Illinois-Iowa Game Notes | Get Tickets | Gameday Central
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois football team will celebrate its nine seniors with a special ceremony before Saturday's home finale against Iowa at Memorial Stadium. The student-athletes will be announced on the field in alphabetical order beginning at about 2:15 p.m., with kickoff to follow at 2:40 p.m.
#53 Nick Allegretti, OL
» Frankfort, Ill. // Lincoln-Way East
» Earned bachelor's degree in accountancy (Dec. 2017)
» Currently pursuing a master's degree in recreation, sport and tourism
» Parents are Carl and Tammy Allegretti
» 45 games played and 34 consecutive starts entering the Iowa game
» Finalist for Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award
» Two-time team captain and All-Big Ten selection in 2017 has played nearly every snap over the last two seasons
» Senior leader of young offensive line that has paved the way for the nation's eighth ranked rushing offense in 2018 (262.8 ypg entering Iowa game)
#1 AJ Bush Jr., QB
» Alpharetta, Ga. // Norcross HS // Virginia Tech
» Earned a bachelor's degree in sociology at Virginia Tech (Aug. 2018)
» Currently pursuing a master's degree in recreation, sport and tourism.
» Parents are Alvin and Karen Bush
» Graduate transfer has eight games played and seven starts in his first season at Illinois (entering Iowa game)
» Has thrown for 1,050 yards, rushed for 659 and accounted for 13 touchdowns (8 rushing, 5 passing)
» Broke the Illinois QB single-game rushing yards record with 187 yards at Nebraska on Nov. 10, 2018
#18 Mike Dudek, WR
» Naperville, Ill. // Neuqua Valley
» Earned double bachelor's degrees in marketing and business process management (May 2018)
» Currently pursuing a master's degree in technology management
» Parents are Rick and Lynn Dudek
» 21 games played with 16 starts in his Illini career
» Freshman All-American after a 1,000-yard season in 2014
» Career was snake-bitten by injuries with just eight games played over the last four years following his record-breaking freshman season
» Played in one game in 2018, making four catches for 65 yards in the opener before suffering his fourth season-ending injury
#37 Zac Holman, WR
» Cronulla, Australia // De La Salle Cronulla
» Will graduate in December with a bachelor's degree in earth, society and environmental sustainability
» Parents are Brett and Amanda Holman
» Five games played in Illini career, all in 2018
» Walk-on saw first on-field cation in 2018 opener against Kent State.
» Australia native went to junior college, then started Illinois career as a safety before moving to WR this season
#9 Sam Mays, WR
» Missouri City, Tex. // The Kinkaid School
» Will graduate in December with a bachelor's degree in communication
» Parents are Joe and Gwen Mays
» 38 games played with 12 career starts, including all 10 games so far in 2018
» Having his best season as a senior with 22 catches for 238 yards entering Iowa game
» Has 42 career catches, including the game-winning touchdown in the 2016 win over Michigan State
#43 Chase McLaughlin, PK
» Cypress, Tex. // Cypress Woods
» Earned a bachelor's degree in technical systems management (May 2018)
» Currently pursuing a master's degree in technology management
» Parents are Dan and Tammy McLaughlin
» 33 games played as an Illini. Has been primary kicker for last three seasons.
» Will go down as one of the best kickers in school history, hitting 41-of-56 field goals and 78-of-78 PATs for 201 career points entering Iowa game
» Holds school records for most career (5) and season (4) made field goals of 50+ yards
» In 2018, has hit 17-of-22 field goals and 35-of-35 PATs to lead the Big Ten in scoring with 86 points
Shaedon Meadors, WR
» Duncan, S.C. // Byrnes HS // Appalachian State
» Earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Appalachian State (Dec. 2017)
» Currently pursuing a master's degree in recreation, sport and tourism at Illinois
» Parents are Shenra and Chuck Cunningham
» Graduate transfer was injured prior to the season and never got to suit up for the Orange and Blue
#9 Del'Shawn Phillips, LB
» Highland Park, Mich. // Cass Tech
» On track to earn a bachelor's degree in recreation, sport & tourism in May 2019
» Parents are Latashia Phillips and Shawn Gaines
» Junior college transfe has played 21 games with 19 starts in his two years at Illinois.
» 2018 team captain is the team's leading tackler over the last two seasons with 166 stops and 9.0 TFLs entering Iowa game
» In 2018, leads team with 81 tackles and three interceptions entering Iowa game.
#36 Austin Roberts, TE
» Rice Lake, Wis. // Rice Lake
» Currently pursuing joint bachelor's/master's degrees in applied health sciences, working toward a B.S. in community health and a M.S. in public health simultaneously
» Parents are Kevin and Denise Roberts
» 26 games played with seven starts
» Started career as a linebacker before moving to tight end/full back in 2016.
» Serves primarily as a blocker, but does have three career receptions and one carry entering Iowa game
