One of the top players signed in the most recent recruiting class by Illinois will not see the field this fall. Defensive back Marquez Beason will miss the entire 2019 season as a result of a season-ending injury suffered in a recent practice. Illinois announced the news on Monday.
“Marquez Beason will be having season-ending knee surgery in the future,” Illinois head coach Lovie Smith in a released statement. “It’s unfortunate. He was one of the highlights early on. He’s going to be a great player.”
The top-rated recruit to sign with Illinois in the past decade, Beason was carted off the practice field with a knee injury last week (Aug. 13). Smith addressed his concern about the imminent future of the four-star recruit last week suggesting he was concerned. Beason was later seen on the practice field on crutches that same day, although the official diagnosis was still to come.
Beason was a four-star addition to the Illinois Class of 2019. The Texas native came out of high school as the No. 99 player in the 247 Sports composite ranking and the fifth-best athlete in the nation.
