Illinois State safety Dillon Gearhart was surrounded by family Saturday on senior day at Hancock Stadium in Normal. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Barry Bottino
NORMAL – As Dillon Gearhart walked onto the Hancock Stadium turf Saturday, he was surrounded. There were siblings, their spouses, nieces and nephews, all there to celebrate senior day for the Illinois State free safety.
“I have five sisters and two brothers. I’m the youngest,” he said. “It’s so special. I love them all. I can’t thank them enough for how much they mean to me.”
The family time was a heartwarming chapter in what could be his final home game with the Redbirds, who play at Southeast Missouri on Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN-Plus) in the first round of the FCS playoffs.
The celebration also allowed Gearhart to remember his late father, Daniel, who died in October 2020.
“I know he would be so proud of me if he were here,” said Gearhart, who played prep football at St. Charles East High School. “I know I have him watching over me. I miss him.”
Now a sixth-year player who has earned a scholarship and soon will complete his MBA, Gearhart was a freshman in 2019, which was the last time ISU (9-3) made the postseason. His beginnings as a college football player were humble, to say the least.
“He slept on his sister’s floor for two years here in an apartment when he was a walk-on,” Illinois State head coach Brock Spack said. “He’s become a really good football player and one we trust unequivocally in our secondary.”
Now in his third year as a starter, Gearhart enters the postseason with a career-high 68 tackles, including seven on senior day during a 35-13 victory against North Dakota.
On Saturday, Gearhart flashed his versatility in the Redbirds’ defense, running down the field with All-Missouri Valley Football Conference wide receiver Bo Belquist on one play then racing off the edge and into the backfield a few plays later to singlehandedly stop a run play for a loss of yardage.
“He can run, he’s physical,” Spack said. “Talk about tough – he’s mentally and physically tough.”
Gearhart credits his impact on the defense to his fit in defensive coordinator Travis Neikamp’s system and 38 career starts, including every game over the past three seasons.
“I love the scheme that Coach Neikamp has,” he said. “I’m just doing my job. I’m having fun. I know what I’m supposed to do, where I’m supposed to be and I’m just flying around.”
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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