Scheelhaase Headlines Illinois’s All-Decade Offense
December 26, 2019 | Football
By Mike Pearson
FightingIllini.com
During a portion of the last ten seasons, it can be truthfully reported that former Fighting Illini quarterback Nate Scheelhaase was a really offensive guy.
Now, that's not to say that the personable Missourian was difficult to be around, but he was a totally exasperating figure for opponent defenders to control on the football field.
From 2010 through '13, Scheelhaase accounted for a near-record 8,568 yards through the air for the Illini and an additional 2,066 yards as a ball carrier. His 3,543 total yards as a senior in 2013 gave him 10,634 for his career, breaking Juice Williams' previous UI mark by 40 yards.
In balloting for Illinois' All-Decade Team (2010-19), Scheelhaase was the unanimous pick as the All-Decade QB and Offensive Player of the Decade. The humble signal-caller was surprised when told about his honor.
"(Being named Player of the Decade) is incredible," Scheelhaase said, "because we've had some really good individual players in this decade. If Mikel Leshoure would have come back for another season, he for sure would have been (Offensive Player of the Decade). That's quite the honor, especially among that list of names. We didn't accumulate as many wins as I would have hoped, but I played with a lot of good people. When you play quarterback, you rely on a lot of other folks for your statistics … to catch the ball and run into the endzone and block. I was fortunate to have played with a lot of good guys that would allow for an honor like this to happen. My hope is that whoever's up for Player of the Decade this next decade is moving in even a better direction. I might have been a decent player, but hopefully the next guy to be honored will be a whole lot better."
Joining Scheelhaase in the offensive backfield are two players who shined at opposite ends of the decade: Leshoure and current Illini star Reggie Corbin. Leshoure led Illinois in rushing in back-to-back seasons (734 yards in 2009 and 1,697 yards in 2010), but it was his performance as a junior that dominates the Illini record book. Against Northwestern at Wrigley Field, he piled up a school-record 330 yards that ultimately resulted in the school's all-time individual season mark. Corbin will be remembered primarily for his 2018 effort that saw him average 8.5 yards per rushing attempt (1,085 total rushing yards), including four runs of 70-plus yards.
Balloters selected the trio of A.J. Jenkins, Mike Dudek and Geronimo Allison as the Illini's All-Decade receivers. Jenkins twice led Illinois in pass catching (2010 and '11) and finished his career in third place on UI's list for receptions (167) and receiving yardage (2,432). He'll best be remembered for his 12-catch, 268-yard performance against Northwestern in 2011. A fan favorite during his career, Dudek's years at Illinois were marked by tragic injuries. His freshman campaign in 2014 was clearly tops (76 catches for 1,038 yards). Geronimo, now a star for the Green Bay Packers, paced Illini receivers in 2015 with 65 receptions for 882 yards.
Comprising UI's five-man All-Decade offensive line are Jeff Allen, Nick Allegretti and Ted Karras—all consensus choices—plus Hugh Thornton and Graham Pocic. Every one of the five eventually played or is currently playing professionally. Allen became a second-round NFL Draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012 and now is playing in season eight. Karras, an every-game starter with New England in 2019, has thus far won two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots. Allegretti is now a first-year member of the Chiefs. Thornton eventually became a third-round selection of the Indianapolis Colts and Pocic wound up on the squads of the St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Placekicker Chase McLaughlin was unanimous choice by Illini All-Decade balloters. McLaughlin, the 2018 winner of the Big Ten Kicker of the Year award, has played 10 games in the NFL this season and currently is a member of the Indianapolis Colts. He has kicked a pair of 50-yard field goals this season in the NFL after kicking four during his Illini career. Selected as Illinois's All-Decade kickoff returner is current senior Dre Brown who has averaged 25 yards per runback during his career.
ILLINI OFFENSE ALL-DECADE TEAM (2010-19)
Illini Offensive Player of the Decade – Nathan Scheelhaase*
Quarterback – Nathan Scheelhaase* (second-team All-Big Ten in 2013)
Running Back – Mikel Leshoure* (second-team All-America in 2010)
Running Back – Reggie Corbin (third-team All-Big Ten in 2018 & '19)
Receiver – A.J. Jenkins* (first-team All-Big Ten in 2011)
Receiver – Mike Dudek (second-team All-Big Ten in 2014)
Receiver – Geronimo Allison (honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2015)
Lineman – Jeff Allen* (second-team All-Big Ten in 2010 & '11)
Lineman – Nick Allegretti* (second-team All-Big Ten in 2018)
Lineman – Ted Karras* (third-team All-Big Ten in 2015)
Lineman – Hugh Thornton (second-team All-Big Ten in 2012)
Lineman – Graham Pocic (honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2010 & '12)
Placekicker – Chase McLaughlin* (Big Ten Kicker of the Year; first-team All-Big Ten in 2018)
Kickoff Returner – Dre Brown (third-team All-Big Ten in 2019)
*unanimous selection
On Saturday, the All-Decade Illini Defensive all-stars will be announced here at FightingIllini.com.
