Editor’s note: Each day this week, the Daily Illini will feature special content related to the upcoming Football Signing Day on Feb. 1. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we will run interviews with some of the new players who have already joined the Illini.

Name: Antonio Steele

Position: Linebacker

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 215 pounds

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Junior College: Long Beach City College in California

I Picked Illinois because: It felt like Coach Zook was a very good coach. The coaching staff was very good. They made me feel like I was at home. It felt different than the other places I visited.

First impressions of Illinois: The wind blows very hard here, and it’s cold. But it’s a great place; it’s a college town. I’ve gotten to meet some of the people around here, the football team, and they’re all great people.

My previous college experience taught me: I learned a lot. Coming from Ohio and going all the way out to California, it taught me to be independent, to take care of myself. On the football field it taught me a lot about my readings, how to study film. But it also taught me how to interact with people from different states. Sometimes they dress and act in a different way than people in the Midwest, and I had to adjust to that.

I’m going to major in: Maybe Speech Communications. I don’t really know yet. Right now I’m just in general classes.

When I grow up I want to: I really don’t know. Maybe do broadcasting or something. I could see myself doing something like ESPN, working with TV and sports.

The person who had the biggest influence on my football career is: My Brother, Markus. He’s been through all this before. He played two years at USC and then got drafted by the Cowboys. I can take some of his advice.

My mom would say I’m: Funny. I’m good to get along with; I want to be friends with everybody. I’m a fun person to be around.

My favorite food is: Steak, well-done. I like it a little burnt.

Other than football, my favorite sports are: My first love was basketball, but I found out the chances of making it in that sport were very slim. I played baseball, too. I tried playing tennis, but I’m not very good at that, and I want to play golf. I like a lot of sports.

My career highlight is: My 26 tackles against the kid who’s now Northwestern’s starting running back, Mark Philmore. That was my senior year of high school. It was only the second game of the season, but we were ranked really high after that.