Football - All-Americans - University of Illinois Athletics

Illini Football - All-Americans

Last updated following the 2015 season

Consensus All-Americans

In 1950, the National Collegiate Athletic Bureau (the NCAA’s service bureau) compiled the first official comprehensive roster of all-time All-Americans. The compilation of the All-America roster was supervised by a panel of analysts working in large part with the historical records contained in the files of the Dr. Baker Football Information Service. The roster consists of only those players who were first-team selections on one or more of the All-America teams that were selected for the national audience and received nationwide circulation.

Not included in the NCAA’s list are the thousands of players who received All-America mention on second or third teams, nor the numerous others who were selected by newspapers or agencies with circulations that were not primarily national and with viewpoints, therefore, that were not normally nationwide in scope. Listed here are Illinois’ consensus All-America selections (i.e. the players who were accorded a majority of votes at their positions by the selectors).

Illini Football Consensus All-Americans
Year	Player, Pos.
1914	Ralph Chapman, G
1914	Perry Graves, E
1915	Bart Macomber, HB
1918	John Depler, C
1920	Charles Carney, E
1923	Jim McMillen, G
1923	Harold “Red” Grange, HB
1924	Harold “Red” Grange, HB
1925	Harold “Red” Grange, HB
1926	Bernie Shively, G
1946	Alex Agase, G
1951	Johnny Karras, HB
1953	J. C. Caroline, HB
1959	Bill Burrell, G
1963	Dick Butkus, C
1964	Dick Butkus, C
1965	Jim Grabowski, FB
1984	David Williams, WR
1985	David Williams, WR
1989	Moe Gardner, NT
1990	Moe Gardner, NT
1994	Dana Howard, LB
1995	Kevin Hardy, LB
2007	J Leman, LB
2011	Whitney Mercilus, DE

All-Americans

Listed are players who received first-, second-, third-team or honorable mention All-America honors by a selector with a national audience and received nationwide circulation. This list was compiled with the help of Steve Boda, retired NCAA college football historian.

