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) | |
