American college football season
The 2017 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Fighting Illini played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Lovie Smith. They finished the season 2–10, 0–9 in Big Ten play to finish in last place in the West Division.
The Fighting Illini signed a total of 25 recruits.
College recruiting information (2017)
|
Name
|
Hometown
|
High school / college
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Commit date
|
Mike Epstein RB
|
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
|
St. Thomas Aquinas HS
|
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
Aug 6, 2015
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Ricky Smalling WR
|
Chicago, Illinois
|
Brother Rice HS
|
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
|
189 lb (86 kg)
|
Apr 26, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars Rivals:4/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:4/5 stars
|
Kendall Smith WR
|
Bolingbrook, Illinois
|
Bolingbrook HS
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
170 lb (77 kg)
|
Apr 26, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Cameron Thomas QB
|
Richton Park, Illinois
|
Marian Catholic HS
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
180 lb (82 kg)
|
May 31, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Vederian Lowe OG
|
Rockford, Illinois
|
Auburn HS
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
|
352 lb (160 kg)
|
Jun 12, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Marc Mondesir LB
|
Chicago, Illinois
|
St. Rita HS
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
210 lb (95 kg)
|
Jun 12, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:2/5 stars
|
Tony Adams WR
|
St. Louis, Missouri
|
St. Louis University HS
|
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
Aug 12, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Larry Boyd OG
|
St. Louis Missouri
|
Trinity Catholic HS
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
|
310 lb (140 kg)
|
Aug 13, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:4/5 stars
|
Carmoni Green WR
|
Miami, Florida
|
Miami Central HS
|
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
|
192 lb (87 kg)
|
Aug 25, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:4/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Olalere Oladipo DE
|
Huntley, Illinois
|
Huntley HS
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
238 lb (108 kg)
|
Aug 25, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Ra'Von Bonner RB
|
Cincinnati, Ohio
|
Sycamore HS
|
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
|
210 lb (95 kg)
|
Sep 27, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Del'Shawn Phillips LB
|
Highland Park, Michigan
|
Garden City Community College
|
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
|
215 lb (98 kg)
|
Dec 14, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Howard Watkins OG
|
Cincinnati, Ohio
|
Colerain HS
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
|
280 lb (130 kg)
|
Dec 19, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Kendrick Green DT
|
Peoria, Illinois
|
Peoria HS
|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
|
270 lb (120 kg)
|
Dec 22, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Nate Hobbs CB
|
Louisville, Kentucky
|
Male HS
|
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
|
170 lb (77 kg)
|
Dec 23, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:2/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Owen Carney DE
|
Miami, Florida
|
Miami Central HS
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
232 lb (105 kg)
|
Dec 25, 2016
|
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars Rivals:4/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
James Knight S
|
East St. Louis, Illinois
|
East St. Louis HS
|
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
|
210 lb (95 kg)
|
Jan 16, 2017
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:2/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:2/5 stars
|
Louis Dorsey TE
|
Jacksonville, Florida
|
Ribault HS
|
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
|
220 lb (100 kg)
|
Jan 21, 2017
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Alex Palczewski OT
|
Prospect, Illinois
|
Plant HS
|
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
|
260 lb (120 kg)
|
Jan 20, 2017
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:2/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Deon Pate DE
|
Jacksonville, Florida
|
Trinity Christian Academy
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
246 lb (112 kg)
|
Jan 30, 2017
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Bennett Williams CB
|
Watsonville, California
|
Saint Francis HS
|
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
|
192 lb (87 kg)
|
Jan 31, 2017
|
Star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars Rivals:2/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN: N/A
|
Dawson DeGroot S
|
Fort Myers, Florida
|
Fort Myers HS
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
190 lb (86 kg)
|
Jan 31, 2017
|
Star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars Rivals:2/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN: N/A
|
Jamal Woods DE
|
Hueytown, Alabama
|
Hueytown HS
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
240 lb (110 kg)
|
Feb 1, 2017
|
Star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars Rivals:2/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Bobby Roundtree DE
|
Largo, Florida
|
Largo HS
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
|
230 lb (100 kg)
|
Feb 1, 2017
|
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars Rivals:3/5 stars 247Sports:3/5 stars ESPN:3/5 stars
|
Isaiah Gay DE
|
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
|
Northern Nash HS
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
215 lb (98 kg)
|
Feb 10, 2017
|
Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports:2/5 stars ESPN: N/A
|
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.
Sources:
|
Illinois announced its 2017 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2017 schedule consisted of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Fighting Illini hosted Big Ten foes Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and traveled to Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Purdue.[1]
The Fighting Illini hosted two of the three non-conference opponents, Ball State from the Mid-American Conference and Western Kentucky (WKU) from Conference USA, and traveled to South Florida from the American Athletic Conference.
