2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 26
Ismael Kante
- Position:
- LB
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 235
- Major:
- Communication
- Hometown:
- Brooklyn Park, Minn.
- High School:
- Park Center
- Prev School:
- Iowa Central CC
Pronunciation: ish-MAYL kan-TAY
2025 Junior
- Played in all 12 games
- Contributed primarily on special team but played defensive snaps in nine regular-season contests
- Six tackles (three solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup on the season
- Tied season-high with two tackles and a pass breakup vs. Northwestern (11/29/25)
- Season-high two tackles with a half sack at Wisconsin (11/22/25)
- First-career tackle as an Illini at #19 Indiana (9/20/25)
2024 Sophomore (Iowa Central CC)
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports
- Top-ranked junior college linebacker in the nation by 247Sports
- #21 junior college player in the nation by 247Sports
- 71 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, and five pass breakups on the season
2023 Redshirt Freshman (Northern State)
- Played in all 11 games
- 16 tackles (11 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and two quarterback hurries on the season
2022 Freshman (Northern State)
- Redshirted the 2022 season
High School
- Played for head coach Jordan Sallis at Park Center
- Totaled 157 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and 10 pass breakups in high school
- 2021 all-state
- Two-time all-district and all-area
- Team captain as a senior
- Also an all-state wrestler in high school and placed fifth in the state as a senior
Personal
- Born July 4, 2003
- Son of Ibrahima Kante and Fanta Bamba
- Five brothers, Sekou, Sidiki, Yayah, Musa, and Mohammed
- Family immigrated from West Africa to the United States in 2012 when he was a young child
- Chose Illinois because “I love what they have going on with the program, and I want to be a part of it.”
- Majoring in communication
Thursday, March 05
Thursday, February 12
Thursday, February 05
Wednesday, January 21
