opted to give Cubit a 2 year contract.
That hasn’t appeared to sway other local St. Louis recruits for Illinois in the class of 2016, including O’Fallon (IL) RB Kentrail Moran and De Smet Jesuit TE Griff Palmer who have either retweeted news of Green’s pledge or posted their own photos with Ilini coaches in recent days.
