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University of Illinois Athletics

Illini in the NFL Draft

Information updated through the 2025 NFL Draft

ALL-TIME ILLINOIS FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS
Year Player Team (Selection) Pos
1944 Tony Butkovich L.A. Rams (11) RB
1954 John Bauer Cleveland (12) G
Stan Wallace Chicago (6) DB
1959 Rich Kreitling Cleveland (11) WR
1961 Joe Rutgens Washington (3) DT
1965 Dick Butkus Chicago (3) LB
George Donnelly San Francisco (13) DB
1966 Jim Grabowski Green Bay (9) FB
1983 Tony Eason New England (15) QB
1988 Scott Davis L.A. Raiders (25) DE
1990 Jeff George Indianapolis (1) QB
1991 Henry Jones Buffalo (26) DB
1993 Brad Hopkins Houston (13) OT
1996 Kevin Hardy Jacksonville (2) LB
Simeon Rice Arizona (3) LB
2008 Rashard Mendenhall Pittsburgh (23) RB
2009 Vontae Davis Miami (25) CB
2011 Corey Liuget San Diego (18) DT
2012 Whitney Mercilus Houston (26) DE
A.J. Jenkins San Francisco (30) WR
2023 Devon Witherspoon Seattle Seahawks (5) DB

ALL-TIME NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NFL) DRAFT PICKS
1937 Elvin Sayre, C, Detroit (8th, 77)
1939 Jim McDonald, C, Detroit (20th, 187)
1940 Jim Reeder, T, Green Bay (20th)
Mel Brewer, T, Washington (21st, 195)
1941 Tom Riggs, G, Green Bay (15th)
1943 Eddie McGovern, B, Chicago Cardinals (26th, 244)
1944 Tony Butkovich, B, Cleveland (1st, 11)
Alex Agase, G, Green Bay (8th, 71)
John Genis, T, Brooklyn (14th, 133)
Don Griffin, B, Green Bay (14th, 137)
Ray Grierson, E, Brooklyn (26th, 265)
1945 George Bujan, C, Washington (5th, 38)
Les Joop, T, Detroit (9th, 82)
Mike Kasap, T, Detroit (12th, 115)
Ray Florek, B, Cleveland (26th, 268)
1946 Mac Wenskunas, C, Chicago Cardinals (2nd, 11)
Julius Rykovich, B, Chicago Bears (2nd, 14)
Chick Maggioli, B, Washington (11th, 99)
Frank Bauman, E, Chicago Bears (12th, 104)
Stan Sprague, E, Washington (14th, 129)
Tom Gallagher, B, Chicago Bears (19th, 174)
Butch Kolens, G, New York Giants (27th, 255)
1947 Art Dufelmeier, B, Chicago Cardinals (9th, 70)
Dwight "Dike" Eddleman, B, Chicago Bears (9th, 75)
Russ Steger, B, LA Rams (11th, 93)
Lou Levanti, C, LA Rams (23rd, 213)
Jack Pierce, B, Chicago Bears (30th, 285)
Bob Prymuski, G, LA Rams (32nd, 299)
1948 Les Bingaman, T, Detroit (3rd, 15)
Bob Cunz, T, Green Bay (8th, 61)
Russ Steger, B, Detroit (13th, 107)
Perry Moss, B, Green Bay (13th, 111)
Lou Agase, T, Green Bay (15th, 131)
1949 Al Mastrangeli, C, Green Bay (13th, 123)
Lyle Button, T, Philadelphia (13th, 131)
Tony Klimek, E, Chicago Cardinals (14th, 140)
Herb Siegert, G, Washington (18th, 178)
Walt Kersulis, E, LA Rams (23rd, 227)
1950 Lyle Button, T, Washington (14th, 175)
Walt Kersulis, E, Pittsburgh (23rd, 294)
Johnny Karras, B, Detroit (28th, 356)
