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Illini FNL: 4-star Texas athlete leads the way

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith talks to campers on Friday night
Illinois head coach Lovie Smith talks to campers on Friday night

Illinois held a camp at Memorial Stadium on Friday night, drawing an impressive group of prospects.

While the in-state schools were well represented, groups of players from some powerhouse programs around the country were on hand, including groups from Ohio power Trottwood-Madison and Dallas Bishop Dunne.

Two of the campers had a family connection. Ohio quarterback Cameron Crouch is the younger brother of Illini QB Chayce Crouch. The younger Crouch is one to watch. He has a strong arm and good touch. DB Micah Abraham from IMG Academy in Florida is the son of Illinois DB coach Donnie Abraham.

Orange and Blue News breaks down our top performers from the camp.

TOPS IN CAMP

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Illinois worked Beason out at defensive back on Friday, and he looked at home playing press coverage against a nice group of wide receivers. His physical talents jump out at you, and its easy to see why Beason holds a 4-star ranking. He's physical, fast, and plays the game with a reckless abandon. He also plays wide receiver at Bishop Dunne. Beason already holds over 25 offers, including an offer from Illinois. He is our pick for top prospect at the camp on Friday.

Hargrove is more quick than fast. He clocked a respectable 4.5 forty, but it was in the position drills and one-on-ones where he showed off his quick-twitch athleticism. He easily got separation from linebackers and safeties that tried to cover him in the passing drills. Rivals ranks Hargrave the No. 2o all-purpose back in the nation, and he lived up to the ranking at the Illinois FNL. The drawback with Hargrove is size. He measured just under 5-foot-5.

A nice looking athlete on the hoof, Wright was timed at 4.65 in the forty, a step slower than expected. He worked out as a running back at the Illinois, but Wright should be considered an athlete at this time. We want to see him play safety, the position where his size and physical skills seem to fit best. He plays with his pads high when working out as a running back, but does have impressive strength and body control.

The brother of 4-star athlete Marquez Beason, Zeriah is physically mature beyond his years and was able to dominate DB's in one-on-one with speed to burn, physicality, and the ability to go up and high-point the football. Early offers for the 2020 prospect are from Illinois, Baylor, Mississippi State, and Nebraska. He's one of the top underclassmen in the Dallas area.

We got word ahead of the camp to expect a good performance from Williams, and he lived up to the billing. This is a sure bet as a Big Ten-level prospect with prototypical size and the ability to stop and go on a dime. You almost forget how good of size he has because he glides through position drills with the ease of a smaller back. Williams is smooth and elusive, with the frame to play at around 200 pounds. Early offers will likely come his way, and Williams will be one of the most coveted 2019 prospects in the state of Illinois.

Though still a bit raw, Johnson is growing into this frame, weighing in at 276 pounds at the Ilini camp. He could easily holds 300 pounds on his frame, and he moves very well in close quarters. We see Johnson as just on the cusp of a Power 5 prospect at this time, with good upside. He's definitely a kid to watch over the rest of the summer and into the high school football season. Johnson looks the part; now we want to see him perform up to his potential and continue to add upper body strength.

Gibson worked out as an offensive lineman at the Illinois camp, and he also spent some time talking defense with Illini D-line coach Mike Phair. On offense, Gibson projects as a guard, and he's also the kind of hard-nosed scrapper that you would love to plug in at center. He's gritty, tough, and athletic, and he does a great job with hand placement and footwork in pass pro. Offers are from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, Rutgers, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

BREAK-OUT PERFORMER

A virtual unknown heading into the Illinois camp, Dirkes is an intriguing athlete at 6-foot-4, 227 pounds. Dirkes has played football and baseball at Wheeling. He's very raw, having just decided to focus on one sport. Mike Phair spent time talking to Dirkes after the camp. He's the type of quick-off-the-edge pass rusher that Phair likes. We want to see him in game action in full pads, but Dirkes looks the part and is a high level athlete. He's a new name to watch.

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMERS

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