2022 Football Roster
Jersey Number 98
Deon Pate
- Position:
- OLB
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 265
- Hometown:
- Jacksonville, Fla.
- High School:
- Trinity Christian Academy
2022 Senior
- Played in one game
2021 Junior
- Played in four games
- Illinois victory team MVP against Nebraska 8/28/21
2020 Junior
- Played in all eight games at defensive line
- Three tackles on the season
2019 Sophomore
- Played in nine games at defensive tackle
- Seven tackles on the season
2018 Redshirt Freshman
- Played eight games with one start
- First career start against Iowa 11/17/18
- Made his Illinois debut at Rutgers 10/6/18
2017 Freshman
- Redshirted the 2017 season
High School
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN
- Ranked No. 56 strong-side defensive end by 247Sports and No. 107 by ESPN
- Ranked No. 165 recruit in Florida by 247Sports
- Played at Trinity Christian Academy for head coach Verlon Dorminey
- Lettered three years in football
- Trinity Christian Academy won four straight state titles during his high school career
- 32 TFLs and 15 sacks a senior
- 2016 all-county first team
- 2016 Florida 3A all-state second team
- Honor Roll for three years
Personal
- Born Feb. 14, 1998
- Son of Melinda and Deon Pate Sr.
- Father, Deon Sr., was a member of the Chicago Bulls practice team
- Has one brother, Dylan Pate
- Picked Illinois because, “it was the best fit for me and I love the vision that the coaches have for the program.”
- Listed JJ Watt as his favorite athlete because of his versatility
- Wants to go into law enforcement following his playing career
- Graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sociology in December 2021
Thursday, March 05
Thursday, February 12
Thursday, February 05
Wednesday, January 21
