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University of Illinois Athletics

2021 Football Roster

46 Alec McEachern

  • Position LB
  • Class Junior
  • Height 6-1
  • Weight 225
  • Hometown Plainfield, Ill.
  • High School Benet Academy
  • Instagram alec___mceachern
  • Twitter alecmceachern

Biography

2021 Senior

  • Academic All-Big Ten
  • NFF Hampshire Honor Society
  • Played in all 12 games with one start
  • Nine tackles on the season
  • Awarded with a scholarship by head coach Bret Bielema after during team meeting 4/6/21 (video)

2020 Junior

  • Played in all eight games, primarily on special teams 
  • Five tackles on the season 

2019 Sophomore

  • Played in all 13 games, primarily on special teams
  • Four tackles on the season

2018 Redshirt Freshman

  • Played four games, primarily on special teams
  • Made his Illinois debut against Minnesota 11/3/18, making one tackle
  • Also played against Nebraska, Iowa and Northwestern
  • Academic All-Big Ten

2017 Freshman

  • Walk-on redshirted the 2017 season

High School

  • All-state honorable mention as a senior
  • Two-time all-conference and all-area selection
  • Two-time Benet Co-Offensive MVP
  • Lettered three years
  • Played for coach Pat New
  • Also lettered in baseball (3), basketball (1) and lacrosse (1) in high school

Personal

  • Born Feb. 2, 1999
  • Son of TJ and Tess McEachern
  • One brother, Hayes, and one sister, Avery
  • Father, TJ, played football at North Central
  • Uncle played football at Aurora
  • Chose Illinois because, “Illinois was my favorite team as a kid and was always a dream school of mine. I also wanted to be coached by a man who has great integrity and is known by his players to be a players dream coach. Finally, Illinois has some of the best academics in the country.”
  • Plans to start his own business following his playing career
  • Graduated with a degree in finance
  • Enrolled in the technology management master's program

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 46

    2017Freshman

    DB
    6'1" 215 lbs
    46
  • 46

    2018Redshirt Freshman

    LB
    6'1" 225 lbs
    46
  • 46

    2019Sophomore

    LB
    6'1" 225 lbs
    46
  • 46

    2020Junior

    LB
    6'1" 235 lbs
    46
  • 46

    2021Junior

    LB
    6'1" 225 lbs
    46