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University of Illinois Athletics

2025 Football Roster

Illinois Fighting Illini

43 Joe Barna

  • Position OLB
  • Class Sophomore
  • Height 6-4
  • Weight 265
  • Major Exploratory Studies
  • Hometown Wheaton, Ill.
  • High School Wheaton North
  • Instagram joe_barna34
  • Twitter joebarna6

Biography

2024 Freshman

  • Played in nine regular-season games
  • Three tackles (1 solo) with a sack for a loss of five yards in college debut vs. Eastern Illinois (8/29/24)
  • Three tackles (2 solo) and a half sack in homecoming win over Central Michigan (9/14/24)
  • Career-high five tackles (three solo, two assisted) against #9 Penn State (9/28/24)

High School

  • Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, On3, and Rivals
  • Defensive lineman ranks: #101 (ESPN), #131 (247Sports), #136 (On3)
  • State of Illinois ranks: #24 (ESPN), #27 (Rivals), #31 (247Sports), #37 (On3)
  • Played for head coach Joe Wardynski at Wheaton North
  • 2023 IHSFCA 7A All-State
  • 2023 News-Gazette All-State Special Mention
  • Two-time all-area
  • 2023 DuKane Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year
  • Two-time All-DuKane Conference
  • 2023 Wheaton North Defensive Player of the Year
  • Helped Wheaton North to state titles in 2021 and 2022
  • Also played basketball as a freshman and sophomore
  • Offers included Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma, Purdue, Tulane, Washington State, and Wisconsin

Personal

  • Born February 8, 2006
  • Son of Dan and Michelle Barna
  • One brother, Andrew
  • Chose Illinois because, “The coaches and the atmosphere. I feel like to have Coach Bielema as a defensive-minded coach and have had coached D-line and played, it helps me. The atmosphere also truly embodies their motto that is FamILLy. This group of coaches and people do really give the family feel and I think big things are ahead for this program.”
  • Majoring in exploratory studies

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 43

    2024Freshman

    OLB
    6'4" 265 lbs
    43
  • 43

    2025Sophomore

    OLB
    6'4" 265 lbs
    43