2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 85
Tanner Arkin
- Position:
- TE
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 265
- Major:
- Health Communication
- Hometown:
- Fort Collins, Colo.
- High School:
- Fossil Ridge
- Prev School:
- Colorado State
 University of Illinois Graduate |
2025 Senior
- Team captain
- CSC Academic All-District
- Started all 13 games at tight end
- 13 receptions for 144 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the season
- Second most career starts by a tight end in Illinois history (29), trailing only Matt Cushing, (36 from 1994-97) and one spot ahead of Illinois AD Josh Whitman (26 from 1997-2000)
2024 Junior
- Team captain
- CSC Academic All-District
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Started all 13 games at tight end
- Caught his third touchdown pass of the season and rushed for a career-long 36 yards on a fake punt in win vs. #24 Michigan (10/19/24), to earn recognition as the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week
- Career highs in receptions (4) and yards (28) to go along with one touchdown at #22 Nebraska (9/20/24)
- Hauled in first touchdown pass of the season in season-opener vs. Eastern Illinois (8/29/24)
2023 Sophomore
- CSC Academic All-District
- Played in 12 games with three starts at tight end
- Scored first collegiate TD on first reception as an Illini vs. Wisconsin (10/21/23)
- Made first start as an Illini in two-TE package at Maryland (10/14/23)
- Made Illinois debut in season-opening win vs. Toledo (9/2/23)
- Transferred to Illinois with three years of eligibility remaining
- Enrolled at Illinois for the spring semester in 2023
- Illinois SAAC representative
2022 Redshirt Freshman - Colorado State
- Played in 12 games
- 14 receptions for 116 yards on the season
- 2022 Preseason All-Mountain West
2021 Freshman - Colorado State
- Played in the final three games and redshirted the season
- First career catch for nine yards against Nevada
High School
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports Composite
- No. 20 recruit in the state of Colorado by 247Sports Composite
- Played for head coach Jeff Fulton at Fossil Ridge
- 12 career receptions for 165 yards and one touchdown
- Averaged 14.7 yards per catch as a senior
- 55 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 6.0 sacks on defense during his career
- 2020 All-State honorable mention
- 2020 All-Front Range Conference first team
- Four-time Academic All-Front Range Conference
- Two-time Academic All-State twice
- Varsity team MVP
- Three-sport letterman, including football, basketball, and track
- Placed third in the state in the discus in 2020
Personal
- Born July 7, 2003
- Son of Grady and Veronica Arkin
- One brother, Owen, and a sister, Carmen
- Chose Illinois because, "It is a great fit for my playing style and a great support system with great coaches that have a vision for me."
- Graduated from the University of Illinois in May 2025 with a degree in Kinesiology
- Plans on being a physical therapist or strength coach following his playing career
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
