2022 Football Roster
Jersey Number 75
Alex Pihlstrom
- Position:
- OL
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 6-6
- Weight:
- 305
- Hometown:
- Glen Ellyn, Ill.
- High School:
- Glenbard West
 2022 All-Big Ten |
 University of Illinois Graduate |
2022 Senior
- All-Big Ten second team (coaches)
- All-Big Ten honorable mention (media)
- Academic All-Big Ten
- NFF Hampshire Honor Society
- Started all 13 games at center
- Part of the first offensive line in Illinois history to be named a Joe Moore Award finalist
- Illinois’ Scholar Athlete Award winner
- Campbell Trophy semifinalist
2021 Junior
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in all 12 games with five starts
2020 Junior
- Played in all eight games and started two at left guard
- Made first career start at left guard against Purdue 10/31/20
- Awarded with a scholarship by head coach Lovie Smith after practice 11/5/20 (video)
2019 Sophomore
- Played in one game at tight end
- Made Illinois debut against Rutgers
2018 Redshirt Freshman
- Member of Illinois team
- Academic All-Big Ten
2017 Freshman
- Walkon redshirted the 2017 season
High School
- Two-year letterwinner
- Played for coach Chad Hetlet
- 2016 All-West Suburban Silver
- 2016 Academic All-State
- 2016 Academic All-Conference
- Helped Glenbard West to a state title in 2015
- Also played basketball and tennis in high school
Personal
- Born April 28, 1999
- Son of Mike Pihlstrom and Kim Noble
- Two younger sisters, Kate and Megan
- Father played football at Minnesota from 1984-88
- Chose Illinois because, “I was looking for a bigger school to try and compete and I believed I could compete in the Big Ten.”
- Graduated with a degree in recreation, sport, and tourism
- Enrolled in the strategic brand communication master's program
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
