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Duckworth gets positive feedback from Illinois

Louisville, Ohio quarterback Joey Duckworth has picked up several early offers from Mid-American Conference schools, but the 6-foot-3, 205-pound passer is still waiting on his first BCS offer. He may have moved closer to that after a junior day visit this weekend.
"I went to Illinois yesterday for a junior day," Duckworth reported. "This was my first [junior day] and I thought it was really awesome. They showed a lot of interest. I would say they showed the most interest out of the Big Ten schools.
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"They said they saw film and really liked me. They just said they need to see me throw first before they give out an offer. I told them I would definitely go up to their camp this summer."
Duckworth had previously visited Champaign to see the Illini host Minnesota for a home football game in November. He came away from Saturday's junior further impressed with the program.
"I liked all the coaches and they were all upbeat," Duckworth said. "I liked the atmosphere and everything was really nice there. Their weight room is one of the nicest ones I've seen. They didn't have a great year last year, but they've got some new people and I think they will be on the rise in the next couple years."
Additional junior day visits could be scheduled later this fall, with Louisville being a school the junior quarterback would like to see, but one he does have scheduled is to Pittsburgh this upcoming weekend.
"I have always loved Pitt," Duckworth said. "Actually, my mom's whole side of the family is from Pittsburgh so we go over there a lot. A lot of people in my family are Pitt fans. I am looking forward to meeting all the coaches and seeing what they are all about."
On Monday, Duckworth is expecting to have coaches from Ball State in to watch him throw in the morning, then Indiana coaches are expected to stop through his school later in the day.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Duckworth had his junior season cut short five games in when he tore his MCL, but said he is already back to 100 percent and doing everything he could do before. In five games last fall he threw for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns.
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