Illinois Fighting Illini Football: 2026 Roster Overview
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign football team is gearing up for the 2026 season as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Led by sixth-year head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini will play their home games at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Here’s a look at the current roster as of March 25, 2026.
Coaching Staff
- Head Coach: Bret Bielema (6th season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Barry Lunney Jr. (5th season)
- Defensive Coordinator: Bobby Hauck (1st season)
Roster
The following players are currently listed on the Illinois Fighting Illini football roster:
- Abney, Christian
- Alexander, Jacob
- Alston, Kenyon
- Anderson, Jordan
- Bailey, Matthew
- Balanganayi, Tony
- Barna, Joe
- Barnett, Javari
- Barrett, Zach
- Beerman, Grant
- Bennett, Kayden
- Boyd, Carson
- Brooks, Cameron
- Brown, Daniel
- Clarke, Juice
- Clawson, Ben
- Clayton II, Michael
- Clement, Hudson
- Clement, Murphy
- Cobbs, Kaedyn
- Considine, Caden
- Cox, Tywan
- Crim, Parker
- Dixon, Collin
- Eberhart, Jacob
- Edmonson, Robert
- Farrell, Logan
- Farrell, Pat
- Feagin, Kaden
- Fillmore, Deuce
- Forster, John
- Frechette, Dylan
- Gallardo, Guillermo
- Gayle, Erik
- Grant, Davon
- Gray, Jack
- Haber, Zach
- Hankins Jr., Nick
- Hansen, Brandon
- Harvey, Jacob
- Heckel, Tanner
- Henderson, Brandon
- Hirdes, JJ
- Hollinger, Tanner
- Holmes, Will
- Houser, Katin
- Janki, Carter
- John, Demetrius
- Jones III, RJ
- Kaiser, Karson
- Kante, Ismael
- Knapik, Nathan
- Kreutz, James
- Laughery, Aidan
- Liggins, King
- Lovett Jr., Andre
- Mahoney III, Patrick
- Martin, Christian
- Matelau, Maika
- McDonough, Michael
- McMillen, TJ
- Moczulski, Ethan
- Morris, Jakwon
- Mosley Jr., Leslie
- Muragin, Mason
- Newton, Jershaun
- Osada, Lucas
- Paris, Jack
- Perry, Alex
- Platt, Jayshon
- Prater, Darrell
- Pritchard, Kai
- Rankin, Nas
- Rashad, Corey
- Rau, Lars
- Renfro, Jake
- Resetich, Mac
- Robinson, Ty
- Rousseau, Griffin
- Scott, Xanai
- Scott, Xavier
- Shaw, Kingston
- Smith, Carter
- Smith, Champ
- Smith, Grant
- Smith Jr., Maurice
- Stewart, Jaylen
- Stewart, Zafir
- Stoffel, Davin
- Straughton, Des
- Sullivan, Connor
- Taylor, TJ
- Thomann, Casey
- Thomas, Almirian
- Thomas, Cameron
- Thomison, Isaiah
- Trimble, Brayden
- Tuerk, Eddie
- Vala, Will
- Valentine, Ca’Lil
- Von Seggern, Landen
- Washington, Alfred
- Wheeler, Nelsyn
- White, Isaiah
- Williams, Isaiah
- Williams, Lavon
- Williams, Tony
- Wyche II, Cedric
Looking Ahead
The Illinois Fighting Illini are preparing for the 2026 season with a new defensive coordinator and a mix of returning players and newcomers. Spring practices will be crucial in implementing the new defensive scheme and integrating the new players into the team. The Big Ten Championship is scheduled for December 5, 2026.
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