2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 5
Ca'Lil Valentine
- Position:
- RB
- Class:
- Junior
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 200
- Major:
- Recreation, Sport, & Tourism
- Hometown:
- Hayward, Calif.
- High School:
- Chandler (Ariz.)
Pronunciation: kuh-LEEL
2025 Sophomore
- Played in all 13 games with six starts at running back
- 131 carries for 614 yards and four touchdowns on the season
- 10 receptions for 55 yards on the season
- 17th in the Big Ten in yards per carry (4.46) during the regular season
- Career-high 95 rushing yards in win at Purdue (10/4/25)
2024 Freshman
- Played in 12 games at running back
- Scored first-career touchdown at #1 Oregon (10/26/24)
- Carried the ball five times for a career-best 53 yards in win vs. Central Michigan (9/14/24), including a career-long 22-yard rush
- Rushed for what was then a career-high 25 yards vs. #19 Kansas (9/7/24)
- Made his Illinois debut vs. Eastern Illinois (8/29/24), rushing for 16 yards on his first-carer carry
High School
- Four-star recruit by ESPN, On3, and Rivals
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports
- Running back ranks: #23 (Rivals), #24 (On3), #30 (ESPN), #44 (247Sports)
- State of California ranks: #5 (On3), #6 (ESPN), #9 (Rivals), #11 (247Sports)
- Played for head coach Rick Garretson at Chandler
- Rushed for 3,242 yards and 42 rushing touchdowns during three-year high school career
- 1,332 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns as a senior
- 1,347 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns as a junior
- AIA 6A All-State
- Archie Amerson Running Back of the Year
- Also ran track in high school and helped break the school 4x100 record
- Offers included Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Boise State, Boston College, Colorado State, Kansas State, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Washington State
Personal
- Born February 8, 2006
- Son of Cleveland and Jasmine Valentine
- Two brothers, Tair Brooks and Damari Valentine, and two sisters, LaNiya Valentine and Kacey Valentine
- Nephew of NFL veterans Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (2017-23) and Houston Texas (2024-pres.) running back, and James Jones, Green Bay Packers (2007-13) and Oakland Raiders (2014) wide receiver.
- Chose Illinois because, “It felt like home as soon as I touched down, I feel like I can impact this program a lot, and I love all the coaches.”
- Majoring in recreation, sport, and tourism
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