Illini Football All-Americans
Year	Player
1901	Garland Stahl, G (DLL-3)
	Fred Lowenthal, C (DLL-3)
1904	Claude Rothgeb, E (C-3, DLL-2)
1906	Forest Van Hook, G (DLL-3)
1907	Forest Van Hook, G (DLL-3)
1908	Forest Van Hook, G (C-3, DLL-3),
	Pomeroy Sinnock, QB (DLL-3)
1910	Glenn Butzer, G (C-3, DLL-2)
	John Twist, C (DLL-2)
1914	*Perry Graves, E (M, INS)
	*Ralph Chapman, G (C, E-2, M-2, MD, CSM, AC, SLT, DLL-2)
	Harold Pogue, B (E-2, M-3, MD, PG, DLL-2)
	Lennox Armstrong, T (M-3)
	George Clark, QB (M-3)
1915	*Bart Macomber, HB (C, SLS)
	John Watson, C (E-2, MP)
	George Squier, E (C-2, M-2, AC)
	Harold Pogue, B (CH-2)
	Frank Stewart, G (SLT-2)
1916	Bart Macomber, HB (NEA-2, E-2, M-2, PS, FY, OSJ)
	Frank Stewart, G (M-2)
	Elmer Rundquist, T (CH-3)
1918	*John Depler, C (M, C-2, E-3)
	Burt Ingwersen, T (DLL-3)
	Albert Mohr, G (DLL-2)
1919	John Depler, C (C-2, E-3, OSJ)
	Clarence Applegran, G (E-2, CH)
	Burt Ingwersen, T (C-2)
1920	*Charles Carney, E (C, E, NEA, LP, OSJ, CC, CH, KR, OSL, INS-2, DLL)
	Jack Crangle, FB (E-2, INS-2, CC, CH-2)
	John Depler, C (NEA, CH-2)
	A.W. Mohr (INS-3)
1921	Jack Crangle, FB (LP-2)
	Otto Vogel, C (NB-2)
1922	James McMillen, G (E-2, C-3, NB-2, RA-2, ES-2, DLL-2)
1923	*James McMillen, G (FBW, INS, E, AW, TT, AE, PH-3, DLL-2)
	*Red Grange, HB (C, FBW, INS, E, PH, AW, BA-2, BC, TT, LP, AE, DLL)
	Frank Rokusek, E (LP-2)
1924	*Red Grange, HB (C, NEA, AA LIB, FBW, INS, E, NB, AS, CN, LP, BC, DLL)
	Frank Rokusek, E (NB-3, CN-3);
	Charles Kassel, E (CN)
	Harry Hall, B (CN-3)
	Stub Muhl, E (AS-3)
1925	*Red Grange, HB (INS, NEA, FBW, LIB, AP, E LP, NYS, COL, UP, AA-2, LY, NB, ASP,
	[Grange, continued] CH-3, LP, NWT, AS, BS, AD, GD, MNS, JH, BA, NYT, DH, NYP, CN, ES, BE, DLL)
	Charles E. Kassel, E (E-2, COL-2, AA-3, NEA-2, ASP-2, AS-2, NYT-2, JH, CN, BE-2)
	Merwin Mitterwallner, G, (INS-3, CN-3)
1926	*Bernie Shively, G (NEA, AA, AP, COL, CP-2, E, INS, CH-2, RG-2, EFS, CN-2, DLL-2)
	Robert Reitsch, C (E-3, RG-3, CN-2)
	Russell Dougherty, B (TT-3)
	Charles Kassel, E (BE-2)
1927	Russ Crane, G (COL, LP-2)
	Robert Reitsch, C (COL, NANA, LP, NYS-2, E-3, BC, CH-2, CN-2, AA-2 RG, NEA-3, NYS, INS-3, DLL-3)
	Butch Nowack, T (AP-3, NYT)
	Jud Timm, B (CN-2)
1928	Albert “Butch” Nowack, T (AA, NANA, E, LP, UP-2, AP-3, WT-2, JH, BC-2, LL, CHU, CH-3, HR, DLL-3)
	Leroy Wietz, G (NANA, AA-3)
	Russ Crane, G (CP, E-3, NB)
	Lou Gordon, T (NANA-3)
1929	Lou Gordon, T (NANA, WT-3, NEA-2)
	Leroy Wietz, G (NANA-2)
	Russ Crane, G (CP)
	E.J. Kawal, G (NYJ-3)
1932	Gil Berry, HB (NANA-2, NEA-2, CHU, CP-3, DLL-2)
1933	Ivan Schustek, E (COL-hm)
	Jack Beynon, QB (LIB-hm, COL-hm)
1934	Chuck Galbreath, T (UP-3, AP-3, TT, LIB-hm)
