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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

Buena Park senior-to-be cornerback Elijah Gates (5-11, 175) has landed an intriguing offer from Big Ten member Illinois.

Coyotes football coach Anthony White reports that new Illinois coach Lovie Smith and defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson — two men who know defense at the highest level of the NFL — called him to extend the offer.

“Pretty cool,” White said in a text Wednesday.

In other Buena Park recruiting news, junior-to-be wide receivers/defensive backs Devon Cooley and Alijah Allen along with senior offensive tackle Ryan Nelson have been offered by Colorado. For Allen, Colorado was his first offer. Cooley also also been offered by Colorado State.

Meanwhile, senior-to-be wide receiver/defensive back Niguy Simms and senior-to-be quarterback JD Rafkin have been offered by Division III Alfred State in New York while junior-to-be quarterback Deshaun Harvey has been offered by NAIA Langston in Oklahoma.

Buena Park hasn’t named its starting quarterback, White said.

Please send football recruiting news to Dan Albano at dalbano@ocregister.com or @ocvarsityguy on Twitter