Illinois dropped a clever recruiting video (that every program can duplicate)

Any good recruiter will tell you how limited their powers of persuasion really are. Sure, they can sell their culture, their scheme fit, their player and personal development, their academics, and their uniforms until they're blue in the face, but at the end of the day they're only one person. It takes a village to raise a child, and oftentimes it takes a village to help that child choose a college football program.

The best recruiting pitches are supplemented by people the recruit and their circle trusts -- current players, current players' families, and high school coaches. Word-of-mouth advertising works, whether the consumer is looking to purchase a car or a college education. "According to Nielsen, 92% of consumers believe recommendations from friends and family over all forms of advertising," according to a study I found to support my case in this article.

That's why this video Illinois produced over the weekend is smart, and one every program in the country can duplicate.

It's nothing earth-shattering. Illinois won't win a single commitment off that 67-second video. But in an it-takes-a-village recruitment, the testimonials from current Illini parents is a clever way to begin the pursuit of prospective future Illini.