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University of Illinois Athletics

2024 Football Roster

Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini

32 CJ Bufkin

  • Position DB
  • Class Senior
  • Height 5-11
  • Weight 200
  • Major Advertising
  • Hometown Chicago, Ill.
  • High School Montini Catholic
  • Prev School Missouri Western
  • Instagram @cj.buf
  • Twitter @cj_buf

Biography

Graduation Badge University of Illinois Graduate

2024 Senior

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

2023 Junior

  • Played in 11 games, primarily on special teams

2022 Sophomore - Missouri Western

  • 2022 MIAA Academic Honor Roll
  • Played in 11 games
  • Recorded 33 total tackles (22 solo and 11 assisted)
  • Posted 2.5 tackles for losses of eight yards on the year
  • Tallied three pass breakups

2021 Redshirt Freshman - Missouri Western

  • 2021 MIAA Academic Honor Roll
  • Played in eight games
  • Recorded 16 total tackles (14 solo and four assisted)
  • Tallied two pass breakups

2020 Freshman - Missouri Western

  • The 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
  • MWSU played two games at Central Arkansas and vs. Pittsburg State, but the NCAA did not count statistics in those games toward individual or career numbers. 

HIGH SCHOOL

  • Played for head coach Mike Bukovsky at Montini Catholic
  • Four-year letterwinner 
  • Three-time all-conference
  • Two-time all-area 
  • Two-time Dean's List honoree

PERSONAL

  • Born on Oct. 27, 2001
  • Son of Laura Donckers
  • Two brothers, Jaelyn and Tristan, and one sister, Nyaja
  • Chose Illinois because, “I was given an opportunity to come back home and play football, which is great because my family can come see me play now. I love the staff."
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois in May 2025 with a degree in advertising

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 32

    2023Junior

    DB
    5'11" 200 lbs
    32
  • 32

    2024Senior

    DB
    5'11" 200 lbs
    32