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
September 2 | 11:00 a.m. | Ball State * | | BTN | W 24–21 | 42,505 |
September 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Western Kentucky * | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | W 20–7 | 41,923 |
September 15 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 22 South Florida * | | ESPN | L 23–47 | 35,404 |
September 29 | 7:00 p.m. | Nebraska | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| FS1 | L 6–28 | 43,058 |
October 7 | 11:00 a.m. | at Iowa | | BTN | L 16–45 | 69,894 |
October 14 | 11:00 a.m. | Rutgers | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | L 24–35 | 35,675 |
October 21 | 2:30 p.m. | at Minnesota | | BTN | L 17–24 | 45,243 |
October 28 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 5 Wisconsin dagger | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| ESPN | L 10–24 | 42,101 |
November 4 | 11:00 a.m. | at Purdue | | BTN | L 10–29 | 46,027 |
November 11 | 11:00 a.m. | Indiana | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL (rivalry)
| BTN | L 14–24 | 40,195 |
November 18 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 8 Ohio State | | ABC | L 14–52 | 105,282 |
November 25 | 3:00 p.m. | No. 23 Northwestern | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL (rivalry)
| FS1 | L 7–42 | 30,456 |
- *Non-conference game
- daggerHomecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game
- All times are in Central time
|
- Schedule Source:[2]
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Cardinals
|
7
|
0
|
14
|
0 |
21 |
Fighting Illini
|
6
|
10
|
0
|
8 |
24 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Hilltoppers
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
7 |
7 |
Fighting Illini
|
3
|
10
|
7
|
0 |
20 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
2
|
7
|
0
|
14 |
23 |
No. 22 Bulls
|
9
|
14
|
14
|
10 |
47 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Cornhuskers
|
7
|
14
|
0
|
7 |
28 |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
0 |
6 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
3
|
10
|
3
|
0 |
16 |
Hawkeyes
|
7
|
10
|
7
|
21 |
45 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Scarlet Knights
|
7
|
14
|
7
|
7 |
35 |
Fighting Illini
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
14 |
24 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
10 |
17 |
Golden Gophers
|
7
|
0
|
3
|
14 |
24 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
No. 5 Badgers
|
7
|
10
|
0
|
7 |
24 |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
7 |
10 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
0 |
10 |
Boilermakers
|
7
|
6
|
3
|
13 |
29 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Hoosiers
|
0
|
14
|
3
|
7 |
24 |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
7 |
14 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
7 |
14 |
Buckeyes
|
28
|
10
|
7
|
7 |
52 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Wildcats
|
0
|
14
|
14
|
14 |
42 |
Fighting Illini
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
7 |
2017 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
RB
|
2
|
Reggie Corbin
|
So
|
QB
|
3
|
Jeff George, Jr.
|
So
|
WR
|
4
|
Ricky Smalling
|
Fr
|
WR
|
5
|
Carmoni Green
|
Fr
|
QB
|
7
|
Chayce Crouch
|
Jr
|
WR
|
8
|
Dominic Thieman
|
So
|
WR
|
9
|
Sam Mays
|
Jr
|
QB
|
10
|
Cam Thomas
|
Fr
|
WR
|
11
|
Malik Turner
|
Sr
|
QB
|
12
|
Charlie Reinkemeyer
|
Fr
|
TE
|
13
|
Caleb Reams
|
So
|
QB
|
14
|
Cam Miller
|
Fr
|
QB
|
15
|
Trenard Davis
|
So
|
QB
|
16
|
Connor Kelly
|
Fr
|
WR
|
17
|
Kendall Smith
|
Fr
|
WR
|
18
|
Mike Dudek
|
Jr
|
TE
|
19
|
Louis Dorsey
|
Fr
|
RB
|
21
|
Ra'Von Bonner
|
Fr
|
