NFL teams sign Rochester's Hank Beatty, Carlinville's Kyle Dixon

NFL teams sign Rochester's Hank Beatty, Carlinville's Kyle Dixon

University of Illinois receiver Hank Beatty is reportedly signing with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent, according to 247sports.com following the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 25.

The 2022 Rochester High School graduate led the Illini with 70 catches for 864 yards and three touchdowns over his final season that included three 100-yard games in wins against Western Illinois, Duke, and Purdue.

The 5-foot-11 receiver and punt returner notably became the first Big Ten Conference performer to record a passing TD, rushing TD, receiving TD, and punt return TD in the same season since 2003.

He additionally broke Red Grange’s 102-year-old school record for most punt return yards in a game against WIU.

“I feel like I just make things happen when I have the ball in my hands,” said Beatty, who won All-Big Ten Third Team honors from coaches and media, not to mention Associated Press All-Big Ten Second Team as an all-purpose player despite ramped-up coverage.

Beatty wasn't alone in the Springfield area.

Kyle Dixon, a 2019 Carlinville High School graduate, also reportedly signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent.

Not unlike Beatty, Dixon also competed in the Hula Bowl after two seasons as a 6-4, 215-pound receiver at NAIA Culver-Stockton College in Missouri. He wrangled 143 catches for over 2,300 yards and 24 TDs over those two seasons.

Dixon was previously a pitcher at NCAA Division I schools Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and NAIA Georgia Gwinnett College before shifting to football at Culver-Stockton in 2024, where he became the first wideout to record two seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards.

In the Hula Bowl, Dixon recorded four receptions for 71 yards as the lone NAIA athlete.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: