NIL Opportunities

Two-Time All-Big Ten

2023 Senior

• All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)
• Started all 12 games at left tackle
• 23 consecutive starts at left tackle since missing game at Indiana (9/2/22)
• Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten second team
• Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten third team

2022 Junior

• All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)
• Started 12 of 13 games at left tackle
• Missed the Indiana game with an injury 
• Part of the first offensive line in Illinois history to be named a Joe Moore Award semifinalist

2021 Sophomore

• Played in 12 games with 11 starts

2020 Sophomore

• Played seven games and started four at right tackle 
• First career start at Nebraska 11/21/20 

2019 Redshirt Freshman

• Played in three games as a backup lineman
• Made Illinois debut in the season opener against Akron

2018 Freshman

• Redshirted 2018 season (Did not play)

High School

• Three-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN
• Two-star recruit by Rivals
• Ranked No. 531 recruit in the nation by 247Sports
• Ranked No. 41 OT in the nation by 247Sports and No. 107 by ESPN
• Ranked No. 7 recruit in Illinois by 247Sports and No. 28 by ESPN
• Played for head coach Marcus Forrest at Danville
• 2017 USA Today All-USA Illinois second team
• 2017 IHSFCA 6A All-State honorable mention
• 2017 All-Big 12 first team
• 2017 Champaign News-Gazette All-Area
• Led Danville to back-to-back IHSA playoff berths
• High school teammate of fellow Illini Caleb Griffin
• Also played basketball in high school
• Verbally committed to Illinois in April 2017
• Also offered by Northern Illinois

Personal

• Born Oct. 6, 1999
• Son of Ronique Heard
• Two older brothers, Tayvian Johnson and Avery Pearl, and one younger sister, Dasia Middlebrooks
• Brother, Tayvian Johnson, played Division III football
• Brother, Avery, played Division III basketball
• Picked Illinois because, “it would give me a chance to represent and improve my hometown and state.”
• Listed Lebron James as his favorite athlete because he “does everything the right way and is a humble person.”
• Majoring in sociology