2023 Illinois Fighting Illini football season

2023 Illinois Fighting Illini
Rose Bowl vs Oregon, W 20-6
Conference	Big Ten West Division
2023 record	11-3 (7-3 B1G)
Head coach	FlutieFlakes (7th year)
Offensive scheme	Pro Style
Base defense	4-3
Captain	Jordan Harrison, Donald Longo, Mason Williams
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 61,760)
Seasons « 2022 2024 »

2023 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East
#6 Michigan †		10	–	0					12	–	2
#20 Maryland		7	–	2					9	–	4
Michigan State		6	–	3					8	–	5
Indiana		5	–	4					9	–	4
Penn State		5	–	4					8	–	5
Ohio State		4	–	5					7	–	6
Rutgers		0	–	9					3	–	9
West
#13 Illinois x		7	–	3					11	–	3
#23 Purdue		6	–	3					9	–	4
Nebraska		6	–	3					7	–	6
Iowa		4	–	5					7	–	6
Minnesota		3	–	6					7	–	6
Northwestern		1	–	8					3	–	9
Wisconsin		0	–	9					1	–	11
Big Ten Championship Game: Michigan 16, Illinois 14
† – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from Coaches Poll

Schedule

Regular Season

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
2	Sat. Afternoon	FIU*		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 38-7
3	Sat.Evening	at Virginia*		Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA	W 17-16
4	Sat.Evening	#12 Washington*	#25	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 19-17
6	Sat.Evening	#25 Minnesota	#12	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 16-23
7	Sat.Evening	#24 Ohio State	#21	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 28-14
8	Sat.Afternoon	at Wisconsin	#16	Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI	W 38-6
10	Sat.Evening	#13 Purdue	#14	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 28-26
11	Sat:Morning	at Rutgers	#10	HighPoint.com Stadium • Piscataway, NJ	W 42-10
12	Sat.Evening	at Nebraska	#7	Memorial Stadium • Linclon, NE	W 28-13
13	Sat.Evening	at Indiana	#8	Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN	L 20-27
14	Sat.Evening	Iowa	#16	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 20-17
15	Sat.Afternoon	at Northwestern	#14	Ryan Field • Evanston, IL	W 35-10
CCG	Sat.Evening	at #6 Michigan	#11	Lucas Oil Stadium • Indianapolis, IN	L 14-16
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

Post-season

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
Rose Bowl	vs. #11 Oregon*	#12	Rose Bowl Stadium • Pasadena, CA	W 20-6
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

Personnel

Key Personnel

Name	Position	Season at Illinois	Season in current role
FlutieFlakes	Head Coach	8th	7th
Jordan Harrison	Quarterback	3rd	2nd
Terrell Swain	Running Back	4th	2nd
Rory Cooley	Wide Receiver	3rd	2nd
Rakeem Phillips	Inside Linebacker	2nd	2nd
Donald Longo	Outside Linebacker	4th	3rd
Mason Williams	Kicker	5th	4th

Position key

Back	B		Center	C		Cornerback	CB		Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE		Defensive lineman	DL		Defensive tackle	DT		End	E
Fullback	FB		Guard	G		Halfback	HB		Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR		Offensive tackle	OT		Offensive lineman	OL		Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS		Punter	P		Punt returner	PR		Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB		Safety	S		Tight end	TE		Wide receiver	WR

