2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 2
Saboor Karriem
- Position:
- DB
- Class:
- Junior
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 210
- Major:
- Communication
- Hometown:
- West Orange, N.J.
- High School:
- West Orange
Pronunciation: suh-BOR kuh-REEM
2025 Junior
- Played in 12 games
- Saw action on special teams in 11 games and played defensive snaps in seven regular-season contests
- 19 total tackles (15 solo) on the season
- Three tackles (all solo) in win vs. Rutgers (11/1/25)
- Career-high 10 tackles (seven solo) in win vs. #21 USC (9/27/25)
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
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
