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University of Illinois Athletics

2025 Football Roster

45 Malachi Hood

  • Position LB
  • Class Junior
  • Height 6-2
  • Weight 235
  • Major Strategic Leadership & Management
  • Hometown Plainfield, Ill.
  • High School Joliet Catholic
  • Instagram Malachiloading
  • Twitter Malachiloading

Biography

Pronunciation: ma-luh-kai

Graduation Badge University of Illinois Graduate

2025 Junior

  • Attended the Black Student Athlee Summit in Chicago in May 2025
  • Career-best four total tackles (all solo), including one tackle for loss in Week 1 victory vs. Western Illinois (8/29/25)

2024 Redshirt Sophomore

  • Academic All-Big Ten
  • Played in 12 games
  • 14 tackles (eight solo) with 2.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup
  • 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles, first of career, against Northwestern (11/30/24)
  • Recovered first-career fumble recovery against #24 Michigan (10/19/24)

2023 Redshirt Freshman

  • Season-ending injury during training camp

2022 Freshman

  • Played in one game and redshirted the season
  • Made his Illinois debut against Northwestern

High School 

  • Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, On3, and Rivals
  • Position ranks: #51 (On3), #75 (247), #96 (ESPN)
  • State ranks: #14 (On3), #25 (ESPN), #26 (247)
  • Played for head coach Jake Jaworski at Joliet Catholic
  • Three-year letterwinner
  • Led Joliet Catholic to the 2021 IHSA 4A state championship

Personal

  • Born December 30, 2003
  • Son of Josephine and Michael Hood
  • One brother, Michael Jr., and one sister, Michala
  • Cousin, Marcus Hood, played linebacker at Illinois from 1997-2000
  • Chose Illinois because, “The ‘famILLy’ atmosphere felt like home to me. I have a long line of family legacy at this school as well.”
  • Plans to start a clothing business in the future
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois in August 2025 with a degree in political science
  • Majoring in strategic leadership & management 

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 45

    2022Freshman

    LB
    6'2" 220 lbs
    45
  • 45

    2023Redshirt Freshman

    LB
    6'2" 230 lbs
    45
  • 45

    2024Sophomore

    LB
    6'2" 225 lbs
    45
  • 45

    2025Junior

    LB
    6'2" 235 lbs
    45