This is a list of Illinois Fighting Illini football players in the NFL Draft.

Key

B Back K Kicker NT Nose tackle
C Center LB Linebacker FB Fullback
DB Defensive back P Punter HB Halfback
DE Defensive end QB Quarterback WR Wide receiver
DT Defensive tackle RB Running back G Guard
E End T Offensive tackle TE Tight end

Selections

Year Round Pick Player Team Position
1937 8 77 Elvin Sayre Detroit Lions C
1939 20 187 Jim McDonald Detroit Lions C
1940 15 139 Mel Brewer Green Bay Packers G
20 189 Jim Reeder Green Bay Packers T
1941 21 195 Tom Riggs Washington Redskins T
1943 26 244 Eddie McGovern Chicago Cardinals B
1944 1 11 Tony Butkovich Cleveland Rams B
8 71 Alex Agase Green Bay Packers G
14 133 John Genis Brooklyn Dodgers T
14 137 Don Griffin Green Bay Packers B
26 265 Ray Grierson Brooklyn Dodgers E
1945 9 82 Les Joop Detroit Lions T
12 115 Mike Kasap Detroit Lions T
26 268 Ray Florek Cleveland Rams B
1946 2 11 Mac Wenskunas Chicago Cardinals C
2 14 Julie Rykovich Chicago Bears B
11 99 Chick Maggioli Washington Redskins B
12 104 Frank Bauman Chicago Bears E
14 129 Stan Sprague Washington Redskins E
19 174 Tom Gallagher Chicago Bears B
27 255 Butch Kalens New York Giants G
1947 9 70 Art Dufelmeier Chicago Cardinals B
9 75 Dwight Eddleman Chicago Bears B
11 93 Russ Steger Los Angeles Rams B
23 213 Lou Levanti Los Angeles Rams C
30 285 Jack Pierce Chicago Bears B
32 299 Bob Prymuski Los Angeles Rams G
1948 3 15 Les Bingaman Detroit Lions T
8 61 Bob Cunz Green Bay Packers T
13 107 Russ Steger Detroit Lions B
13 111 Perry Moss Green Bay Packers B
15 131 Lou Agase Green Bay Packers T
1949 13 123 Al Mastrangeli Green Bay Packers C
13 131 Lyle Button Philadelphia Eagles T
14 140 Tony Klimek Chicago Cardinals E
18 178 Herb Siegert Washington Redskins G
23 227 Walt Kersulis Los Angeles Rams E
1950 14 175 Lyle Button Washington Redskins T
23 294 Walt Kerulis Pittsburgh Steelers E
28 356 Johnny Karras Detroit Lions B
29 369 Russ Steger Detroit Lions B
1951 5 51 Lynn Lynch Chicago Cardinals G
8 91 Dick Raklovits Detroit Lions B
13 153 Wayne Siegert Detroit Lions T
13 158 Paul Douglass New York Giants B
18 216 Chuck Brown Chicago Bears G
20 234 Al Tate San Francisco 49ers T
27 324 Al Brosky Los Angeles Rams B
1952 2 16 Johnny Karras Chicago Cardinals B
4 41 Chuck Ulrich Philadelphia Eagles T
16 187 Marv Berschet Washington Redskins T
16 189 Herb Neathery Cleveland Browns B
18 212 Tommy O'Connell Chicago Bears B
20 231 Chuck Boerio Green Bay Packers C
21 247 Dick Jenkins Washington Redskins T
26 312 Joe Vernasco Cleveland Browns E
30 353 Don Stevens Philadelphia Eagles B
1953 5 61 Rex Smith Philadelphia Eagles E
16 191 Eric Kuykendall Cleveland Browns B
19 225 Pete Bachouros Philadelphia Eagles B
1954 1 6 Stan Wallace Chicago Bears RB
1 12 John Bauer Cleveland Browns G
2 21 Rocky Ryan Philadelphia Eagles E
14 162 Ken Miller Chicago Bears B
21 252 Jim Baughman Cleveland Browns G
29 341 Claude Taliaferro Baltimore Colts B
1955 25 300 Dick Miller Detroit Lions T
30 356 Bob Gongola San Francisco 49ers B
1956 7 82 J. C. Caroline Chicago Bears B
12 144 Em Lindbeck Los Angeles Rams QB
14 162 Carnell Neuman Chicago Cardinals B
29 348 Mickey Bates Los Angeles Rams B
1957 2 15 Abe Woodson San Francisco 49ers B
5 58 Wayne Bock Chicago Cardinals T
20 231 Percy Oliver Green Bay Packers G
24 282 Gary Francis Pittsburgh Steelers E
1958 3 36 Ray Nitschke Green Bay Packers LB
7 84 Bobby Mitchell Cleveland Browns RB
10 110 Carl Johnson Green Bay Packers T
24 282 Rod Hanson Washington Redskins E
1959 1 11 Rich Kreitling Cleveland Browns WR
9 107 Jack Delveaux New York Giants B
