19 Former Illini in the NFL

Keep up with former Illini as the NFL opens the 2017 opens Thursday

Football September 6, 2017

19 Former Illini in the NFL

Keep up with former Illini as the NFL opens the 2017 opens Thursday

A total of 19 former Fighting Illini football players are in the NFL as the season opens up this week. Fifteen players are on opening-day 53-man rosters, one is on injured reserve and three more are on practice squads.

The list of Illini on NFL rosters includes a bevy of veterans like Jeff Allen, Arrelious Benn, Vontae Davis, Whitney Mercilus and Jihad Ward, to name a few, as well as five rookies in 2017 – Hardy Nickerson and Dawuane Smoot on active rosters, plus Justin Hardee, Carroll Phillips and Gimel President on pratice squads.

Look for Illini in the NFL updates throughout the season at FightingIllini.com.

Illini in NFL – Opening Day 2017

Player	Team	Position
Jeff Allen	Houston Texans	Offensive Lineman
Geronimo Allison	Green Bay Packers	Wide Receiver
Arrelious Benn	Jacksonville Jaguars	Wide Receiver
Vontae Davis	Indianapolis Colts	Cornerback
Clayton Fejedelem	Cincinnati Bengals	Safety
Michael Hoomanawanui	New Orleans Saints	Tight End
Ted Karras	New England Patriots	Offensive Line
Matt LaCosse	New York Giants	Tight End
Corey Liuget	San Diego Chargers	Defensive Tackle
Whitney Mercilus	Houston Texans	Linebacker
Hardy Nickerson	Cincinnati Bengals	Linebacker
Dawuane Smoot	Jacksonville Jaguars	Defensive End
Akeem Spence	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Defensive Tackle
Jihad Ward	Oakland Raiders	Defensive End
Tavon Wilson	Detroit Lions	Defensive Back

Illini on Injured Reserve

Josh Ferguson

Indianapolis Colts

Running Back

Illini on Practice Squads

Justin Hardee	New Orleans Saints	Cornerback
Carroll Phillips	Jacksonville Jaguars	Defensive End
Gimel President	Houston Texans	Linebacker

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#19 Justin Hardee: WR; 6' 1"; Senior; 1-1

#6 Carroll Phillips: DL; 6' 3"; Senior; 1-1

#91 Dawuane Smoot: DL; 6' 3"; Senior; 2-1

#14 Gimel President: DL; 6' 4"; Senior; 1-1

#10 Hardy Nickerson: LB; 6' 0"; Senior; 1-1

Players Mentioned

#19 Justin Hardee
: 6' 1"; Senior; 1-1
: WR

#6 Carroll Phillips
: 6' 3"; Senior; 1-1
: DL

#91 Dawuane Smoot
: 6' 3"; Senior; 2-1
: DL

#14 Gimel President
: 6' 4"; Senior; 1-1
: DL

#10 Hardy Nickerson
: 6' 0"; Senior; 1-1
: LB