Top 50 most important Illini: No. 49: Michael Marchese

Illinois' Michael Marchese, left, and Tymir Oliver celebrate their team's interception against South Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Chicago.Michael Marchese | Junior linebacker

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…