	Les Lindberg, HB (TT-3, ALP-3, LIB-3, COL-hm)
	Jack Beynon, QB (H-3; RG-2; NEA-3, LIB-hm)
	Chuck Bennis, G (LIB-hm)
1935	Ed Gryboski, G (NANA-2)
	Chuck Galbreath, T (CHU-2, TT-3)
1936	Cliff Kuhn, G (H-3, NYJ-2)
1939	Jim Reeder, T (AA, NYS-2)
	Mel Brewer, G (NWT-2, SN-2, UP-2, DLL-3)
1942	Alex Agase, G (UP, SN, L, NYN, H-2, INS-2, NEA-3, CP-3, FD, BS, BP, DLL-3)
1944	Ralph Serpico, G (SN, AP-3, FW-2, HW, BR, CS, DLL-3)
	Buddy Young, HB (L, AP-2, SN-2, UP-2, BS, INS-2, HW, CP-2, FD-2)
	Don Greenwood, B (BS-3)
1945	Ralph Serpico, G (L-3)
1946	*Alex Agase, G (INS, AP, UP, NEA, SN, AA, FC, CP, CT)
1947	Russ Steger, FB (CT)
	Isaiah Owens, E (AP-2)
	Herb Siegert, G (L-2)
1949	Johnny Karras, RB (AP-3)
1950	Al Tate, T (L-d)
	Bill Vohaska, C (AP-o, CPAA-3)
	Richard Raklovits, FP (CPAA-hm)
	Leo Cahill, G (UP-3)
1951	Charles Ulrich, T (INS-o, UP-hm)
	Chuck Studley, G (CT-o-2, UP-hm)
	Charles Boerio, LB (NEA-d, CT-o-2, NYN-d-2, UP-2)
	Al Brosky, DB (AP-d, L-d, FC, NYN-d-2, COL)
	*Johnny Karras, HB (UP, SN, COL, FC, L-o, AA, PC, NYN-o, AP-o-2)
	Joe Vernasco, E (UP-hm)
	Marvin Berschet, T (UP-hm)
	Rex Smith, E (UP-hm)
	Don Gnidovic, G (UP-hm)
	Dan Sabino, C (UP-hm)
	Tommy O’Connell, QB (UP-hm)
1952	Al Brosky, DB (NEA-d-2, NYN-d)
	Frank Wodziak, E (CT-d-2, AP-hm)
	Dan Sabino, C (CT-hm, UP-hm)
	Tommy O’Connell, QB (CN-2, U-hm)
	John Ryan, E (AP-hm, CT-hm)
	Pete Bachouros, HB (AP-hm)
	Tom Murphy, G (AP-hm)
1953	*J.C. Caroline, HB (UP, COL, L, SN, AA, AP-2, CT, INS, NYN, CP-2, NEA-2)
1955	Harry Jefferson, HB (AP-hm)
	Bob Mitchell, HB (AP-hm)
1956	Abe Woodson, HB (AP-hm)
1958	Rich Kreitling, E (FD, FL, UPI-2, SN-2, AP-3, GR-hm)
	Bill Burrell, G (UPI-hm, AP-hm)
1959	*Bill Burrell, G (AP, UPI, L, CP, NYN, GR, SN-2, NEA-3)
	Bill Brown, FB (GR-hm)
1960	Joe Rutgens, T (GR, FN, NCAA-ABC-TV, SN-3, WRS-3, UPI-hm)
	Bill Brown, FB (WRS-hm)
	Joe Wendryhoski, T (WRS-hm)
1961	Tony Parrilli, G (UPI-hm)
1963	*Dick Butkus, C (AP, UPI, NEA, SN, L, FC, CP, NYN)
	Archie Sutton, DT (NEA-2, NYN-2)
1964	*Dick Butkus, C (AP-d, UPI, FW, SN-d, NEA-d-2, L, FC, CP, FD, T, FN, NYN, NBC, TVG)
	Jim Grabowski, FB (UPI, FD, CP-o-2, AP-hm, NEA-hm,)
	George Donnelly, DB (SN-d, NYN, FN, T, NEA-3, AP-hm)
	Archie Sutton, DT (FD, NBC, T, AP-hm)
	Don Hansen, LB (AP-hm)
1965	*Jim Grabowski, FB (AP, UPI, SN, T, NEA, FW, FC, CP, NYN, NBC, ABC)
	Don Hansen, LB (NYN-d-2, AP-hm, UPI-hm)
	Bo Batchelder, E (AP-hm)
	Ron Acks, S (AP-hm, UPI-hm)
	Gary Eickman, T (AP-hm)
1966	Bruce Sullivan, DB (NEA-d-2, UPI-hm)
	Bo Batchelder, E (UPI-hm, FC-hm)
	Ken Kmiec, E (UPI-hm)
	John Wright, Sr., E (FC-hm)
	Phil Knell (DD, UPI-hm)
1967	John Wright Sr., E (NCA-hm)
