Illinois greats
29 players, ranked by what they did at Illinois: the Heisman, the College Football Hall of Fame, national awards, consensus All-America teams, first-round picks and leading a national champion. Before 2004 our records hold the honors and the draft; from 2004 they add season stats for most players (not linemen, and not every name before 2010, when the source’s rosters fill in).
Dick ButkusHall of Fame, 1983
Red GrangeHall of Fame, 1951- Jim GrabowskiHall of Fame, 1995
- Dana HowardHall of Fame, 2018
- David WilliamsHall of Fame, 2005
- Moe GardnerHall of Fame, 2022
- J.C. CarolineHall of Fame, 1989
Bernie ShivelyHall of Fame, 1982
Bart MacomberHall of Fame, 1972
Alex AgaseHall of Fame, 1963- Chuck CarneyHall of Fame, 1966
Buddy YoungHall of Fame, 1968- Kevin Hardy1995 Butkus
- Al BroskyHall of Fame, 1998
Whitney Mercilus2011 Ted Hendricks
Devon WitherspoonConsensus All-American, 2022- Bill BurrellConsensus All-American, 1959
Johnny KarrasConsensus All-American, 1951
Corey LiugetNo. 18 pick, 2011
Rashard MendenhallNo. 23 pick, 2008- Tony EasonNo. 15 pick, 1983
Vontae DavisNo. 25 pick, 2009
Johnny NewtonConsensus All-American, 2023
Perry GravesConsensus All-American, 1914
Jim McMillenConsensus All-American, 1923
Ralph ChapmanConsensus All-American, 1914
Jack DeplerConsensus All-American, 1918
A.J. JenkinsNo. 30 pick, 2012- J LemanConsensus All-American, 2007
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.