Skip To Main Content

University of Illinois Athletics

2025 Football Roster

Illinois Fighting Illini

2 Saboor Karriem

  • Position DB
  • Class Junior
  • Height 6-3
  • Weight 210
  • Major Communication
  • Hometown West Orange, N.J.
  • High School West Orange
  • Instagram saboorkarriem
  • Twitter Saboor_Karriem

Biography

Pronunciation: suh-BOR kuh-REEM

2024 Sophomore

  • Played in 12 games with one start
  • Seven tackles (four solo) on the season
  • Recorded career-high five tackles (two solo) at #1 Oregon (10/26/24)

2023 Freshman

  • Played in seven games
  • Made Illini debut with one tackle and three PBUs vs. FAU (9/23/23)

HIGH SCHOOL 

  • Four-star recruit by 247Sports Composite
  • Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, On3, and Rivals
  • Position ranks: #4 (On3), #65 (ESPN), #72 (Rivals), #97 (247)
  • Top 400 player in the nation by the 247Sports Composite
  • State ranks: #2 (On3), #8 (Rivals), #16 (ESPN), #19 (247)
  • Played for head coach Darnell Grant at West Orange High School
  • Three-year letterwinner
  • 2022 USA Today All-New Jersey first team
  • 45 tackles, two interceptions, one return for a touchdown, and one blocked kick as a senior
  • Set West Orange single-season records in receptions (63), receiving yards (1,001), and receiving touchdowns (15) as a senior
  • Scored at least one touchdown in 10 of 12 games as a senior
  • Also played basketball, lacrosse and track in high school
  • High honor roll
  • Offers included Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, and West Virginia

PERSONAL

  • Born on July 12, 2005
  • Son of Ronice Bruce
  • Two brothers, Tafari and Ziare, and one sister, Anaya
  • Chose Illinois because, “It is the place where I can play big-time football, get an outstanding education and be surrounded by people who will help mold me into the man I aspire to become.”
  • Majoring in communication 

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 2022-23Freshman

    DB
    6'3" 185 lbs
  • 2

    2023Freshman

    DB
    6'3" 195 lbs
    2
  • 2

    2024Sophomore

    DB
    6'3" 195 lbs
    2
  • 2

    2025Junior

    DB
    6'3" 210 lbs
    2