Steel is a 5’10” 190 pound linebacker that racked up 80 tackles including 19 TFL, and 5 sacks. Makes impactful plays on a consistent basis.  Middle linebacker that can thump in the middle along with running sideline to sideline. Lives in the backfield putting pressure on the QB as a pass rusher along with making a ton of tackles for loss.  Lights out hitter!

One of the hardest hitters I saw while grinding film for the PrepRedzone Illinois 2027 rankings drop, Marist Redhawk 5’10, 190 lber. Marquis Steel Marquis Steel 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Marist | 2027 State IL had a productive non-varsity freshman season in the CCL, posting 73 tackles, 15 TFLs, and 2 sacks and laying some serious wood along the way. The combination of speed and physicality allowed him to make an impact in every game of the 2023 season, as Steel identifies and triggers on the ball quickly, shoots gaps with pace, and can beat blocks with either speed or physicality. His closing speed allows him to make plays behind the LOS in run defense, and he runs the alley well and has the speed to pursue out to the edge. Steel is also a standout multi-sport athlete who was an excellent JV rugby player for Marist in 2023-24 as a freshman and helped the Redhawks win the 2024 JV state championship. He overpowers ball carriers at the contact point and is a physical tackler who wins collisions, a good trait to have for a budding LB prospect. We’ll see if he can add some inches over the course of the next year or two, but the skillset and playstyle are looking ready to make an impact sooner rather than later.