Pre-Season Roster

2023 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. Name Class QB Harrison, JordanJordan Harrison  2.5 !So QB Dawson, BlakeBlake Dawson 5.0 !Jr QB Pendleton, DennisDennis Pendleton 3.0 !So RB London, BookerBooker London 3.0 !So RB Swain, TerrellTerrell Swain  3.5 !Jr RB Grady, NathanNathan Grady 57.0 !Sr RB Bolton, MaxwellMaxwell Bolton 5.0 !Jr RB Francis, MarquiseMarquise Francis 5.0 !Jr RB Fulton, JamirJamir Fulton 3.0 !So RB Sanders, BryceBryce Sanders 1.0 !Fr FB Schmitz, SamSam Schmitz 3.0 !So FB McNulty, CooperCooper McNulty 57.0 !Sr FB Lowe, CarterCarter Lowe 3.0 !So WR Huff, WilliamWilliam Huff 1.0 !Fr WR Snell, JakeJake Snell 3.0 !So WR Haynes, KhalilKhalil Haynes  3.5 !Jr WR Felton, DylanDylan Felton 57.0 !Sr WR Cooley, RoryRory Cooley  2.5 !So WR Laughlin, TylerTyler Laughlin 5.0 !Jr WR Clausen, WillWill Clausen 5.0 !Jr WR De Los Santos, PatrickPatrick De Los Santos 3.0 !So WR Rice, DylanDylan Rice  1.5 !Fr TE Hubbard, ByronByron Hubbard 1.0 !Fr TE Herring, JalenJalen Herring  3.5 !Jr TE Kimbrough, JerimiahJerimiah Kimbrough 57.0 !Sr TE McLeod, ThiernoThierno McLeod 5.0 !Jr TE Simpkins, AdrianAdrian Simpkins 3.0 !So TE Lyles, DaleroyDaleroy Lyles  1.5 !Fr OT Carlin, AnthonyAnthony Carlin 1.0 !Fr OT Avalos, RomeoRomeo Avalos 1.0 !Fr OT Merrill, ChristopherChristopher Merrill  3.5 !Jr OT Lindquist, MiloMilo Lindquist 57.0 !Sr OT Moser, AveryAvery Moser 57.0 !Sr OT McFarland, FrankFrank McFarland 3.0 !So OT Kenney, CharlieCharlie Kenney 3.0 !So OT Saylor, MatthewMatthew Saylor 3.0 !So OT Cantrell, SolomonSolomon Cantrell  1.5 !Fr OG Dennison, JuliusJulius Dennison 1.0 !Fr OG Royal, AlshonAlshon Royal 57.0 !Sr OG Rinehart, EricEric Rinehart 57.0 !Sr OG Currie, StevenSteven Currie  2.5 !So OG Fischer, MohammedMohammed Fischer 5.0 !Jr OG Read, RaphaelRaphael Read 57.0 !Sr OG Platt, VinceVince Platt 3.0 !So OG Aguilera, LucasLucas Aguilera 3.0 !So OG Martino, GrahamGraham Martino 3.0 !So C Peralta, CarlosCarlos Peralta  3.5 !Jr C Dorsey, EliasElias Dorsey  3.5 !Jr C Dodd, EdwardEdward Dodd 57.0 !Sr C Hassan, MikeMike Hassan  1.5 !Fr	Defense Pos. Name Class DE Howell, AnthonyAnthony Howell  3.5 !Jr DE Humphrey, CarterCarter Humphrey 57.0 !Sr DE Stallings-McNeil, StephenStephen Stallings-McNeil 57.0 !Sr DE Harden, MamadouMamadou Harden 57.0 !Sr DE Wiley, KembrellKembrell Wiley 3.0 !So DE Rawls, XavierXavier Rawls  1.5 !Fr DE Stiles, JonathanJonathan Stiles 1.0 !Fr DE LeBlanc, IsaacIsaac LeBlanc 1.0 !Fr DE Saldivar, KelvinKelvin Saldivar 1.0 !Fr DT Doe, JordanJordan Doe  3.5 !Jr DT Prescott, DominickDominick Prescott  3.5 !Jr DT McRae, GriffinGriffin McRae 1.0 !Fr DT Clausen, DominicDominic Clausen  2.5 !So DT Morrell, FinnFinn Morrell 5.0 !Jr DT Sapp, JulienJulien Sapp 5.0 !Jr DT Russ, VernonVernon Russ 5.0 !Jr DT Whitley, BookerBooker Whitley 3.0 !So DT Bland, JaQuanJaQuan Bland  1.5 !Fr DT Cahill, IsaraeluIsaraelu Cahill 1.0 !Fr ILB Nance, ShawnShawn Nance 57.0 !Sr ILB Garvey, AlexanderAlexander Garvey 57.0 !Sr ILB Wilson, DarrenDarren Wilson 5.0 !Jr ILB Dougherty, TimothyTimothy Dougherty 5.0 !Jr ILB Phillips, RakeemRakeem Phillips 3.0 !So ILB Lusk, JuliusJulius Lusk 3.0 !So ILB Gossett, JamesJames Gossett  2.5 !So OLB Longo, DonaldDonald Longo  3.5 !Jr OLB Brandon, MarlonMarlon Brandon 57.0 !Sr OLB Kenny, GabeGabe Kenny 57.0 !Sr OLB McNeil, TerrellTerrell McNeil  2.5 !So OLB Lacey, JosiahJosiah Lacey  2.5 !So OLB Hilton Jr., JohnJohn Hilton Jr. 1.0 !Fr OLB Sandoval, NicolasNicolas Sandoval 1.0 !Fr CB Watson, TavarreusTavarreus Watson 57.0 !Sr CB Finney, CurtisCurtis Finney  3.5 !Jr CB McCray, TracyTracy McCray 57.0 !Sr CB Lyles, JeremiahJeremiah Lyles  2.5 !So CB Riggins, RonRon Riggins  2.5 !So CB Blackwell, IsaacIsaac Blackwell 5.0 !Jr CB Oliver, AbdulAbdul Oliver 3.0 !So CB Longo, HueHue Longo  1.5 !Fr FS Easter, SeanSean Easter 57.0 !Sr FS Murphy-Neal, DonteDonte Murphy-Neal  2.5 !So FS Hobson, JadenJaden Hobson 5.0 !Jr FS Womack, ManuelManuel Womack 5.0 !Jr FS McClain, QuincyQuincy McClain 1.0 !Fr FS Pryor, CoryCory Pryor 1.0 !Fr SS Childs, AmariAmari Childs 1.0 !Fr SS Barber, IanIan Barber  2.5 !So SS Cooper, FreddieFreddie Cooper  1.5 !Fr	Special teams Pos. Name Class K Williams, MasonMason Williams  4.5 !Sr K McAuley, GabeGabe McAuley  1.5 !Fr P Walsh, SeanSean Walsh 1.0 !Fr P Strauss, MohamedMohamed Strauss  4.5 !Sr LS Reyes, GuillermoGuillermo Reyes 57.0 !Sr LS Amador, EmmanuelEmmanuel Amador  1.5 !Fr	Head coach FlutieFlakes Coordinators/assistant coaches None Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 9/7/2018

