Illinois Football Recruiting: Receiver Prospect Gives Illini the Cold Shoulder

For the Illinois Fighting Illini, this past recruiting season did not have too many bright spots. And unfortunately for the Orange and Blue, there is more bad news on the horizon. 

Joey Warburg, one of their "on-the-fence recruits," decided to take his talents to Purdue instead of Illinois, despite giving a firm verbal to the Illini.

But there is still another player whose status is up in the air, and the outcome has the makings of another disappointment for Illini Nation.

Tyler Faerber, a 6'4'', 200-pound receiver from Shawnee Mission, Kansas had previously given a verbal to Illinois but has completely fallen off the radar since National Signing Day.

He never faxed in his signed letter of intent to the Illinois coaching staff, and while head coach Tim Beckman reportedly has had contact with him, the media have heard nothing from the talented receiver even after persistently trying to reach him.

What continues to contribute to the oddness of his situation is that he committed to Illini last March and has not wavered at all in the commitment since.

One rumor said that he recently had contact with the University of Montana Grizzlies, but that has not been confirmed or denied by any other media outlets.

Although many recruiting databases have Faerber ranked as a 2- to 3-star prospect, his game tape shows that he could be a dynamic playmaker for the Illini.

Some of his highlights can be seen here.

I am following this situation closely and will be sure to update this post as more news breaks.