CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois all-time great Whitney Mercilus will serve as honorary captain for the Fighting Illini's game against Virginia on Saturday. Mercilus retired from the NFL last season after playing 10 seasons in the league.

Mercilus was a first team All-American in 2011 after leading the country in both sacks (16), tying Simeon Rice's Illinois record, and forced fumbles (9). He won the Ted Hendricks Award as the top defensive end in the country and was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Mercilus also totaled 22.5 tackles for loss in 2011, second-most in the nation, earning unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection while leading the Illini to a victory in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

Mercilus was drafted in the first round (26th overall) by the Houston Texans in the 2012 NFL Draft. He had 362 career tackles, including 345 for Houston and 17 for the Green Bay Packers last year, 13 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and two interceptions in his career.