Illini in the NFL Website
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.Â
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.Â
Look for Illini in the NFL updates throughout the season at FightingIllini.com.
Illini in NFL – Opening Day 2017
Illini on Injured Reserve
Illini on Practice Squads