Pronunciation: tuh-BELL

2021 Senior

• Phil Steele All-Big Ten second team
• NFF Hampshire Honor Society
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Played in all 12 games as Illinois' starting long snapper
• No. 2 NFL Draft long snapper prospect in the nation by Mel Kiper
• Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten third team

2020 Senior

• Started all eight games at long snapper 
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Played the final two games of the season on a torn ACL 
• Patrick Mannelly Award watch list

2019 Junior

• Started all 13 games at long snapper
• Second on the team in punt return tackles (4)
• Snapped for James McCourt's game-winning 39 yard field goal as time expired vs. No. 6 Wisconsin 10/19/19 to help Illinois win 24-23 and complete one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history
• Walk-on was awarded a scholarship by coach Lovie Smith at a team meeting on Aug. 26, 2019
• Starting long snapper

2018 Sophomore

• Starting long snapper for all 12 games
• Nolan’s Long Snapping College Snapper of the Year
• Academic All-Big Ten

2017 Redshirt Freshman

• Started 11 games as the long snapper for field goals and extra points
• Walkon made his Illinois debut in opener against Ball State

High School

• Started long snapping late in his junior season of high school
• Two-year letterwinner
• 2015 Barrington Unsung Hero Special Teams Award
• 2015 Academic All-Conference
• Helped Barrington to the second round of IHSA Playoffs in 2015
• 2016 State Scholar
• Four-year member of the honor roll

Personal

• Born August 27, 1997
• Son of Todd and Tamara Tabel
• One brother, Bryce
• Father competed in javelin, shot put and discus at Winona State
• Chose Illinois because, “Illinois gives student-athletes the tools to learn at one of the nation’s best schools while also competing at an incredibly high level in the Big Ten. They were one of the only Division I programs to take a chance on me and I knew it would be a perfect fit.”
• Plans on working in international advertising or football after his playing career
• Bilingual in German
• Graduated with a degree in advertising in 2020
• Graduated with a master's degree in technology management in 2021
• Graduated with a bachelor's degree in Germanic Studies in December 2021