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University of Illinois Athletics

2025 Football Roster

Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini

41 James Kreutz

  • Position LB
  • Class Junior
  • Height 6-2
  • Weight 225
  • Major Recreation, Sport, & Tourism
  • Hometown Bannockburn, Ill.
  • High School Loyola Academy
  • Instagram james.kreutz
  • Twitter jameskreutz3

Biography

Pronunciation: krew-tz

2024 Sophomore

  • Played in all 13 games with four starts
  • Fourth on the team with 55 tackles (26 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, two QB hurries and one pass breakup
  • Career-high 12 tackles (two solo) and 0.5 tackles for loss at Rutgers (11/23/24)
  • Nine tackles (five solo) against Minnesota (11/2/24)

2023 Redshirt Freshman

  • Played in all 12 games with one start at linebacker
  • First career start against Nebraska (10/6/23)
  • Recorded first mult-tackle game with two special teams stops vs. Toledo (9/2/23)

2022 Freshman

  • Played in three games and redshirted the season
  • Illinois’ Defensive Look Team Player of the Year
  • One tackle on the season
  • First career tackle at Indiana (9/22/22)

High School 

  • Three-star recruit by 247Sports
  • Two-star recruit by Rivals
  • Position ranks: #183 (247)
  • State ranks: #35 (247)
  • Played for head coach John Holecek at Loyola Academy
  • 2021 Illinois High School Football Coaches Association 8A All-State first team
  • 2021 Chicago Catholic League Blue Defensive Player of the Year
  • 2021 Chicago Sun-Times All-Area
  • 2022 Polynesian Bowl invite
  • 137 tackles (69 solo), 19.0 TFLs, and 6.0 sacks as a senior
  • Played running back and linebacker in high school

Personal

  • Born August 10, 2004
  • Son of Olin and Wendi Kreutz
  • Brother, Josh Kreutz, is a center for the Illinois football team
  • Father, Olin Kreutz, was a six-time Pro Bowler with the Chicago Bears
  • Majoring in recreation, sport, and tourism

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 41

    2022Freshman

    LB
    6'0" 210 lbs
    41
  • 41

    2023Redshirt Freshman

    LB
    6'0" 225 lbs
    41
  • 41

    2024Sophomore

    LB
    6'2" 225 lbs
    41
  • 41

    2025Junior

    LB
    6'2" 225 lbs
    41