Illinois State redshirt freshman wide receiver Mar’Quan Gary’s goal this season is to make plays as part of the Redbird offense. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Barry Bottino
Growing up near Illinois State University, Mar’Quan Gary had a unique perspective on the 2025 season.
The redshirt freshman wide receiver played high school football at Normal Community, just minutes from where he now practices with ISU.
As the unseeded Redbirds rolled through the FCS playoffs all the way to the national title game in Nashville, the significance wasn’t lost on Gary.
“It was definitely special,” he said. “I’ve never seen the town like that before, so engaged in Illinois State football. I thought, ‘This is amazing.’”
As ISU – which lost, 35-34, in overtime to Montana State in the national championship Jan. 5 – prepares for its April 11 spring scrimmage, Gary is among the players who want to ensure the Redbirds remain in the national title conversation in 2026.
He will do his part by leaning on the teachings of now-departed wide receivers such as the record-setting Daniel Sobkowicz and longtime Redbird Eddie Kasper.
“I think I developed a lot from high school to the first year of college, so now I think I can definitely get way better,” Gary said. “I learned a lot from guys like Dan and Eddie. Eddie taught me a lot about route running. Dan basically played the same position as me. I had to just sit and learn from those guys until my time came.”
Gary is trying to make the most of his time on the field this spring.
The 6-foot receiver said he now weighs 186 pounds, which is 13 pounds heavier than when he began his college career.
“I’m a lot bigger now. That was the main goal,” he said of his biggest improvements. “I’d also say my route running. I know how to run routes way more crisp than last year.”
At Normal Community, he was known as a dynamic player with the ball in his hands.
“That’s the best part of my game, and also my speed,” he said.
Last season, Gary said he was called up to the travel roster in Week 8 and remained there throughout the playoffs, where he returned kicks and punts. Those are two jobs he wants to continue in his second season.
Along with special teams, his goal is to impact the passing game in the fall.
“I’m trying to see the field on offense this year and make plays,” Gary said.
During the off-season, he is working with quarterbacks Beckham Pellant and Gage Roy, who are competing to replace Tommy Rittenhouse, a two-year starter who put together the best season for an ISU quarterback in school history last fall.
Gary said Pellant’s arm strength and Roy’s accuracy have stood out during spring practices.
“Whoever wins the job, I’ll have a connection with both of them,” he said.
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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