Illini 2020 commit highlights: 4-star QB Dixon continues sparkling play

Each week we look closely at how some the Illinois 2020 verbal commitments performed this weekend in their high school games.

QB CJ Dixon - 4-star - 6-foot-5, 210 pounds - Grayson H.S. (Lawrence Ga.) - Dixon, who is the star member of the Illini's 2020 class, continues to put up impressive numbers in a highly-competitive Georgia region. In a 45-7 win on the road at Shiloh Friday night, Dixon completed 14 of 19 passes for 300 yards through the air and four touchdowns. 

“(Dixon) and I had a conversation before we came out here, and I told him, ‘We’re going to let you play ball a little bit," Grayson head coach Adam Carter told the Gwinnett (Ga.) Daily Post. You’ve got to be confident. You’ve got to be smart and take care of the ball.’”

Dixon led Grayson what turned in to a nine-play, 99-yard drive that included a 37-yard scramble and three completions, including a seven-yard touchdown pass for Grayson's first score of the game. 

WR Jadon Thompson - 4-star - 6-foot-2, 160 pounds - In a 28-14 win over Waubonsie Valley Friday night, Thompson led Naperville (Ill.) Central with seven receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. Thompson now has four receiving touchdowns this season. 

"I think we had our best week of practice this week," Thompson told the Daily Herald, "and that carried over to the game tonight. All week at practice we were focused just on this game, we were not looking ahead. Now we have Homecoming coming up and we have to prepare like we did this week. We have to get better every day."

OT Phifer Griffin - 3-star - 6-foot-6, 290 pounds - Griffin was a starting offensive lineman as Union Academy (Monroe, N.C.) lost 46-20 to Bessemer City High School.

OT Kevin Tyler - 3-star - 6-foot-5, 295 pounds - Tyler was a starting offensive lineman as Ritenour (St. Louis) lost 47-0 to Hazelwood Central High School. 

DL Quinton McCoy - 3-star - 6-foot-2, 262 pounds - McCoy was the starting defensive end in a 46-10 win over Kathleen (Lakeland, FL) High School.

OL Blaise Sparks - 3-star - 6-foot-7, 310 pounds - North Fort Myers High School (Fort Myers, Fla.) - Sparks was a starting offensive lineman in 24-22 loss to Dunbar High School. In the game, North Fort Myers ran for 284 yards on the ground and a pair of 100-yard tailbacks. 

WR James Frenchie - 4-star - 5-foot-9, 175 pounds - No stats were found in Trinity Catholic’s 36-6 win over Miller Career Academy Friday night.

RB Reggie Love - 3-star - 5-foot-10, 195 pounds - No stats were found in Trinity Catholic’s 36-6 win over Miller Career Academy Friday night.