Illinois Football: Illini extend offer to 2020 safety Xavion Alford

ByRees Woodcock|
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 03: An Illini cheerleader celebrates a touchdown by carrying the Block I flag down the sidelines during a Big Ten Conference football game on November 3, 2018, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 03: An Illini cheerleader celebrates a touchdown by carrying the Block I flag down the sidelines during a Big Ten Conference football game on November 3, 2018, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Illinois football continues to do work in the state of Texas with their most recent offer coming on Friday.

Xavion Alford announced on Friday morning that he has received a scholarship offer from the University of Illinois. The Illini are offering some talented players in the Lone Star State, and Alford is near the top skill wise. This kid is the complete package.

Alford is a 6-foot, 184-pound safety from Shadow Creek High School in Pearland, Texas. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 374 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 22 safety in the nation. He is also the No. 48 player in the state of Texas as well.

Illinois joined a long list of teams who have Alford on the forefront of their recruiting minds. He currently has roughly 23 scholarship offers with some of the notables being Oregon, Penn State and Michigan. It is going to be tough to sneak into Alford’s recruitment, but the Illini have done a great job, recently, recruiting the state of Texas.

Alford is that feared safety that Illinois needs. He has the ability to play the wide receiver while reading where the quarterback is going with the ball. This kid has speed that can keep up with anyone and aggression that is perfect for the safety role. He would fit in perfectly and would be a great pair with Marquez Beason who is also from Texas and will be playing cornerback, most likely.

Illinois should have plenty of room for Alford to come in and play immediately as well. This upcoming season, the Illini should have Stanley Green and Tony Adams at the two safety positions. Green is a senior, so he will be gone when 2020 rolls around. Adams would be a senior when Alford would come into the program. This would give him plenty of opportunities to earn a starting job day one for the Illini.

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The Illini are building their defense through the state of Texas. Beason is going to be a great cornerback. Calvin Avery is going to be a great defensive tackle. Let’s add someone like Alford and solidify the safety position. This defense has a chance to be really special.