2016 Football Roster
Jersey Number 88
Zach Grant
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-0 / 195
- Position:
- WR
- Hometown:
- Springfield, Ill.
- High School:
- Rochester
2016 Redshirt Senior
- Played in all 12 games with nine starts at wide receiver
- One or more catches in 11 of 12 games
- 26 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown on the year
- Second on the team in receptions, third on the team in receiving yards
- Averaged 2.2 receptions and 22.1 yards per game
- First career touchdown vs. Minnesota
- 18 of 27 career receptions have come in the last six games
- Career highs in receptions (8) and receiving yards (65) vs. Iowa
- Career-long 24-yard reception at Northwestern
- Academic All-Big Ten
2015 Redshirt Junior
- Played in all 12 games, mosting on special teams (FG holder)
- First career reception for seven yards against Western Illinois
- Two tackles on special teams
- Academic All-Big Ten
2014 Redshirt Sophomore
- Saw action in one game, making his Illinois debut at Northwestern Nov. 29
2013 Sophomore
- Sat out the 2013 season due to NCAA transfer rules after playing for St. Ambrose University (NAIA) in 2012, transferring to Northern Illinois University for Spring 2013 and then finally transferring to Illinois prior to the 2013 season.
2012 Freshman at St. Ambrose University (NAIA):
- First Team All-Mid-States Football Association Midwest League selection during his lone season at SAU in 2012
- Ranked in the top 10 nationally in receiving yards (1,170), receptions (91) and touchdowns (16), the latter two both school records, while helping the Fighting Bees to a 9-2 record
High School
- Played with Illini QB Wes Lunt at Rochester, helping the team to IHSA Class 4A State Championships in 2010 and 2011
- Set the state record for most receiving yards in a season (2,310) and had the second-most receptions in a season (131) in 2011
- 2011 Max Preps All-American, Champaign News-Gazette and IHSFCA First-Team All-State and Central State Eight Conference Player of the Year
- High school coach was Derek Leonard
- Four-year letterwinner in football and two-year letter winner in basketball
Personal
- Son of Scott and Amy Grant
- Has two brothers
- Born Feb. 11, 1994
- Illini hero growing up was Dee Brown
- Majoring in sport management
Career Highs
Receptions: 8 vs. Iowa, 11/19/16
Receiving Yards: 65 vs. Iowa, 11/19/16
Receiving Touchdowns: 1 vs. Minnesota, 10/29/16
Long Reception: 24 vs. Northwestern, 11/26/16
All-Purpose Yards: 37 vs. Michigan State, 11/5/16
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
