Inside the numbers: Illini focusing heavily on Lone Star State

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Here's a look at some interesting numbers in Lone Star State recruiting:

Shavers started this hot streak with three offers on that day from Miami, Texas A&M and Georgia. Two days later, Alabama and Arkansas followed. Since then, Stanford, Missouri, Florida State, Texas and Mississippi State have joined the fray.

With his elite size at his position, coupled with the testing numbers he’s posted on the spring camp circuit, Shavers has become one of the hottest names in the country. The added attention has presumably led to many top programs having a look at his junior highlights for the first time and seeing the advantage that his length gives him both in going up for jump balls and separating from defenders with his long strides.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see more schools join the Shavers Sweepstakes in an effort to lure him to campus over the summer.

The Illini have reportedly offered 42 players in the 2017 class from Texas – nearly double the number of players Illinois has offered in its own state.

Many of the offers were made prior to new the hire of new head coach, Lovie Smith, but bringing in a recent NFL head coach while seeking players in a more fertile recruiting territory sends a message that Illinois is looking to change its fortunes from going 17-32 with one bowl appearance over the last four seasons.

Illinois has offered more 2017 players in Texas than the University of Texas (35), Texas A&M (34), TCU (28), and more than Auburn has offered Alabama players (16), or UCLA has offered California recruits (41).

Meanwhile, the Illini have just two commitments in this class; three-star Florida running back Mike Epstein and home-state defensive tackle Ryan O'Malley.

OK, so this was a Twitter poll posted recently by an Ohio State fan blog. Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas will travel to Cedar Hill (Texas) to open its season and there were talks about the Gaels adding two more potential Texas opponents in the following weeks.

Essentially, Nevada in this discussion refers specifically to Gorman and the lightning rod in the center of the storm – not surprisingly – proved to be current Gael and Texas A&M commit, Tate Martell, whose part in the discussion and defense of his team led to the following Tweet:

That didn’t stop four-star Gorman DB Alex Perry from getting a healthy dose of smack-talk all day during his appearance at the Dallas stop of the Rivals Camp Series Presented by Under Armour.

Clear one-on-one wins for Walker Little during the Rivals Camp Series Presented by Under Armour event in Dallas last weekend. The four-star offensive tackle finished his day by winning three-of-four reps against teammate and No. 1 player in the country, Marvin Wilson.

His dominating performance seemingly solidified his spot as one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the country. Little’s feel for identifying pass-rushers’ attempted paths to the quarterback and strength to blast them off their mark was on full display.

For as impressive as he was physically, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him continue to grow and better shape himself, as he’s still 16 years old.

Little already has his pick from any number of national offers, but it seems as though the home-state and select SEC programs have the inside track for his commitment.

Fifteen of the 32 Texas players in the Rivals250 are currently committed. Of those 15, four are committed to Oklahoma, giving the Sooners the highest number of commitments from the state of Texas within the Rivals250.

Oklahoma is off to a fast start in 2017, with eight of its nine commitments ranked as four-star recruits, and will still try to steal a few more players from its neighbors to the south.

Two years ago, the Sooners nearly filled half of their class with Texas talent. They shouldn’t be done working the state in this class, either. A number of top Texas prospects have wide-open recruitments and Oklahoma’s quarterback for the class, Chris Robison (Mesquite-Horn), will certainly be working on fellow Texans as this year rolls on.