2019 Football Roster
Jersey Number 25
Dre Brown
- Ht./Wt.:
- 5-11 / 210
- Position:
- RB
- Hometown:
- DeKalb, Ill.
- High School:
- DeKalb
Career Highs
Carries: 18 at Purdue, 10/26/19
Rushing Yards: 131 at Purdue, 10/26/19
Long Run: 72 vs. Minnesota, 11/3/18
Rushing Touchdowns: 2 vs Rutgers, 11/2/19
Receptions: 2, twice (last at Michigan State, 11/9/19
Receiving Yards: 16 at Michigan State, 11/9/19
Long Reception: 15 vs. Wisconsin, 10/19/19
Kick Returns: 6 at Maryland, 10/27/18
Kick Return Yards: 179 vs Nebraska, 9/21/19
Long Kick Return: 68 at UConn, 9/7/19
All-Purpose Yards: 241 vs Nebraska, 9/21/19
Degrees
- Earned bachelor’s degree in recreation, sport & tourism in Dec. 2018
- Pursuing a master’s degree in management in 2019-20
2019 Senior
- One of Illinois' main running backs and primary kick returner
- All-Big Ten third team kick returner (coaches)
- All-Big Ten honorable mention kick returner (media)
- Campbell Trophy semifinalist
- 113 carries, 584 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 10 receiving yards, 82 receiving yards on the season
- 25 kick returns, 633 kick return yards (25.3 yards/return) on the season
- No. 13 graded kickoff returner in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten by PFF (81.5)
- 21st in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in kickoff return average (25.3)
- 24th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in kickoff return yards (633)
- 17th in the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns (5) and 19th in rushing yards (584)
- Ninth in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards per game (99.9)
- Led Illinois in all-purpose yards (1,299)
- Second on the team in rushing yards (584) and rushing touchdowns (5)
- Nine carries for 19 yards at Michigan State 11/9/19 to help Illinois win 37-34 in the biggest comeback in program history
- First career two-touchdown game in 38-10 win over Rutgers 11/2/19
- Career-highs in carries (18) and rushing yards (131) at Purdue 10/26/19 to lead Illinois to a 24-6 win
- Ran 11 times for 70 yards vs. No. 6 Wisconsin 10/19/19 to help Illinois win 24-23 and complete one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten History
- First touchdown run of the season against Nebraska 9/21/19
- Second career start and first since 2017 at UConn 9/7/19
- Voted the team’s Offensive MVP and received the Bruce Capel Award (for courage, dedication and accomplisment) at the end-of-season awards banquet.
2018 Junior
- Played seven games at running back and on special teams
- 180 rushing yards on 18 carries (10.0 ypc) and two touchdowns on team
- Returned 15 kickoffs for 330 yards (22.0 yards per return) with a long of 40 yards on season
- Led Illinois in kick return yards (330) and average (22.0)
- Third on the team in all-purpose yards (510)
- Fifth on the team in rushing yards (180) and rushing TDs (2)
- 163 kick return yards at Maryland 10/27/18 were the most in a Big Ten game in 2018
- Career-high 92 rushing yards and first career touchdown on a career-long 72-yard run against Minnesota 11/3/18
- Academic All-Big Ten
2017 Sophomore
- Feel-good story made his Illini debut vs. Iowa on Oct. 7 after missing the first 26 games of UI career due to various injuries.
- Played in six games with one start at running back. Missed six games with injuries
- 138 rushing yards on 31 carries (4.5 ypc) in six games
- Had a breakout game at Ohio State Nov. 18, rushing for a career-high 76 yards on 15 carries (5.1 ypc)
- Had a team season-long 50-yard kickoff return vs. N’western
- Made Illinois debut on special teams against Iowa on Oct. 7
- First career carry came against Rutgers Oct. 14
- First career start vs. Northwestern Nov. 25
- Won the team’s Wright Commitment to Excellence Award for his persistence and attitude battling back from two major injuries in 2015 and ’16.
- Academic All-Big Ten
2016 Redshirt Freshman
- Missed the 2016 season with an injury
2015 Freshman
- Redshirted 2015 season with an injury suffered in training camp
High School
- Four-star recruit by Scout and three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals and 247Sports
- Ranked as the No. 6 player in the state of Illinois by Scout, No. 7 by 247Sports and No. 8 by Rivals
- Ranked as the No. 35 running back in the nation by 247Sports, No. 36 by Scout and No. 47 by Rivals
- Ranked in Scout top-300 players nationally (No. 299)
- Played in 2015 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Orlando
- Rushed for 1,936 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2014
- Named All-State honors by Chicago Tribune, Champaign News-Gazette and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA)
- Named 2014 Athlete of the Year by the DeKalb Daily Chronicle
- In 2013, rushed for 1,584 yards and 26 touchdowns to earn IHSFCA All-State honors
- Racked up 4,412 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns in HS career
- Four-year football letter winner
- Also lettered in track and field (three years), earning all-conf. honors in 2012, ’13 and ’14, and basketball (one year)
Personal
- Born July 21, 1997
- Son of Aaron Brown and Michele Hill
- Has one sister, Grace
- Formerly wore No. 27 (two sevens) in honor of his father, who wore No. 77 and passed away when Dre was eight years old
- Spent past summers working on a farm with his grandfather, Jerry, in Farmersville, Ill.
- Lists former Illinois basketball star Dee Brown as his Fighting Illini hero growing up because of his “athleticism, leadership and personal drive”
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
