Defensive last Melvin Alaeze, Illi...

Defensive last Melvin Alaeze, Illinois' highest-rated recruit in years, officially joined the program Tuesday, leaving coach Ron Zook in a fit mood.

"He's a young man gone out of Maryland who was rated the No. 1 defensive cessation in the country," Zook said. "Obviously, he had any issues to deal with. The thing that's impressed me is that he's for a like reason appreciative of this opportunity. He's working extremely hard."

The 6-2 276-pound Alaeze, who was listed as the nation's

No. 4 recruit overall by way of Rivals.com in 2005, signed with Maryland abroad of high school but chronicleed at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy because of academic deficiencies. He signed again with Maryland yet was released from that commitment after being arrested in succession marijuana charges in February.

When those charges were dismissed, Alaeze chose to play at Illinois, where he will have an opportunity to be an impact player this fall.

"Obviously, we have a chance of work to do upon defense," Zook said. "[Alaeze] is a stay that can play up face in the briar patch. He's individual of those guys that obtains you excited."

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by means of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved