Vitals: 6-4, 210, Jr., S
Hometown: Vernon Hills
High School: Stevenson
Looking back at 2018: The walk-on safety played in 11 games after missing the season opener with an injury and made the first three starts of his career. Marchese, the younger brother of former Illini walk-on turned scholarship linebacker Jimmy Marchese, finished the 2018 season with 21 tackles, two pass breakups, one interception, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry. He had a career-high 11 tackles in the season finale at Northwestern.
Looking ahead to 2019: Marchese's expanded role last fall will likely continue — even if he doesn't get the same number of starts.