Russ Steger, B, Detroit (29th, 369)
1951 Lynn Lynch, G, Chicago Cardinals (5th, 51)
Dick Raklovits, G, Detroit, (8th, 91)
Wayne Siegert, T, Detroit (13th, 153)
Paul Douglass, B, NY Giants (13th, 158)
Chuck Brown, G, Chicago Bears (18th, 216)
Al Tate, T, San Francisco (20th, 234)
Al Brosky, B, LA Rams (27th, 324)
1952 Johnny Karras, B, Chicago Cardinals (2nd, 16)
Chuck Ulrich, T, Philadelphia (4th, 41)
Marv Berschet , T, Washington (16th, 187)
Herb Neathery, B, Cleveland (16th ,189)
Tommy O'Connell, QB, Chicago Bears (18th, 212)
Chuck Boerio, C, Green Bay (20th, 231)
Dick Jenkins, T, Washington (21st, 247)
Joe Vernasco, E, Cleveland (26th, 312)
Don Stevens, B, Philadelphia (30th, 353)
1953 Rex Smith, E, Philadelphia (5th)
Erick Kuykendall, B, Cleveland (16th)
Pete Bachouros, B, Philadelphia (19th)
1954 Stan Wallace, B, Chicago Bears (1st, 6)
John Bauer, G, Cleveland (1st, 12)
Rocky Ryan, E, Philadelphia (2nd, 21)
Ken Miller, B, Chicago Bears (14th, 162)
Jim Baughman, G, Cleveland (21st, 252)
Claude Talieferro, B, Baltimore (29th, 341)
1955 Dick Miller, T, Detroit (25th, 300)
Bob Gongala, B, San Francisco (30th, 356)
1956 J.C. Caroline, B, Chicago Bears (7th, 82)
Em Lindback, QB, LA Rams (12th, 144)
Mickey Bates, B, LA Rams (29th, 348)
1957 Abe Woodson, B, San Francisco (2nd, 15)
Wayne Bock, T, Chicago Cardinals (5th, 58)
Percy Oliver, G, Green Bay (20th, 231)
Gary Francis, E, Pittsburgh (24th, 282)
1958 Ray Nitschke, B, Green Bay (3rd, 36)
Bobby Mitchell, B, Cleveland (7th, 84)
Carl Johnson, T, Green Bay (10th, 110)
Rod Hanson, E, Washington (24th, 282)
1959 Rich Kreitling, E, Cleveland (1st, 11)
Jack Delveaux, B, NY Giants (9th, 107)
Darrell DeDecker, T, Chicago Cardinals (18th, 207)
Bruce Dollahan, T, San Francisco (23rd, 270)
Ron Nietupski, T, Cleveland (29th, 346)
1960 Bill Burrell, LB, Chicago Cardinals (5th, 50)
1961 Joe Rutgens, T, Washington (1st, 3)
Bill Brown, B, Chicago Bears (2nd, 20)
Joe Krakoski, B, Washington (6th, 72)
Marshall Starks, HB, St. Louis (8th, 106)
Tony Parrilli, G, San Francisco (11th, 149)
Ernie McMillan, E, St. Louis (13th 176)
Larry Lavery, T, Philadelphia (17th, 238)
1962 Ed O'Bradovich, E, Chicago Bears (7th, 91)
Charles Dickerson, T, Cleveland (9th, 123)
Gary Brown, B, San Francisco (18th, 246)
1963 Mike Taliaferro, QB, NY Giants (10th, 138)
Thurman Walter, E, Green Bay (17th, 238)
1965 Dick Butkus, LB, Chicago Bears (1st, 3)
George Donnelly, B, San Francisco (1st, 13)
Archie Sutton, T, Minnesota (2nd, 15)
Gregg Schumacher, E, San Francisco (13th, 170)
Dave Powless, G, NY Giants (17th, 225)
1966 Jim Grabowski, FB, Green Bay (1st, 9)
Don Hansen, LB, Minnesota (3rd, 42)
Ron Acks, DE, Minnesota (4th, 57)
Sam Price, HB, NY Giants (16th, 240)
Gary Eickman, T, NY Giants (17th, 254)
