5/2/2017 football Edit

Cordel Littlejohn knows this spring is big for his recruitment

Chad Simmons • Rivals.com

Recruiting Analyst

Chad Simmons is a Recruiting Analyst for Rivals.com. He was the expert on The Next Class on Fox Sports South from 2011-2015. He currently covers Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Cordel Littlejohn was on point Sunday at the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp. He walked away as the quarterback MVP after throwing beautiful deep balls, flashing good accuracy and delivering very catchable passes to wide receivers.

What many saw Sunday, coaches from Illinois saw months ago. The Illini offered the 6-foot-4, 185 pound signal caller out of Roswell (Ga.) and although it happened over three months ago, Littlejohn remembers it like it took place yesterday.

"It was a special day for me, so I remember it well," said Littlejohn. "It was January 26 when Illinois offered me and it was a very special day. It was crazy. I was thinking to myself about not having any offers, then I got my first one and it is going to be a day that I remember for the rest of my life.

"It is hard to explain what I felt when I got the news. It is something I have worked hard for, so to get that first offer, it showed my work was paying off."

Littlejohn has not slowed down. He is constantly training and working to improve his craft and his recruitment is likely to pick up this spring. Indiana is showing a lot of interest. South Carolina is another school that has shown high interest. Those two schools among many others will have coaches at Roswell to watch him throw in the coming weeks.

He is ready to see what happens next.

"I played at Lincolnton (N.C.) last year and then I moved to Georgia because of the competition, the great football in Georgia and for the exposure," said Littlejohn. "I know it is a big time for me right now. We start practice May 4 and I know coaches will be there watching me soon.

"I have been working for this, so I am ready. I cannot wait to get started, to see what coaches come see me and to see who offers me next."

The Illinois offer is still on his mind. He has not been there yet, but they are on his radar and has talked to spoken to one of the coaches who works under Lovie Smith.

"I have not visited Illinois yet, but I have talked to coach [Garrick] McGee (Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks) and I do have interest in them. I know he is coming down to see me this spring, so hopefully I will talk to him again soon."

Littlejohn is open to all schools and he did not have a favorite growing up.