18 207 Darrell DeDecker Chicago Cardinals T
23 270 Bruce Dollahan San Francisco 49ers T
29 346 Ron Nietupski Cleveland Browns T
1960 5 50 Bill Burrell St. Louis Cardinals LB
1961 1 3 Joe Rutgens Washington Redskins T
2 20 Bill Brown Chicago Bears B
6 72 Joe Krakoski Washington Redskins B
8 106 Marshall Starks St. Louis Cardinals RB
11 149 Tony Parrilli San Francisco 49ers G
13 176 Ernie McMillan St. Louis Cardinals E
17 238 Larry Lavery Philadelphia Eagles T
1962 7 91 Ed O'Bradovich Chicago Bears E
9 123 Chuck Dickerson Cleveland Browns T
18 246 Gary Brown San Francisco 49ers T
1963 10 138 Mike Taliaferro New York Giants QB
17 238 Thurman Walker Green Bay Packers E
1965 1 3 Dick Butkus Chicago Bears LB
1 13 George Donnelly San Francisco 49ers B
2 15 Archie Sutton Minnesota Vikings T
13 170 Gregg Schumacher San Francisco 49ers E
17 225 Dave Powless New York Giants G
1966 1 1 Jim Grabowski Miami Dolphins RB
1 9 Jim Grabowski Green Bay Packers RB
3 42 Don Hansen Minnesota Vikings LB
4 57 Ron Acks Minnesota Vikings DE
16 240 Sam Price New York Giants RB
17 254 Gary Eickman New York Giants T
18 268 Kai Anderson New York Giants C
18 270 Dale Greco Minnesota Vikings DT
1967 10 250 Bruce Sullivan Washington Redskins DB
12 298 Preston Pearson Baltimore Colts DB
1968 2 39 Cyril Pinder Philadelphia Eagles RB
2 53 John Wright Atlanta Falcons WR
8 202 Terry Miller Detroit Lions LB
9 224 Bob Robertson Houston Oilers C
9 241 Ken Kmiec Dallas Cowboys DB
1969 3 78 Rich Johnson Houston Oilers RB
5 127 Tony Pleviak Atlanta Falcons DE
10 256 Bob Naponic Houston Oilers QB
1971 6 142 Doug Dieken Cleveland Browns T
1973 4 80 Mike Wells Minnesota Vikings QB
9 214 Tab Bennett San Diego Chargers LB
10 251 Willie Osley Kansas City Chiefs DB
10 255 Larry Allen Green Bay Packers LB
12 308 Larry McCarren Green Bay Packers C
1974 7 171 Gerry Sullivan Cleveland Browns T
16 412 Octavus Morgan Pittsburgh Steelers LB
1975 5 110 Revie Sorey Chicago Bears G
6 151 Tom Hicks Chicago Bears LB
16 396 Mark Peterson Kansas City Chiefs DE
1976 5 139 Lonnie Perrin Denver Broncos RB
9 258 Stu Levenick Baltimore Colts T
10 271 Doug Kleber Cleveland Browns T
14 381 Joe Smalzer Cleveland Browns TE
1977 9 250 Scott Studwell Minnesota Vikings LB
10 278 Dan Beaver Minnesota Vikings K
1978 9 231 Rich Grimmett Seattle Seahawks T
1979 4 99 Derwin Tucker Los Angeles Rams DB
6 147 John Sullivan Chicago Bears LB
8 219 Bruce Thornton Dallas Cowboys DT
1980 9 241 Lawrence McCullough Washington Redskins WR
1981 5 116 John Gillen St. Louis Cardinals LB
11 281 Mike Sherrod St. Louis Cardinals TE
1981s 1 0 Dave Wilson New Orleans Saints QB
1982 2 35 Jack Squirek Los Angeles Raiders LB
7 195 Ron Ferrari San Francisco 49ers LB
8 212 Kelvin Atkins Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB
1983 1 15 Tony Eason New England Patriots QB
6 155 Mike Bass New England Patriots K
8 221 Mike Martin Cincinnati Bengals WR
9 231 Adam Lingner Kansas City Chiefs C
12 313 Oliver Williams Chicago Bears WR
1984 4 95 Mitchell Brookins Buffalo Bills WR
6 147 Dwight Beverly Indianapolis Colts RB
6 156 Don Thorp New Orleans Saints DT
8 215 Ed Brady Los Angeles Rams LB
9 227 Mike Johnson Houston Oilers DE
11 290 Bob Stowe Indianapolis Colts T
11 298 Mark Butkus Chicago Bears DT
12 328 Moe Bias Los Angeles Rams LB
12 333 Mike Weingrad Miami Dolphins LB
1985 4 92 Mike Heaven Tampa Bay Buccaneers DB
10 253 Chris Babyar Buffalo Bills G
11 284 John Ayres Atlanta Falcons DB
1986 2 47 Jack Trudeau Indianapolis Colts QB
3 82 David Williams Chicago Bears WR
4 83 Craig Swoope Tampa Bay Buccaneers DB
4 104 Jim Juriga Denver Broncos T