Kai Anderson, C, NY Giants (18th, 268)
Dale Greco, DT, Minnesota (18th, 270)
1967 Bruce Sullivan, DB, Washington (10th, 250)
1968 Cyril Pinder, RB, Philadelphia (2nd, 39)
John Wright, WR, Detroit (2nd, 53)
Terry Miller, LB, Detroit (8th, 202)
Bob Robertson, C, Houston (9th, 224)
Ken Kmiec, DB, Dallas (9th, 241)
1969 Rich Johnson, RB, Houston (3rd, 78)
Tony Pleviak, DE, Atlanta (5th, 127)
Bob Naponic, QB, Houston (10th, 256)
1970 Doug Dieken, T, Cleveland (6th, 142)
1973 Mike Wells, QB, Minnesota (4th, 80)
Tab Bennett, LB, San Diego (9th, 214)
Willie Osley, DB, Kansas City (10th, 251)
Larry Allen, LB, Green Bay (10th, 255)
Larry McCarren, C, Green Bay (12th, 308)
1974 Gerry Sullivan, C-T, Cleveland (7th, 171)
Octavus Morgan, LB, Pittsburgh (16th, 412)
1975 Revie Sorey, G, Chicago (5th, 110)
Tom Hicks, LB, Chicago (6th, 151)
Mark Peterson, DE, Kansas City (16th, 396)
1976 Lonnie Perrin, RB, Denver (5th, 139)
Stu Levenick, T, Baltimore (9th, 258)
Doug Kleber, T, Cleveland (10th, 271)
Joe Smalzer, TE, Cleveland (14th, 381)
1977 Scott Studwell, LB, Minnesota (9th, 250)
Dan Beaver, K, Minnesota (10th, 278)
1978 Rich Grimmett, T, Seattle (9th, 231)
1979 Darwin Tucker, DB, LA Rams (4th, 99)
John Sullivan, LB, Chicago (6th, 147)
Bruce Thornton, DT, Dallas (8th, 219)
1980 Lawrence McCullough, WR, Washington (9th, 241)
1981 John Gillen, LB, St. Louis (5th, 116)
Mike Sherrod, TE, St. Louis (11th, 281)
1982 Dave Wilson, QB, New Orleans (1st in 1981 supplemental draft)
Jack Squirek, LB, Oakland (2nd, 35)
Ron Ferrari, LB, San Francisco (7th, 195)
Kelvin Atkins, LB, Tampa Bay (8th, 212)
1983 Tony Eason, QB, New England (1st, 15)
Mike Bass, K, New England (6th, 155)
Mike Martin, WR, Cincinnati (8th, 221)
Adam Lingner, C, Kansas City (9th, 231)
Oliver Williams, WR, Chicago (12th, 313)
1984 Mitchell Brookins, WR, Buffalo (4th, 95)
Dwight Beverly, RB, Indianapolis (6th, 147)
Don Thorp, DT, New Orleans (6th, 156)
Ed Brady, LB, LA Rams (8th, 215)
Mike Johnson, DE, Houston (9th, 227)
Bob Stowe, T, Indianapolis (11th, 290)
Mark Butkus, DT, Chicago (11th, 298)
Moe Bias, LB, LA Rams (12th, 328)
Mike Weingrad, LB, Miami (12th, 333)
1985 Mike Heaven, DB, Tampa Bay (4th, 92)
Chris Babyar, G, Buffalo (10th, 253)
John Ayres, DB, Atlanta (11th, 284)
1986 Jack Trudeau, QB, Indianapolis (2nd, 47)
David Williams, WR, Chicago (3rd, 82)
Craig Swoope, DB, Tampa Bay (4th, 83)
Jim Juriga, T, Denver (4th, 104)
Thomas Rooks, RB, Minnesota (6th, 147)
Chris White, K, Indianapolis (7th, 172)
Cap Boso, TE, Pittsburgh (8th, 207)
Bob Sebring, LB, Houston (9th, 225)
Guy Teafatiller, DT, Buffalo (10th, 251)
1987 Mark Dennis, OT, Miami (8th, 212)
Jerry Reese, TE, Atlanta (10th, 264)
1988 Scott Davis, DE, LA Raiders (1st, 25)
Mike Piel, DT, LA Rams (3rd, 82)
