Sept. 5, 2014

Ken Dilger TE - 1990-1994

One of the greatest tight ends in Fighting Illini history, Ken Dilger was a dominant blocker and receiver during his tenure with the Illini. Dilger played football at Heritage Hills High School in Lincoln City, Indiana, where he played quarterback while also excelling in basketball and baseball. After redshirting the 1990 season, Dilger went on to become a four-year letterman and three-year starter at tight end. He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention in 1991. In 1994, he hauled in 48 receptions for 607 yards - second-most in a season in school history by a tight end - and six touchdowns, a single-season school record for a tight end, to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors.

Dilger was selected in the second round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He spent his first seven NFL seasons as a tight end with the Indianapolis Colts. Soon after, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 and helped the Bucs to a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. After a 10-year NFL career, he piled up 356 catches, 4,099 yards and 24 touchdowns in his career.

Dilger retired from the NFL in 2005 and jumped into the corporate world. He was the president of Dilger Financial Group, a residential mortgage brokerage company based in Indiana that he started in 2007. Today, Dilger is chief operating officer of USA Business Lending, Inc., in Indianapolis.