1969	Doug Redmann, T (NEA-d-2)
1972	Tab Bennett, DT (UPI-d-2, FN-3)
1975	Dan Beaver, K (PB)
1976	Scott Studwell, LB (NEA-d-2, AP-3)
	Dan Beaver, K (PB)
1982	Mike Bass, K (FB-2)
	Tony Eason, QB (FN-3)
1983	Don Thorp, DT (FW, UPI-2, FWAA, SN, AP-3)
	Craig Swoope, DB (AP-2, UPI-2, SN-2)
	Jim Juriga, OG (UPI-2, AP-hm)
1984	*David Williams, WR (AP, UPI, FC, FW, WCF, SN, FN)
	Jim Juriga, OG (AP-hm, UPI-hm)
	Jack Trudeau, QB (AP-hm, UPI-hm)
	Chris White, K (AP-hm, UPI-hm)
1985	*David Williams, WR (AP, UPI, FC, FW, WCF, SN)
1987	Scott Davis, DL (AP-hm, UPI-hm)
	Darryl Usher, WR (AP-hm)
	Anthony Williams, TE (AP-hm)
	Mike Scully, OG (AP-hm)
	Mike Piel, DT (AP-hm)
	Glenn Cobb, DB (AP-hm)
1988	Darrick Brownlow, LB (AP-hm)
	Moe Gardner, NT (AP-hm, UPI-hm)
	Glenn Cobb, DB (AP-hm)
	Mel Agee, DT (AP-hm)
	Jeff George, QB (AP-hm)
	Keith Jones, RB (AP-hm)
	Mark McGowan, OT (AP-hm)
	Steve Williams, WR (AP-hm)
1989	*Moe Gardner, NT (AP, UPI, FC, FW, WCF, FN, SN-2)
	Mike Bellamy, KR (AP-2, UPI-hm)
	Darrick Brownlow, LB (UPI-hm, SN-hm)
	Jeff George, QB (UPI-hm, SN-hm)
	Mel Agee, DT (UPI-hm)
	Marlon Primous, DB (UPI-hm, SN-hm)
1990	*Moe Gardner, NT (UPI, WCF, FC, AP-2, FN-2, SN-2, PB)
	Darrick Brownlow, LB (FN, SN-2, AP-2, UPI-2, PB)
	Marlon Primous, DB (UPI-hm)
	Howard Griffith, RB (UPI-hm)
	Curt Lovelace, C (UPI-hm)
	Shawn Wax, WR (UPI-hm)
1991	Tim Simpson, OG (FC, AP-3, FN-3)
1992	Brad Hopkins, OT (UPI-hm, FN-hm)
	John Holecek, LB (FN-hm)
	Dana Howard, LB (FN-hm)
	Greg Engel, C (FN-hm)
	Jason Verduzco, QB (FN-hm)
1993	Dana Howard, LB (FC, AP, FN, UPI-2)
	Simeon Rice (FN-hm, UPI-hm)
	Johnny Johnson, QB (FN-hm)
	Randy Bierman, OL (FN-hm)
	Greg Engel, C (FN-hm)
	Chris Richardson, K (FN-hm)
	John Holecek, ILB (FN-hm)
1994	*Dana Howard, LB (PB, AP, WCF, FN, FC, UPI, FW, SN, CSMA, CPFN)
	Simeon Rice, LB (FN, FC, CPFN, AP-2, UPI-2, CSMA-2)
1995	*Kevin Hardy, LB (PB, AP, FN, UPI, SN, WCF, FW)
	Simeon Rice, LB (PB, FN, WCF, AP-2, UPI-2, SN-2)
2000	Kurt Kittner, QB (FN-hm)
	Marques Sullivan, OT (PB, FW-3, FN-hm)
	Fred Wakefield, DE (FN-hm)
2001	Eugene Wilson, CB (FN-2, SN-3, CNS-hm)
	Luke Butkus, OL (AP-3)
2002	Eugene Wilson, CB (PB)
2005	Steve Weatherford, P (SS-hm)
2006	J Leman, LB (SI-hm)
2007	*J Leman, LB?(FC, FW, CBS, C-2, AP-2, SI-2, RV-2, PS-2)
	Rashard Mendenhall, RB (RV-3, PS-4, SI-hm)
	Martin O’Donnell, OL (AP)
2008	Arrelious Benn, WR (PS-4)
	Vontae Davis, CB (RV-3, PFW-3)
	Brit Miller, LB (PS-3)
2009	Jon Asamoah, OL (SN-2)
2010	Mikel Leshoure, RB (AP-2, RV-3, PS-3, SI-hm, PFW-hm)
	Corey Liuget, DT (PS-4, PFW-hm)
2011	*Whitney Mercilus, DE (AP, FW, C, FC, CBS, ESPN, PS, SI, Y!, PFW-hm)
	Jay Prosch, FB (PFW)