2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 1
Kaleb Patterson
- Position:
- DB
- Class:
- Junior
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 195
- Major:
- Community Health
- Hometown:
- Jackson, Miss.
- High School:
- Terry
- Prev School:
- Pearl River CC
2025 Junior
- Nine games played with three starts
- 14 total tackles (11 solo) with two fumble recoveries, one pass breakup on the season
- Enters Music City Bowl ranked 12th nationally (2nd in B1G) in fumble recoveries (2)
- Recovered fumbles in each of the Illini's first two wins of the season vs. Western Illinois (8/29/25) and at Duke (9/6/25)
- One pass breakup in win vs. Rutgers (11/1/25)
- Three tackles, all solo, at #19 Indiana (9/20/25)
- Season-high four tackles (two solo) at Duke (9/6/25)
- IAthlon Preseason All-Big Ten Fourth Team
2024 Sophomore
- Played and started in 12 games
- No. 5 tackling grade in the nation among cornerbacks (88.6), according to PFF, during the regular season
- 31 taclkes (24 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two pass breakups on the season
- Recorded season high in solo tackles (3) in wins over #19 Kansas (9/7/24), #24 Michigan (10/19/24), and #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (12/31/24)
- Two pass breakups in win vs. Purdue (10/12/24)
- First career start and recovered a fumble against EIU (8/29/24)
2023 Sophomore
- Played in four games and redshirted the season
2022 Freshman (Pearl River CC)
- Three-star juco recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and On3
- Juco national ranks: #20 (247), #33 (ESPN), #63 (On3)
- Juco position ranks: #4, (247), #6 (On3), #7 (ESPN)
- All-MACCC first team
- Played in all nine games, recording 12 tackles, two forced fumbles, and four passes broken up
- Offers included Indiana, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Kent State, Memphis, South Alabama, Southern Miss, and Troy
High School
- Played for Kris Thigpen at Terry High School
- 2022 all-region and all-district
- 2022 MHSAA 6A Defensive Back of the Year
- 35 tackles with two pass breakups and one interception as a senior
- Honor Roll
Personal
- Born on December 14, 2003
- Son of Floyd and Kendra Patterson
- Two brothers, Tyleor and Carter, and three sisters, Kyra, Jada and Kiame
- Chose Illinois because, “I chose Illinois because the program and coaching staff are amazing. Illinois is a place that I see myself thriving not only as a great athlete, but as a better man.”
- Majoring in community health
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