6 147 Thomas Rooks Minnesota Vikings RB
7 172 Chris White Indianapolis Colts K
8 207 Cap Boso Pittsburgh Steelers TE
9 225 Bob Sebring Houston Oilers LB
10 251 Guy Teafatiller Buffalo Bills DT
1987 8 212 Mark Dennis Miami Dolphins T
10 264 Jerry Reese Atlanta Falcons TE
1988 1 25 Scott Davis Los Angeles Raiders DE
3 82 Mike Piel Los Angeles Rams DT
5 134 Keith Taylor New Orleans Saints DB
7 181 Darryl Usher New England Patriots WR
11 295 Bobby Dawson Pittsburgh Steelers DB
1989 3 62 Keith Jones Atlanta Falcons RB
1990 1 1 Jeff George Indianapolis Colts QB
2 50 Mike Bellamy Philadelphia Eagles WR
1991 1 26 Henry Jones Buffalo Bills DB
4 87 Moe Gardner Atlanta Falcons DT
5 132 Darrick Brownlow Dallas Cowboys LB
6 152 Mel Agee Indianapolis Colts DT
7 191 Chris Green Miami Dolphins DB
9 236 Howard Griffith Indianapolis Colts RB
1992 7 189 Elbert Tuener Houston Oilers WR
12 328 Kameno Bell Miami Dolphins RB
12 329 Tim Simpson Cleveland Browns C
1993 1 13 Brad Hopkins Houston Oilers T
1994 7 221 Filmel Johnson Buffalo Bills DB
1995 2 48 Ken Dilger Indianapolis Colts TE
5 144 John Holecek Buffalo Bills LB
5 168 Dana Howard Dallas Cowboys LB
7 226 Scott Turner Washington Redskins DB
1996 1 2 Kevin Hardy Jacksonville Jaguars LB
1 3 Simeon Rice Arizona Cardinals DE
3 69 Ken Blackman Cincinnati Bengals G
1997 6 181 Dennis Stallings Houston Oilers LB
1998 2 37 Robert Holcombe St. Louis Rams RB
1999 6 197 J. P. Machado New York Jets G
2000 6 169 Neil Rackers Cincinnati Bengals K
7 245 Danny Clark Jacksonville Jaguars LB
2001 5 144 Marques Sullivan Buffalo Bills T
6 174 Jameel Cook Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB
2002 5 158 Kurt Kittner Atlanta Falcons QB
2003 2 36 Eugene Wilson New England Patriots DB
4 124 Brandon Lloyd San Francisco 49ers WR
5 160 David Diehl New York Giants G
5 173 Tony Pashos Baltimore Ravens T
7 226 Walter Young Carolina Panthers WR
2004 5 159 Sean Bubin Jacksonville Jaguars T
7 233 Christian Morton New England Patriots DB
2005 2 60 Kelvin Hayden Indianapolis Colts DB
4 122 Duke Preston Buffalo Bills C
2007 7 237 Alan Ball Dallas Cowboys DB
2008 1 23 Rashard Mendenhall Pittsburgh Steelers RB
2009 1 25 Vontae Davis Miami Dolphins DB
5 155 Xavier Fulton Tampa Bay Buccaneers T
6 204 Will Davis Arizona Cardinals DE
2010 2 39 Arrelious Benn Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR
3 68 Jon Asamoah Kansas City Chiefs G
5 132 Michael Hoomanawanui St. Louis Rams TE
2010s 7 0 Josh Brent Dallas Cowboys DT
2011 1 18 Corey Liuget San Diego Chargers DT
2 57 Mikel Leshoure Detroit Lions RB
3 72 Martez Wilson New Orleans Saints LB
7 243 Nate Bussey New Orleans Saints LB
2012 1 26 Whitney Mercilus Houston Texans DE
1 30 A. J. Jenkins San Francisco 49ers WR
2 44 Jeff Allen Kansas City Chiefs T
2 48 Tavon Wilson New England Patriots DB
2013 3 86 Hugh Thornton Indianapolis Colts G
4 100 Akeem Spence Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT
5 150 Terry Hawthorne Pittsburgh Steelers DB
7 226 Michael Buchanan New England Patriots DE
2016 2 44 Jihad Ward Oakland Raiders DE
6 221 Ted Karras New England Patriots G
7 245 Clayton Fejedelem Cincinnati Bengals DB
2017 3 68 Dawuane Smoot Jacksonville Jaguars DE
2019 7 216 Nick Allegretti Kansas City Chiefs G
2021 3 87 Kendrick Green Pittsburgh Steelers G
5 167 Nate Hobbs Las Vegas Raiders DB
2022 3 97 Kerby Joseph Detroit Lions DB
6 184 Vederian Lowe Minnesota Vikings T
6 207 Doug Kramer Chicago Bears C
2023 1 5 Devon Witherspoon Seattle Seahawks DB
2 47 Jartavius Martin Washington Commanders DB
3 66 Sydney Brown Philadelphia Eagles DB
5 163 Chase Brown Cincinnati Bengals RB

