A pair of former Illinois football players, in addition to seventh-round draft pick Nick Allegretti, will have a shot to make their NFL dreams a reality in 2019. Two former Fighting Illini signed undrafted free agent (UDFA) contracts following the completion of the 2019 NFL Draft on Saturday – LB Del'Shawn Phillips (Atlanta Falcons) and K Chase McLaughlin (Buffalo Bills).
On Saturday, offensive lineman Allegretti was drafted on Saturday in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs (pick 2016). Rookie mini-camps begin early May.
Phillips and McLaughlin will look to join a long list of undrafted former Fighting Illini to make it in the NFL. In 2018, a total of 20 former Illini were on NFL rosters, including nine undrafted free agents – WR Geronimo Allison (Packers), LB James Crawford (Packers), OL Christian DiLauro (49ers practice squad), RB Josh Ferguson (Texans practice squad), CB Justin Hardee (Saints), TE Matt LaCosse (Broncos), LB Hardy Nickerson (Bengals), DE Carroll Phillips (Jaguars), WR Malik Turner (Seahawks).
Illinois has a habit of producing undrafted NFL contributors, like recent NFL veterans Steve Weatherford (NFL 10 seasons), Pierre Thomas (nine seasons), and Jeff Cumberland (seven seasons), along with current NFL veterans like LaCosse (four seasons, currently with the Patriots), Allison (three seasons, currently with the Packers), Hardee (two seasons, currently with Saints), Nickerson (two seasons, currently with Bengals) and Phillips (two seasons, currently with Colts).
• Played 12 games with 11 starts at linebacker in 2018
• All-Big Ten honorable mention (media) in 2018
• Voted team's defensive captain for 2018
• Led the team in interceptions (4) and tied for the lead in tackles (95) in 2018
• Third on the team in TFLs (6.5) in 2018
• Played in 23 games and made 21 starts in 2-year Illini career
• Career totals: 180 tackles, 10 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 4 INT, 9 PD, one FF, one FR
• Junior college transfer from Garden City CC played at Illinois for 2 seasons (2017 & '18)
• Set to earn a bachelor's degree in recreation, sport & tourism in May 2019
• Bakken-Andersen Big Ten Kicker of the Year (2018)
• All-Big Ten first team 2018 (Big Ten coaches, AP, PFF, Phil Steele)
• All-Big Ten second team 2018 (Big Ten media)
• Lou Groza Award semifinalist 2018
• 2018 kicking stats: 20-25 field goals, 36-36 extra points, 96 points
» Illinois career record five 50+ yard field goals (long of 54)
» Illinois season record four 50+ yard field goals in 2018, second-most in FBS
» Led Big Ten and ninth in FBS in field goals per game (1.67) during the regular season
» Led Big Ten and 25th in FBS in points scored (96) during the regular season
» Tied for FBS lead with nine 40+ field goals made during the regular season
» Second in FBS with four 50+ field goals made during the regular season
» Made as many 50+ yard field goals as the rest of the Big Ten combined in 2018 (4)
• Final Illinois career ranks:
» 1st in 50+ yard field goals (5)
» T-1st in extra point accuracy (1.000, 79-79)
» 4th in field goals made (44)
» 4th in field goal accuracy (.746, 44-59)
» 6th in points scored (211)
• Earned a bachelor's degree in technical systems management (May 2018)
• Pursuing a master's degree in technology management
