2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 73
Josh Gesky
- Position:
- OL
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 335
- Major:
- Public Health
- Hometown:
- Manteno, Ill.
- High School:
- Manteno
Pronunciation: guess-KEE
 Three-Time All-Big Ten |
2025 Senior
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)
- CSC Academic All-District
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Started all 13 games at left guard
- Helped Illinois to its second straight bowl victory, a 30-28 win over #23 Tennessee in the Music City Bowl
2024 Junior
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)
- CSC Academic All-District
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Started all 13 games at left guard
2023 Sophomore
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)
- CSC Academic All-District
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in 11 games with eight starts on the offensive line
- Moved from RG to LG prior to Week 3 game vs. #7 Penn State (9/16/23)
- Started first five games of the season before missing game vs. Nebraska (10/6/23)
- Made first-career start at RG vs Toledo (9/2/23)
- Returned from injury at Maryland (10/14/23) and played primarily on special teams
- Illinois SAAC representative
2022 Redshirt Freshman
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in 11 games, primarily on special teams
2021 Freshman
- Did not play in a game and redshirted the season
High School
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
- Position ranks: #163 (ESPN), #207 (247Sports)
- State Rank: #32 (Rivals), #48 (ESPN), #59 (247)
- Two-time Academic All-State
- Two-time Interstate 8 All-Conference team
- All-Area
- All-Conference in track and field as a junior and senior
- Committed to Illinois on August 9, 2020
- Offers included Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Southern Illinois, and Syracuse
Personal
- Born Dec. 31, 2002
- Chose Illinois because, “It is a close Big Ten school and it has amazing academics.”
- Majoring in public health (Master's)
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