Depth chart

Defense FS Manuel Womack Donte Murphy-Neal WLB MLB SLB Donald Longo Rakeem Phillips Terrell McNeill Gabe Kenny Shawn Nance Marlon Brandon SS Freddie Cooper Ian Barber CB Tavarreus Watson Ron Riggins DE DT DT DE Xavier Rawls Jordan Doe JaQuan Bland Anthony Howell Isaac LeBlanc Dominick Prescott Dominic Clausen Carter Humphrey CB Jeremiah Lyles Curtis Finney Offense WR Rory Cooley Jake Snell LT LG C RG RT Anthony Carlin Raphael Read Carlos Peralta Julius Dennison Romeo Avalos Avery Moser Alshon Royal Elias Dorsey Eric Rinehart Milo Lindquist TE Byron Hubbard Jalen Herring WR Khalil Haynes Dylan Felton QB Jordan Harrison Blake Dawson RB Terrell Swain Maxwell Bolton FB Cooper McNulty Sam Schmitz Special Teams PK Mason Williams P Sean Walsh KR Dylan Felton PR Khalil Haynes LS Emmanuel Amador H Sean Walsh

Recruiting

High School

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Johntey Bryant CB	Covina, CA	Gladstone HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	204 lb (93 kg)	Week 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Kevin Sproles CB	Carmel, IN	Carmel HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	193 lb (88 kg)	Week 8
	Skill:   Potential:
Spencer Norton OG	Chicago, IL	P.L. Julian HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	286 lb (130 kg)	Week 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Shawn Slade C	Guin, AL	Marion County HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	271 lb (123 kg)	Week 6
	Skill:   Potential:
Kai Pressley WR	Columbia, MO	Hickman HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	162 lb (73 kg)	Week 13
	Skill:   Potential:
Noel Tucker OLB	Lockport, IL	Lockport Township HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	241 lb (109 kg)	Week 10
	Skill:   Potential:
Donald Burk QB	Cherokee, IA	Washington HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	212 lb (96 kg)	Week 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Jordan Paris QB	Houston, TX	Kashmere HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	212 lb (96 kg)	Week 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Andrew Rolle RB	Mammoth Lakes, CA	Mammoth HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	193 lb (88 kg)	Week 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Jurdel Bailey TE	Prestonwood, TX	Prestonwood Christian Academy	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	231 lb (105 kg)	Week 6
	Skill:   Potential:
Joseph Arndt OG	Bartonville, IL	Limestone Community HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	282 lb (128 kg)	Week 4
	Skill:   Potential:
JaQuan Dumas DT	Little Rock, AR	Central Arkansas Christian HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	319 lb (145 kg)	Week 5
	Skill:   Potential:
Will Clement ILB	Columbia, SC	Dreher HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	Week 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Justin Post OLB	Sinton, TX	Sinton HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	231 lb (105 kg)	Week 13
	Skill:   Potential:
DeVante Chambers CB	Sarasota, FL	Cardinal Mooney HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	189 lb (86 kg)	Week 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Akiem Dumas OLB	Chicago, IL	Lincoln Park HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	218 lb (99 kg)	Week 13
	Skill:   Potential:
Misael Guajardo DT	Bolingbrook, IL	Bolingbrook HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	328 lb (149 kg)	Week 11
	Skill:   Potential:
Fernando Aponte WR	Bartonville, IL	Limestone Community HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	155 lb (70 kg)	Week 13
	Skill:   Potential:
Darron Terrell OLB	Sandwich, IL	Sandwich Community HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	217 lb (98 kg)	Week 13
	Skill:   Potential:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Junior College Transfers

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Tivonte Nobles DE	Harrisburg, IL	Southeastern Illinois College	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	237 lb (108 kg)	Week 14
	Skill:   Potential:
Bobby Whitlock DT	Louisville, KY	Simmons College of Kentucky	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	310 lb (140 kg)	Week 15
	Skill:   Potential:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.