Injury changes things for juco DT
Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College two-star defensive tackle Andre Tillman was being recruited by the likes of Ole Miss, Tennessee and Louisville before an injury filled sophomore season changed things for him. Now instead he's heading to one of the better I-AA programs in the nation.
"I have signed with Southern Illinois University," Tillman, who is 6-foot and 285 pounds, said. "I signed with them on December 21. They were my only ticket out of Coffeyville.
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"Ole Miss, Tennessee, Louisville, and Southern Illinois were all recruiting me hard, but when I got hurt at the beginning of the season Southern Illinois was the only team that stuck with me."
The injury was a nasty one, he said.
"I injured my knee when a running back chop-blocked me during the first game of the season," he said. "I tore my PCL, it was nothing serious. I'm back to 100-percent. I'm finishing up rehabbing in Louisiana before I go to Southern Illinois when school starts next week."
"I plan to make a huge impact my first year. I'm going to show those other program they made a mistake passing up on me. I know I'm going to have a big impact next year."
He was recruited by defensive line coach Bryce Saia.