RB
|
22
|
Kendrick Foster
|
Sr
|
RB
|
26
|
Mike Epstein
|
Fr
|
RB
|
27
|
Dre Brown
|
So
|
RB
|
29
|
Christian Bobak
|
Fr
|
RB
|
36
|
Austin Roberts
|
Jr
|
TE
|
38
|
Brandon Roberts
|
Sr
|
TE
|
39
|
Nathan Echard
|
Sr
|
TE
|
45
|
Henry McGrew
|
Jr
|
OL
|
52
|
Adam Solomon
|
So
|
OL
|
53
|
Nick Allegretti
|
Jr
|
OL
|
63
|
Alex Palczewski
|
Fr
|
OL
|
65
|
Doug Kramer
|
Fr
|
OL
|
66
|
Jordan Fagan
|
Sr
|
OL
|
67
|
Christian DiLauro
|
Sr
|
OL
|
68
|
Jake Stover
|
Fr
|
OL
|
71
|
Zeke Martin
|
So
|
OL
|
72
|
Gabe Megginson
|
So
|
OL
|
73
|
Jake Cerny
|
Fr
|
OL
|
75
|
Kurt Gavin
|
Fr
|
OL
|
76
|
Larry Boyd
|
Fr
|
OL
|
79
|
Vederian Lowe
|
Fr
|
TE
|
81
|
Griffin Palmer
|
Fr
|
WR
|
82
|
William DuPont
|
Fr
|
TE
|
83
|
Bobby Walker
|
So
|
WR
|
84
|
James Bartholomew
|
Fr
|
TE
|
85
|
Andrew Trainer
|
So
|
RB
|
88
|
Brandon Jones
|
Fr
|
TE
|
89
|
Alex Pihlstrom
|
Fr
|
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
DB
|
1
|
Jaylen Dunlap
|
Sr
|
LB
|
2
|
Julian Jones
|
Jr
|
LB
|
3
|
Del'Shawn Phillips
|
Jr
|
DB
|
4
|
Bennett Williams
|
Fr
|
DL
|
5
|
James Crawford
|
Sr
|
DB
|
6
|
Tony Adams
|
Fr
|
DB
|
7
|
Stanley Green
|
So
|
LB
|
9
|
Dele Harding
|
So
|
LB
|
10
|
James Knight
|
Fr
|
DB
|
12
|
Chris James
|
Jr
|
DB
|
20
|
Harvey Clayton, Jr.
|
Fr
|
DB
|
21
|
Patrick Nelson
|
So
|
DB
|
23
|
Frank Sumpter
|
So
|
DB
|
24
|
Dawson DeGroot
|
Fr
|
DB
|
25
|
Nate Hobbs
|
Fr
|
DB
|
26
|
Evan Jones
|
Fr
|
DB
|
27
|
Ahmari Hayes
|
Sr
|
DB
|
28
|
Nolan Bernat
|
So
|
DB
|
30
|
Julian Hylton
|
Jr
|
DB
|
31
|
Cameron Watkins
|
So
|
LB
|
32
|
Justice Williams
|
So
|
LB
|
33
|
Tré Watson
|
Jr
|
LB
|
34
|
Christion Abercrombie
|
Fr
|
LB
|
35
|
Jake Hansen
|
So
|
DB
|
37
|
Zach Holman
|
Jr
|
LB
|
41
|
Jimmy Marchese
|
So
|
DB
|
42
|
Michael Marchese
|
Fr
|
LB
|
44
|
Drew Murtaugh
|
Fr
|
DL
|
47
|
Sean Adesanya
|
Jr
|
DL
|
48
|
Kevin Hinders
|
Fr
|
LB
|
52
|
Ayo Shogbonyo
|
Fr
|
LB
|
54
|
Marc Mondesir
|
Fr
|
DL
|
55
|
Jamal Milan
|
So
|
DL
|
90
|
Lere Oladipo
|
Fr
|
DL
|
91
|
Jamal Woods
|
Fr
|
DL
|
92
|
Isaiah Gay
|
Fr
|
DL
|
94
|
Tito Odenigbo
|
Jr
|
DL
|
95
|
Kenyon Jackson
|
So
|
DL
|
96
|
Tymir Oliver
|
So
|
DL
|
97
|
Bobby Roundtree
|
Fr
|
DL
|
98
|
Deon Pate
|
Fr
|
DL
|
99
|
Owen Carney Jr.
|
Fr
|
|
Special teams
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Garrick McGee – Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
- Hardy Nickerson – Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
- Mike Phair – Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Line
- Bob Ligashesky – Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends
- Donnie Abraham – Safeties
- Luke Butkus – Offensive Line
- Andrew Hayes-Stoker – Wide Receivers
- Thad Ward – Running Backs
- Paul Williams – Cornerbacks
- Joe Fotu - Graduate Assistant - Defense
- Brett Nelson - Graduate Assistant - Offense
- Shane Toub - Graduate Assistant - Offense
- Robert Wright - Graduate Assistant - Defense
- Charles Drewek - Defensive Analyst
- Kingsley Osei-Asibey - Defensive Analyst
- Nathan Scheelhaase - Offensive Analyst
- Tim Knox - Director of Football Operations
- James Kirkland - Director of Player Personnel
- Tre' Stallings - Director of Football Player Development
- Patrick Embleton - Director of Football Student-Athlete Development
- Nathan McNeal - Director of High School Relations
- Travis Perry - Graphics/Social Media
- Joey Boese - Head Football Strength & Conditioning Coach
- Jeremy Busch - Head Football Athletic Trainer
- Trent Chestnut - Head Football Equipment Manager
- Alex Benizzi - Director of Football Video
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster Last update: October 13, 2016
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |