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University of Illinois Athletics

2022 Football Roster

David Craan / Illinois Athletics

98 Deon Pate

  • Position OLB
  • Class Senior
  • Height 6-2
  • Weight 265
  • Hometown Jacksonville, Fla.
  • High School Trinity Christian Academy
  • Instagram 98reasons_
  • Twitter Deezy98__

Biography

NIL Opportunities

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

Statistics

Season:
2022

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 98

    2017Freshman

    DL
    6'3" 280 lbs
    98
  • 98

    2018Redshirt Freshman

    DL
    6'2" 280 lbs
    98
  • 98

    2019Sophomore

    DL
    6'2" 280 lbs
    98
  • 98

    2020Junior

    DL
    6'2" 280 lbs
    98
  • 98

    2021Junior

    DL
    6'2" 265 lbs
    98
  • 98

    2022Senior

    OLB
    6'2" 265 lbs
    98