2022 Football Roster
Jersey Number 42
Michael Marchese
- Position:
- TE
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 235
- Hometown:
- Vernon Hills, Ill.
- High School:
- Stevenson
 University of Illinois Graduate |
2022 Senior
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in all 13 games at tight end
- Nine receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns on the season
- Led Illinois tight ends in receiving touchdowns (2)
- Tied career high with two receptions in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State 1/2/23
- Career highs in receptions (2), receiving yards (43), and longest reception (39) against Virginia 9/10/22
- Touchdowns against Virginia 9/10/22 and Chattanooga 9/22/22
- Illinois’ Paul and Tiz Bresee/Illini FamILLy Award winner
- Illinois’ Tim McCarthy Scholarship winner
- Allstate Good Works Team nominee
2021 Senior
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in 12 games with one start
- Two receptions for 30 yards on the season
- First career reception at Minnesota
- Wuerffel Trophy watch list
- Allstate Good Works Team nominee
- Switched to tight end during 2021 spring practices
- Awarded with a scholarship by head coach Bret Bielema during team meeting 4/6/21 (video)
2020 Senior
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in four games and started two at linebacker
- 16 tackles and one PBU on the season
- Made first start of the season at Northwestern 12/12/20
2019 Junior
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in 12 games, primarily on special teams
- Five tackles, one interception on the season
- Second career interception at UConn 9/7/19
2018 Sophomore
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played 11 games with three starts at safety
- 21 tackles, two PBUs, one interception, one fumble recovery and one QB hurry on season
- Career-high 11 tackles at Northwestern 11/24/18
- First career start and first career interception against Western Illinois 9/8/18
- Missed the season opener with an injury
- Academic All-Big Ten
2017 Freshman
- Walk-on played in five games, primarily on special teams
- Two tackles, one fumble recovery on the season
- Made his Illinois debut against Wisconsin in the eighth game of the season
- First career fumble recovery on a muffed punt at Purdue
High School
- Two-year letterwinner in football
- Three-year letterwinner in baseball
- All-conference and all-area selection in football
- Four-time member of the Green Honor Roll
Personal
- Born October 23, 1998
- Son of John and Julie Marchese
- Three brothers, Joe, Jim and Henry
- Father played football at Iowa from 1982-86
- Twin brother Henry played football at Iowa from 2017-21
- Brother, Jimmy, played football at Illinois from 2015-18
- Brother, Joe, played football at Maryland from 2013-17
- Uncle, Dan, played football at Army from 1978-82
- Chose Illinois because, “The academic and athletic excellence of the school and I loved the campus, the people and the coaching staff.”
- Plans to work in football or business/law after playing career
- Graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics
- Graduated with a master's degree in management
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