[1]

Notes

Dave Wilson was drafted in the 1981 Supplemental Draft.[2]

Notable undrafted players

Note: No drafts held before 1920

Debut Year Player Position Debut Team Notes
1966 T. J. Jackson WR/DB Philadelphia Eagles —
1981 Earnest Adams LB Philadelphia Eagles —
1982 Calvin Thomas RB Chicago Bears —
1983 Darryl Byrd LB Los Angeles Raiders —
1983 John Janata T Chicago Bears —
1983 Tim Norman T Chicago Bears —
1984 Vince Osby LB San Diego Chargers —
1985 Dave Edwards DB Pittsburgh Steelers —
1985 Rick Schulte T Tampa Bay Buccaneers —
1987 Ron Bohm DT St. Louis Cardinals —
1987 Alec Gibson DE Washington Redskins —
1987 Lance Harkey LB Los Angeles Raiders —
1987 Scott Kehoe T Miami Dolphins —
1987 Steve Pierce WR Cleveland Browns —
1987 Brett Wilson RB Minnesota Vikings —
1988 Dave Harbour C Washington Redskins —
1988 Jeff Markland TE Pittsburgh Steelers —
1988 Mike Scully C Washington Redskins —
1990 African Grant DB Miami Dolphins —
1991 Frank Hartley TE Los Angeles Rams —
1994 Greg Engel LS San Diego Chargers —
1999 Garrett Johnson DT New England Patriots —
1999 Ryan Schau C Philadelphia Eagles —
2001 Nate Hodel LS Carolina Panthers —
2001 Josh Whitman TE Buffalo Bills —
2002 Brandon Moore G New York Jets —
2004 Carey Davis RB Indianapolis Colts —
2006 Steve Weatherford P New Orleans Saints —
2007 Pierre Thomas RB New Orleans Saints —
2016 Geronimo Allison WR Green Bay Packers —
2021 Josh Imatorbhebhe WR Jacksonville Jaguars —

References

  1. ^ DraftHistory.com
  2. ^ Dave Wilson NFL Football Statistics | Pro-Football-Reference.com
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