Offseason Offers: Illinois football offers 8 Palm Beach County recruits

Emilee Smarr, Palm Beach Post

January 19, 2022 at 8:58 PM·3 min read

They came. They saw. They offered.

Illinois assistant head coach and wide receivers coach George McDonald extended opportunities to eight Palm Beach County athletes on his latest tour of the Sunshine State, adding a ninth with a preferred walk-on offer for Lou Groza Player of the Year Markel King after the initial release of this article.

When Bret Bielema took the helm in December 2020, he set out on a mission to do something that the Fighting Illini failed to accomplish in nearly a decade: build a winning team.

It seems that Bielema's goal is within reach.

More football: Seminole Ridge football: Rick Casko steps down, Chad Chieffalo steps up as head coach

More Offers: Offseason Offers: Louisville in the cards for Pahokee freshman quarterback Austin Simmons

Bielema improved Illini's 2-6 finish in 2020 to 5-7 in his first season and is now looking to the recruiting hot bed of South Florida to sign weapons to field alongside incoming Syracuse transfer and four-star quarterback Tommy DeVito.

See which of the area's hidden gems could have a future sporting orange and blue in the list below.

Javorian Wimberly

Broncos receiver Javorion Wimberly breaks a tackle and races to the house for a score in the first half of Friday night's game against Dwyer. Palm Beach Central defeated the Panthers 44-14 on Sept. 3, 2021.

School/Class: Palm Beach Central, 2023

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 180

Position: WR

2021 Stats: Averaged 20.1 yards over 49 catches for 987 yards of 1,179 all-purpose, scoring 13 total touchdowns.

Other offers: University of South Florida

On the recruitment process: "Coach McDonald liked how I can play special teams and offense. He loved my vision and how I can set up blocks. It feels great because I can still chase my dreams, even though it’s very far from home."

Tovani Mizell

School/Class: Cardinal Newman, 2024

Height/Weight: 5-11, 195

Position: ATH

2021 Stats: Posted 616 yards and eight touchdowns on the run, contributed six more touchdowns at wide, receiving for 481 yards – long of 76.

Other offers: Arkansas, Cincinnati, Indiana, Jackson State, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Florida Atlantic University

Chauncey Bowens

School/Class: Benjamin, 2024

Height/Weight: 6-0, 205

Position: RB

2021 Stats: Ran for 1,193 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games. Additionally caught 12 passes, long of 78 and a touchdown.

Other offers: Miami, Florida Atlantic University

Maverick Gracio

School/Class: Cardinal Newman, 2023

Height/Weight: 6-5, 215

Position: TE/DE

2021 Stats: Recorded 63 tackles – 25 for loss – 12 sacks, and three forced fumbles

Other offers: Florida Atlantic University

Luby Maurice, Jr.

School/Class: Palm Beach Central, 2023

Height/Weight: 6-2, 180

Position: WR

2021 Stats: Caught 43 passes for 679 yards and six touchdowns.

Other offers: UNC-Charlotte, Duke, University of South Florida, Florida Atlantic University, University of Virginia

On the recruitment process: "To the athletes out there – keep grinding, keep up with grades and Twitter, and believe in y'all's coach."

Jeremiah Augustin

School/Class: Jupiter Christian, 2023

Height/Weight: 6-6, 200

Position: WR/DE

2021 Stats: Averaged 19.5 yards per pass in 21 receptions for 409 yards – long of 68 – and six touchdowns. Contributed 29 tackles – 19 solo and 13 for loss – 10 sacks for 65 yards of loss and 22 quarterback hurries.

Other offers: University of Virginia

Micah Mays

School/Class: Benjamin, 2023

Height/Weight: 6-2, 175

Position: WR/CB

2021 Stats: Caught 49 passes for 866 yards – long of 73 – and eight touchdowns.

Other offers: Wake Forest, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic University, Appalachian State University

Mike Lucien

School/Class: Palm Beach Central, 2022

Height/Weight: 6-0, 185

Position: SS/FS/CB/LB

2021 Stats: Posted 67 total tackles – 52 solo and five for loss – three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one blocked punt.

Other offers: Maryville, Florida Memorial University, Allen, Keiser, Florida Atlantic University

Markel King

School/Class: Palm Beach Central, 2022

Height/Weight: 5-6, 170

Position: ATH

2021 Stats: Averaged 16.7 yards per carry for 1,083 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Posted 28 receptions for 636 yards and six touchdowns at receiver.

Other offers: UNC-Charlotte, University of Ft. Lauderdale, Keiser,

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Illinois football offers 8 Palm Beach County recruits

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