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University of Illinois Athletics

2015 Football Roster

17 Jihad Ward

  • Ht./Wt. 6-6 / 295
  • Position DL
  • Hometown Philadelphia, Pa.
  • High School Globe Tech (NY)

Biography

Career Highlights

Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2014 & '15) 
2nd in FBS in fumble recoveries in 2014 (4)
Career stats (2 years): 104 tackles, 12.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 5 FR, 3 FF, 3 PBU

2015 Senior

  • All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media
  • Ted Hendricks Award Midseason Watch List (best defensive end)
  • Started all 12 games on the defensive line, playing both defensive end and defensive tackle
  • 53 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, two PBUs, two QB hurries one forced fumble and one fumble recovery 
  • Career-high 11 tackles, including nine solo, at Iowa
  • 1.0 TFL, 0.5 sack at Purdue
  • Sack for an 8-yard loss at Penn State
  • Fumble recovery and nine tackles vs. Middle Tennessee
  • Forced fumble vs. Wisconsin
  • Seven tackles vs. Ohio State

2014 Junior

  • Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honoree
  • Started all 13 games at defensive end
  • Totaled 51 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, five QB hurries, two forced fumbles and one PBU on the season
  • Ranked second in FBS and led the Big Ten with four fumbles recovered
  • Voted Illinois' Defensive Newcomer of the Year
  • Turned a trifeca in win at Northwestern with a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery on the same play
  • Had a career day against Penn State, recording six tackles, a career-high two TFLs, one sack and one QB hurry
  • Had a fumble recovery that ended a potential scoring drive in the fourth quarter of win over Minnesota
  • Started against Western Kentucky and combined with Dawuane Smoot on a fourth-quarter sack that forced a fumble and set up the UI touchdown that sealed the win
  • Started in his Illini debut against Youngstown State and recorded five tackles

Junior College

  • Four-star recruit by Scout and 247Sports
  • Three-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN.com
  • Ranked the No. 6 junior college player in the nation by 247Sports, No. 23 by Scout and No. 35 by ESPN.com
  • Ranked the No. 2 junior college defensive tackle by 247Sports, No. 7 by Scout and No. 9 by ESPN.com
  • Played in seven games in 2013, racking up 26 tackles, three TFLs and two sacks
  • Had 55 tackles and eight sacks in 2012

High School

  • Also played wide receiver in high school
  • Played in Philadelphia Eagles Public vs. Non-Public City All-Star game at Lincoln Financial Field in spring 2012
  • First-team All-City in 2011 and second-team All-City in 2010

Personal

  • First name pronounced juh-HODD
  • Born March 11, 1994
  • Son of Kareema Ward
  • Has two brothers and two sisters
  • Says his favorite athlete is NFL star Julius Peppers
  • Lists his high school coaches as the biggest influences on his athletic career
  • Majoring in sport management

Career Highs

Tackles: 11 at Iowa, 10/10/15
Solos: 9 at Iowa, 10/10/15
TFLs: 2.0 vs. Penn State, 11/22/14
Sacks: 1.0, three times (last at Penn State, 10/31/15)
PBUs: 1, three times (last vs. Ohio State, 11/14/15)
QBH: 1, five times (last vs. Nebraska, 10/3/15)
FF: 1, twice (last at Northwestern, 11/29/14)
FR: 1, five times (last vs. Middle Tennessee, 9/26/15)

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 17

    2014Junior

    DL
    6'6" 295 lbs
    17
  • 17

    2015Senior

    DL
    6'6" 295 lbs
    17