More postseason honors have rolled in for several Illini, especially standout kicker Chase McLaughlin. The Big Ten Kicker of the Year has been named to several All-Big Ten teams, including the Associated Press, ESPN and Pro Football Focus. Offensive tackle Alex Palczewski also was named first-team All-B1G by PFF, while guard Nick Allegretti and Reggie Corbin both were second-team honorees by PFF. These are in addition to the seven Illini already named to official coaches and media all-conference teams.
Pro Football Focus | Link
McLaughlin - First Team
Palczewski - First Team
Allegretti - Second Team
Corbin - Second Team
Associated Press | Link
McLaughlin - First Team
ESPN | Link
McLaughlin - First Team
2018 Coaches/Media All-Big Ten Honorees
K Chase McLaughlin (Kicker of the Year, 1st team coaches & 2nd team media)
OL Nick Allegretti (2nd team media & HM coaches)
RB Reggie Corbin (3rd team media & coaches)
P Blake Hayes (3rd team media & HM coaches)
OL Alex Palczewski (HM media)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (HM media)
DE Bobby Roundtree (HM media)
All-Big Ten Profiles
OL Nick Allegretti » Senior guard is a two-time captain and has 36 consecutive starts while playing nearly every snap on the o-line over the last two seasons. He is graded as the third-best offensive guard in the nation, second-best in the Big Ten, by Pro Football Focus and has allowed just one QB hit and zero sacks this season while anchoring an offensive line that paved the way for the nation's 13th-ranked rushing offense. PFF grades him as the No. 6 run-blocking guard and the No. 11 pass-blocking guard in the nation.
RB Reggie Corbin » Junior running back 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). Corbin had eight scrimmage plays of over 50 yards this season, second-most in FBS, and all eight came in Big Ten play.
P Blake Hayes » Sophomore Aussie led the Big Ten and ranks 23rd in FBS in yards per punt (43.6) among players that met the NCAA minimum, the fifth-best single-season average in Illini history. Hayes placed 21 of 62 kicks inside the 20 with only five touchbacks, and boomed 14 over 50 yards, including a career-long 69 yard boot against Kent State.
K Chase McLaughlin » Senior kicker was named Big Ten Kicker of the Year 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).
OL Alex Palczewski » Sophomore tackle grades as the fourth-best tackle in the Big Ten and 30th-best in the nation by Pro Football Focus. He is also rated as the No. 9 run-blocking tackle in the nation by PFF. A two-year starter on the offensive line, Palczewski helped lead the way for the nation's most improved rushing offense, which ended up ranking 13th in FBS at 243 yards per game.
LB Del'Shawn Phillips » Senior tied for the Illini lead in tackles with 97 (T-8th in B1G) and was second in the Big Ten and 13th in FBS with four interceptions. Phillips also added 6.0 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, three PBUs, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on the season.
DE Bobby Roundtree » Sophomore 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. In conference games, Roundtree ranked fourth in the B1G in sacks with 6.5.
