CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Illini Justin Hardee will serve as the honorary captain when Illinois takes on Purdue on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT at Memorial Stadium.

Hardee played in 49 games at Illinois, including 22 starts, primarily as a wide receiver and special teams ace. He finished his Illini career with 72 receptions for 841 yards, including a career-high 125 receiving yards in his final career game at Northwestern in 2016.

Hardee has made it in the NFL as an undrafted free agent, playing his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints and emerging as one of the top special teams players in the league. He signed a three-year, $5.25 million deal with the New York Jets in 2021 and has since been named team captain twice.