2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 19
Tyson Rooks
- Position:
- DB
- Class:
- Junior
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 205
- Major:
- Kinesiology
- Hometown:
- St. Simons Island, Ga.
- High School:
- Glynn Academy
2025 Junior
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in all 12 regular-season games
- Five tackles (two solo) with one pass breakup on the season
- Career-high two tackles (one solo) and one pass breakup in win vs. Rutgers (11/1/25)
2024 Sophomore
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in seven games
- Two solo tackles and one interception on the season
- Recorded one tackle and on interception, returned for 27 yards, at #1 Oregon (10/26/24)
2023 Redshirt Freshman
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in nine games
2022 Redshirt
- Played in three games and redshirted the season
- One tackle on the season
- First career tackle against Virginia 9/10/22
High School
- Played for head coach Rocky Hildago at Glynn Academy
- Played one year of high school football
- All-region first team
- Also played tennis, basketball, and track in high school
- Two-time all-region in basketball
- Finished sixth in the state in the high jump
- All A Honor Roll
- Offers included Air Force, Chattanooga, Dartmouth, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Mercer, Minnesota, Navy, and Penn
Personal
- Born May 30, 2004
- Son of Burnett and Zalynia Rooks
- One brother, John, and one sister, Morgan
- Cousin, Desmond Clark, was a tight end for the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos
- Cousin, Tracey Walker III, is a safety for the Detroit Lions
- Cousin, Dominique Davis, is a quarterback for the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes
- Chose Illinois because, “It’s something different from my hometown. There is a great relationship between the coaches and I. During my whole visit I felt like I was a part of the famILLy.”
- Majoring in kinesiology
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