Keith Taylor, DB, New Orleans (5th, 134)
Darryl Usher, WR, New England (7th, 181)
Bobby Dawson, DB, Pittsburgh (11th,295)
1989 Keith Jones, RB, Atlanta (3rd, 62)
1990 Jeff George, QB, Indianapolis (1st, 1)
Mike Bellamy, WR, Philadelphia (2nd, 50)
1991 Henry Jones, DB, Buffalo (1st, 26)
Moe Gardner, NT, Atlanta (4th, 87)
Darrick Brownlow, LB, Dallas (5th, 132)
Mel Agee, DT, Indianapolis (6th, 152)
Chris Green, DB, Miami (7th, 191)
Howard Griffith, RB, Indianapolis (9th, 236)
1992 Elbert Turner, WR, Houston (7th, 189)
Kameno Bell, RB, Miami (12th, 328)
Tim Simpson, G, Cleveland (12th, 329)
1993 Brad Hopkins, T, Houston (1st, 13)
1994 Filmel Johnson, DB, Buffalo (7th, 221)
1995 Ken Dilger, TE, Indianapolis (2nd, 48)
John Holecek, LB, Buffalo (5th, 144)
Dana Howard, LB, Dallas (5th, 168)
Scott Turner, DB, Washington (7th, 226)
1996 Kevin Hardy, LB, Jacksonville (1st, 2)
Simeon Rice, LB, Arizona (1st, 3)
Ken Blackman, OL, Cincinnati (3rd, 69)
1997 Dennis Stallings, LB, Houston (6th, 181)
1998 Robert Holcombe, RB, St. Louis (2nd, 37)
1999 J.P. Machado, OL, N.Y. Jets (6th, 197)
2000 Neil Rackers, PK, Cincinnati (6th, 169)
Danny Clark, LB, Jacksonville (7th, 245)
2001 Marques Sullivan, OT, Buffalo (5th, 144)
Jameel Cook, FB, Tampa Bay (6th, 174)
2002 Kurt Kittner, QB, Atlanta (5th, 158)
2003 Eugene Wilson, CB, New England (2nd, 36)
Brandon Lloyd, WR, San Francisco (4th, 124)
David Diehl, G, NY Giants (5th, 160)
Tony Pashos, OT, Baltimore (5th, 173)
Walter Young, WR, Carolina (7th, 226)
2004 Sean Bubin, OL, Jacksonville (5th, 159)
Christian Morton, CB, New England (7th, 233)
2005 Kelvin Hayden, CB, Indianapolis (2nd, 60)
Duke Preston, OL, Buffalo (4th, 122)
2007 Alan Ball, DB, Dallas (7th, 237)
2008 Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh (1st, 23)
2009 Vontae Davis, DB, Miami (1st, 25)
Xavier Fulton, OL, Tampa Bay (5th, 155)
Will Davis, OLB, Arizona (6th, 204)
2010 Arrelious Benn, WR, Tampa Bay (2nd, 39)
Jon Asamoah, OL, Kansas City (3rd, 68)
Michael Hoomanawanui, TE, St. Louis (5th, 132)
Josh Brent, DT, Dallas (7th round in 2010 supplemental draft)
2011 Corey Liuget, DT, San Diego (1st, 18)
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Detroit (2nd, 57)
Martez Wilson, LB, New Orleans (3rd, 72)
Nate Bussey, LB, New Orleans (7th, 243)
2012 Whitney Mercilus, DE, Houston (1st, 26)
A.J. Jenkins, WR, San Francisco (1st, 30)
Jeff Allen, OT, Kansas City (2nd, 44)
Tavon Wilson, CB, New England (2nd, 48)
2013 Hugh Thornton, OL, Houston (3rd, 86)
Akeem Spence, DT, Tampa Bay (4th, 100)
Terry Hawthorne, DB, Pittsburgh (5th, 150)
Michael Buchanan, DE, New England (7th, 226)
2016 Jihad Ward, DE, Oakland (2nd, 44)
Ted Karras, OG, New England (6th, 221)
Clayton Fejedelem, S, Cincinnati (7th, 245)
