2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 20
Tyler Strain
- Position:
- DB
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 5-9
- Weight:
- 200
- Major:
- Health Communication
- Hometown:
- Pace, Fla.
- High School:
- Pace
 University of Illinois Graduate |
2025 Senior
- Played in all 12 games
- Nine tackles (seven solo) with one fumble recovery on the season
- Season-high six tackles at #19 Indiana (9/20/25)
- Two tackles (both solo) and a fumble recovery in road win at Duke (9/6/25)
2024 Junior
- Played in seven games
- Five tackles (three solo) on the season
- Season-high two tackles vs. Purdue (10/12/24) and at #1 Oregon (10/26/24)
2023 Sophomore
- Played in all 12 games with five starts at defensive back
- Team-high two pass breakups to go along with four tackles in Illinois' win at Maryland (10/14/23)
- Led Illinois with a team-high eight tackles (seven solo) vs. FAU (9/23/23)
2022 Redshirt Freshman
- Played in 12 games with one start at cornerback
- First career start in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State 1/2/23
- 14 tackles, 0.5 TFL, two interceptions, and three pass breakups on the season
- Career-high seven tackles and first career 0.5 TFL against Northwestern 11/26/22
- Interceptions against Purdue 11/12/22 and Northwestern 11/26/22
2021 Freshman
- Played in four games and redshirted the season
- Two tackles in four games played
High School
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN
- Two-star recruit by Rivals
- Position ranks: #114 (ESPN), #122 (247)
- State ranks: #173 (247), #188 (ESPN)
- 109 tackles, 3.0 TFL, three interceptions, nine pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during his high school career
- 27 rush attempts, 339 rushing yards, 18 receptions for 401 yards, one receiving touchdown and three rushing touchdowns during his high school career
- Also competed in track and field in high school
- Committed to Illinois on July 24, 2020
- Offers included South Alabama, Tulane, and USF
Personal
- Born March 25, 2003
- Son of Melvin and Penny
- Has one brother, Jermey, and one sister, Desiree
- Chose Illinois because, “I felt home.”
- Graduated from the University of Illinois in May 2025 with a degree in recreation, sport, & tourism
- Majoring in health communication
Thursday, March 05
Thursday, February 12
Thursday, February 05
Wednesday, January 21
