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Corbin, Roundtree, McLaughlin Named MVPs at Annual Football Banquet

Football

Corbin, Roundtree, McLaughlin Named MVPs at Annual Football Banquet

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini football team, families and friends gathered Sunday at the iHotel and Conference Center to honor the program's nine out-going seniors and the season's award winners at the 117th annual football banquet, hosted by former Illini All-American Martin O'Donnell. 

The following are the Illini award winners from the 2018 Illinois Football Banquet:

Reggie Corbin – Red Grange Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Junior running back Reggie Corbin had one of the most explosive seasons in college football, rushing for 1,085 yards and nine touchdowns while ranking third in FBS in yards per carry (8.5). He averaged 9.3 yards per carry in conference play, second-best in FBS for any RB with more than 10 carries per game, and led in the nation in runs of 60+-yards (5) and 70+-yards (4) during the regular season. Corbin had eight scrimmage plays of over 50 yards this season, second-most in FBS, and all eight came in Big Ten play. 

Bobby Roundtree – Dick Butkus Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Sophomore defensive end Bobby Roundtree led FBS in PBUs by a defensive lineman with 7 and ranked seventh in the Big Ten with 7.5 sacks, while also adding a team-high 12.5 TFLs, 66 total tackles, four QB hurries and one forced fumble during the regular season. In conference games, Roundtree ranked fourth in the B1G in sacks with 6.5. 

Chase McLaughlin – Dike Eddleman Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
Senior kicker Chase McLaughlin was named Big Ten Kicker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten after one of the best kicking seasons in school history. McLaughlin hit 20-of-25 field goals and a perfect 36-of-36 PATs for a Big Ten-best 96 points. He set school records for 50-plus field goals made for a season (4) and career (5), making as many 50-yard kicks as there rest of the Big Ten combined in 2018. McLaughlin ranks fourth in UI single-season history in FG makes (20) and seventh in season FG accuracy (.800). He ranked ninth in FBS in field goals per game (1.67) and 25th in points scored (96). 

Wright Commitment to Excellence Award » LB Del'Shawn Phillips
The Wright Commitment to Excellence Award is presented each year to a student-athlete who has exemplified persistence in the face of obstacles to achieve success. Linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips arrived at Illinois from junior college in 2017 and has become a leader on and off the field. In 2018 he was second in the Big Ten in interceptions (4) and shared the team lean in tackles (95). 

Bruce Capel Award » LB Jake Hansen
The Bruce Capel Award has been handed out for the last 42 years to the Illini player who displays the most courage, dedication and accomplishment throughout the season. Capel played center from 1962-64. His life ended tragically while serving military duty in Vietnam. This year's winner, linebacker Jake Hansen, truly symbolizes everything the Capel Award means – courage, dedication and accomplishment. After playing sparingly as a true-freshman in 2016, Hansen missed the entire 2017 season with a knee injury before returning this season to share the team lead in tackles (95) and rank second in TFLs (8.5). Hanseon is a nominee for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award. 

Scholar-Athlete Award » TE Austin Roberts
The top student-athlete on the team this season, Austin Roberts, is 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. A Google Cloud Co-SIDA Academic All-District honoree, Roberts plans to attend medical school following his time at Illinois. 

Service Above Self Award » OL Nick Allegretti
Senior offensive guard Nick Allegretti was recognized for outstanding community services efforts throughout his Fighting Illini career. Allegretti is active in volunteering for the Tom Jones Challenger League, and he is the team's Uplifting Athletes chapter president and Lift for Life organizer, where he helped to raise over $88,000 for rare disease research and awareness over the last two years. He a 2018 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award finalist, 2018 Jason Witten Man of the Year semifinalist, 2018 Campbell Trophy semifinalist, 2018 Senior CLASS Award candidate and is a two-time Wuerffel Trophy nominee and AFCA Good Works Team watch list honoree.

2018 Fighting Illini Captains

Offense: Nick Allegretti
Defense: Del'Shawn Phillips
Special Teams: Dele Harding

2018 Fighting Illini Seniors

Nick Allegretti
AJ Bush Jr. 
Mike Dudek
Zac Holman
Sam Mays
Chase McLaughlin
Shaedon Meadors
Del'Shawn Phillips
Austin Roberts

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Players Mentioned

Nick Allegretti

#53 Nick Allegretti

OL
6' 4"
Senior
1-1
Reggie Corbin

#2 Reggie Corbin

RB
5' 10"
Junior
2-2
Mike Dudek

#18 Mike Dudek

WR
5' 11"
Senior
1-1
Jake Hansen

#35 Jake Hansen

LB
6' 1"
Sophomore
3-3
Dele Harding

#9 Dele Harding

LB
6' 1"
Junior
3-2
Zac Holman

#37 Zac Holman

WR
6' 1"
Senior
1-1
Chase McLaughlin

#43 Chase McLaughlin

PK
6' 1"
Senior
1-1
Del

#3 Del'Shawn Phillips

LB
6' 2"
Senior
2-1
Austin Roberts

#36 Austin Roberts

TE
6' 2"
Senior
1-1
Bobby Roundtree

#97 Bobby Roundtree

DL
6' 5"
Sophomore
4-3

Players Mentioned

Nick Allegretti

#53 Nick Allegretti

6' 4"
Senior
1-1
OL
Reggie Corbin

#2 Reggie Corbin

5' 10"
Junior
2-2
RB
Mike Dudek

#18 Mike Dudek

5' 11"
Senior
1-1
WR
Jake Hansen

#35 Jake Hansen

6' 1"
Sophomore
3-3
LB
Dele Harding

#9 Dele Harding

6' 1"
Junior
3-2
LB
Zac Holman

#37 Zac Holman

6' 1"
Senior
1-1
WR
Chase McLaughlin

#43 Chase McLaughlin

6' 1"
Senior
1-1
PK
Del

#3 Del'Shawn Phillips

6' 2"
Senior
2-1
LB
Austin Roberts

#36 Austin Roberts

6' 2"
Senior
1-1
TE
Bobby Roundtree

#97 Bobby Roundtree

6' 5"
Sophomore
4-3
DL