2017 Dawuane Smoot, DE, Jacksonville (3rd, 68)
2019 Nick Allegretti, OL, Kansas City (7th, 216)
2021 Kendrick Green, OL, Pittsburgh (3rd, 87)
Nate Hobbs, DB, Las Vegas (5th, 167)
2022 Kerby Joseph, S, Detroit (3rd, 97)
Vederian Lowe, OT, Minnesota (6th, 184)
Doug Kramer, C, Chicago (6th, 207)
2023 Devon Witherspoon, DB, Seattle (1st, 5)
Jartavius Martin, DB, Washington (2nd, 47)
Sydney Brown, DB, Philadelphia (3rd, 66)
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati (5th, 163)
2024 Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Washington (2nd, 36)
Isaiah Adams, OL, Arizona (3rd, 71)
Tip Reiman, TE, Arizona (3rd, 82)
Casey Washington, WR, Atlanta (6th, 187)
2025 Pat Bryant, WR, Denver (3rd, 74)

ALL-TIME AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (AFL) DRAFT PICKS
1960 Bill Burrell, LB, Buffalo (round N/A)
DeJustice Coleman, HB, Houston
John Gremer, G, Houston
1961 Joe Rutgens, T, Oakland (1st, 4)
Cliff Roberts, T, LA Chargers (6th)
Bill Brown, B, NY Titans (6th)
Ernie McMillan, T, Boston (10th)
Joe Wendryhoski, T, NY Titans (13th)
Joe Krakoski, HB, Oakland (18th)
Darrell DeDecker, C, Boston (23rd)
1962 Johnny Counts, HB, NY Titans (24th)
Charles Dickerson, T, Boston (28th)
Tony Parrilli, G, Buffalo (33rd)
1963 Mike Taliaferro, QB, NY Titans (28th)
1965 Dick Butkus, LB, Denver (2nd)
George Donnelly, DB, Denver (4th)
Bill Minor, LB, Oakland (11th)
Dave Powless, G, Kansas City (15th)
1966 Jim Grabowski, FB, Miami (1st, 1)
Don Hansen, LB, Miami (7th)
Sam Price, HB, Miami (11th)
Ed Russell, T, Buffalo (16th)
Ron Acks, DB, NY Jets (16th)
Gary Eickman, DE, Denver (17th)
1966 Kai Anderson, C, Miami (11th), redshirt

AAFC Draft Picks
1947 Buddy Young, B, NY Yankees (special selection)
Bill Huber, E, Cleveland (11th, 88)
Mac Wenskunas, C, Chicago Rockets (18th, 136)
Bill Franks, T, Chicago Rockets (25th, 170)
1948 Les Bingaman, T, Brooklyn (5th, 27)
Lou Agase, T, Chicago Rockets (14th, 82)
Russ Steger, B, Cleveland (17th, 113)
Dwight "Dike" Eddleman, B, Cleveland (21st, 145)
Ike Owen, E, Chicago Rockets (24th, 162)
Lou Levanti, C, Baltimore (25th, 171)
Sam Zatkoff, E, Baltimore (26th, 179)
Perry Moss, B, San Francisco (27th, 190)
Herb Siegert, G, San Francisco (29th, 206)
1949 Bob Prymuski, T, Baltimore (8th, 57)
Al Mastrangeli, C, NY Yankees (9th, 64)
Walt Kersulis, E, Cleveland (14th, 108)
Murney Lazier, B, Baltimore (20th, 147)

Illinois - NFL Draft Records by Round
Most Draft picks: 9 (1952, 1984, 1986)
Most picks 1st round: 2 (1954, 1965, 1996, 2012)
Most picks 1st-2nd rounds: 4 (2012)
Most picks 1st-3rd rounds: 4 (2012)
Most picks 1st-4th rounds: 4 (1986, 2012)
Most picks 1st-5th rounds: 4 (2003, 2012, 2023)
Most picks 1st-6th rounds: 5 (1986)
Most picks 1st-7th rounds: 6 (1986)