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Illinois Football lands on Marquez Beason’s top 12

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 15: Cheerleaders for the Illinois Fighting Illini run onto the field before a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium on October 15, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 17-7. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 15: Cheerleaders for the Illinois Fighting Illini run onto the field before a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium on October 15, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 17-7. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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There was an important visit for the Illinois football team back on June 17.

This visit consisted of a multitude of recruits who Lovie Smith wanted to commit. But, there was a group of three players that day who all visited together. The Bishop Dunne trio.

In the Bishop Dunne trio was Kievan Myers, Calvin Avery and Marquez Beason. These three could make an impact on the football program.

Myers is a three-star offensive tackle who is ranked as the No. 747 player according to 247Sports and the No. 899 player according to Scout in the class of 2018. He decided to commit to Illinois on June 29. That makes one down and two to go.

Avery is a four-star defensive tackle who is ranked as the No. 188 player according to 247Sports and the No. 190 player according to Scout in the class of 2018. He had a press conference last night and picked the Illini over four other big-time programs. This makes two players down and just Beason to go.

Well, Illinois is one step closer after last night to completing the Bishop Dunne trio. Beason took to Twitter to announce he has cut his list down to just 12 programs he will be focusing on. The 12 teams are Texas, UCLA, Nebraska, Washington, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas A&M, Arkansas, BYU, TCU, Baylor and Illinois. I used to feel, with these types of teams involved in a recruitment, Illinois wouldn’t stand a chance. But, with Lovie as the head coach, there is a real possibility.

Beason is a really good player. He is a 5-foot-11, 173-pound athlete out of Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas, Texas. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 126 player according to 247Sports and the No. 106 player according to Scout in the class of 2019. He is also the No. 11 athlete in the nation.

Lovie building the relationship with Bishop Dunne now is helping with recruiting players from that program in the class of 2019. If Beason sees Myers and Avery having success in Champaign then that could end up helping with his decision.

At one time Beason had committed to Nebraska. He pledged his commitment back on April 15 but offers continued to come in. Illinois offered him a scholarship on May 5 and then 11 days later he decommitted from the Cornhuskers.

Since Beason decommitted the offers have flown in. He continues to get big-time programs looking at him and he needs to take his time on his decision. There is still plenty of time left and he has two more years in high school. He needs to just enjoy the process now and not rush to any decisions yet.

Next: Illinois Football builds Texas pipeline with Calvin Avery

If Illinois can complete the Bishop Dunne trio it would be huge for the future of the football program. This high school is producing such talented players and Lovie is creating a strong pipeline.

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