Another long-awaited debut, one of the shining stars in the recruiting process under Lovie Smith, Marquez Beason, is ready to hit the field with the Illinois football team.
The former Duncanville standout came to Champaign with extremely high promise, and now he is ready to prove his stock in 2020.
To lead, Beason is potentially the top NFL prospect and most talented Illinois player in my opinion. He is the highest-rated recruit the Illini have snagged since the class of 2009 and No. 9 highest-rated recruit in program history, according to 247Sports.
The cornerback tore his ACL prior to his true freshman campaign, but Beason, a member of the class of 2019, has made a full recovery while learning the playbook and is projected to vault directly into a vital corner spot and plenty of playtime as a redshirt freshman.
The Illini totaled 12 interceptions, allowed 410 yards to the opposing offense, allowed 213 passing yards and a completion percentage of 58.3-percent per game in 2019.
Dele Harding accounted for three interceptions and two of the Illini’s pick six’s in 2019, and while Beason will fill a different role, infusing Beason could very well be the solidification of the Illini secondary with Nate Hobbs, Tony Adams and Syndey Brown already proven and in place.
Beason’s film suggests that his footwork, explosiveness and straight away speed should allow more freedom for the Illini safeties. He has the tools to thrive at the slot corner spot with the potential to be an island type of corner out wide. His film shows an unexpected tendency of high-pointing balls as an outside receiver, an unusual trait of a corner at the collegiate level. I expect his age to show at times, especially in run coverage and some key tackling situations.
The majority of Beason’s career has played on the offensive side where his athletic burst and straight away speed were put to use as a wide receiver and a multi-tool quarterback at times.
An athlete to the capacity of Beason is going to make his presence felt in one way or another, but it might take a duration of time to settle in as a cornerback. Beason’s lateral quickness and first step jump off the screen, but I would be hesitant to expect high-level technicality in year one under Coach Lovie Smith.
Beason’s film as a junior at Texas powerhouse high school, Duncanville, provides untapped potential for his immediate production as a returner in 2020. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound corner makes opponents miss with ease and is a strong candidate to be the fastest player on the field at all times. Trust and consistency will be vital in order for the staff to trust the youngster returning kicks and punts, but his athletic prominence might be too strong to debate.
In 2020, expect Beason to show plenty of flashes as the most talented player on the Illini roster. Expect him to give the staff plenty of optimism about their secondary as Adams and Hobbs enter their final stint with the Illini.
I am very hopeful that Beason will be given the opportunity to produce in year one, and regardless of the inexperience, I can not quite put a ceiling on his potential in the immediate future and as he enters the NFL Draft picture.
Proving his ability to play physical and the transition to corner will be early keys, but the Illini should be patient with his development. Beason is an extraordinarily talented player to an unprecedented degree within the Illini roster and consequently would create a strong precedent for more top recruits to come to Champaign.
Statistical Projection
8 games, 24 tackles, 3 passes defended and 2 interceptions