Illinois commit earns state Gatorade Player of the Year honors
Rochester High School in Rochester, Illinois is home to an Illinois football commit and now a Gatorade Player of the Year.
Senior quarterback Hank Beatty was given the award after a tremendous season. Beatty proved all season that he could do it all with his arm and legs. He had 1,899 yards passing with 23 touchdowns, and 1,371 yards rushing with 24 touchdowns as well.
The Rochester Rockets Athletics account on Twitter posted the news on Tuesday morning.
Congrats to Rocket Senior Hank Beatty, who has been named the 2021-2022 Gatorade Player of the Year for the State of Illinois! pic.twitter.com/HS3j0n6mMS
— RochesterRocketAthletics (@FollowRHSSports) December 7, 2021
Beatty is listed as a 3-star quarterback per the 247Sports composite. He chose Illinois in April of this year. He got offers from the likes of Air Force, Central Michigan, Illinois State, and Iowa State to name a few.
Beatty and the Rockets made it to the semifinals of the Illinois state playoffs, but were beaten by the state-runner up Sacred Heart-Griffin Cyclones 49-42.
It looks like Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini could be getting a potential steal from the class of 2022.