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Dallas (Texas) Bishop Dunne sophomore Zeriah Beason was in Champaign a few weekends ago when his cousin, Rivals100 2019 athlete Marquez Beason, made his commitment to Illinois.

Zeriah, a 6-foot, 180-pound wide-receiver, had very positive feedback on his cousin’s decision.

“I think it was a great decision on his part,” Zeriah Beason said. “The coaching staff is really good. Lovie Smith and Coach (Andrew) Hayes-Stoker have been recruiting him since sophomore year. And I think it’s just the beginning of something special going on there, so I think he made a great decision.”

Zeriah and Marquez, who often refer to each other as “brothers,” are very close to one another.

Therefore, Marquez’s commitment to Illinois is likely to have some impact on Zeriah, even if the ultimate decision is one he makes on his own.

“He just tells me that it is a great fit for the family and stuff like that,” Zeriah Beason said. “He gives me the right to make my own decision, but he has definitely made me give more thought to Illinois.”

Zeriah has now been up to Champaign twice with his cousin. On those visits, he has had the opportunity to tour the campus, meet the coaches and players, and watch the team practice.

“I really like Illinois,” Beason said. “I tell a bunch of people that it’s like a home away from home. I can mingle with everyone very well, and I just feel very comfortable when I’m there.”

Due to NCAA recruiting guidelines, Beason hasn’t been able to talk over the phone with Illinois coaches. However, he has spoken with assistant coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker a few times, who said he has been keeping an eye on Beason.

“I had a good conversation with him when I was up there,” Beason said. “He tells me I move very well for my size and that I’m a good athlete, and I just enjoy talking with him about football and other things.”

Beason also had the opportunity to talk with head coach Lovie Smith on both of his visits. Besides respecting Smith’s pedigree, the Texas product feels a high level of comfort with the Illini head coach.

“He is a great person to be around,” Beason said. “He seems like a father figure, and someone you can trust with whatever you are doing. I really enjoy being around him.”

As just a sophomore, Beason holds offers from some very prestigious football programs, including Baylor, Florida, Iowa, LSU, Michigan State, Mississippi State, and Nebraska, among others.

His father has handled a majority of his recruitment thus far, so he is still in the beginning stages of his recruiting process.

That said, he plans to visit USC and Stanford over the summer, and he may add more visits as spring and summer move closer. He will also likely participate in several camps, but he is not sure when or where at this time.

As his recruitment continues to evolve, he spoke about several of the things he will pay attention to most.

“The people at the school are the most important thing to me,” Beason said. “And then the coaching staff is next. Because I remember Coach Lovie Smith told me, ‘It’s not about the building; it’s about the people that are in the building.’ I really dug into that when he said it, so I care about the coaching staff and the people.”