2016 Football Roster
Jersey Number 71
Joe Spencer
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-4 / 300
- Position:
- OL
- Hometown:
- Mason, Ohio
- High School:
- Mason
2016 Senior
- 2017 Coach Wooden Citizen Cup award winner (most outstanding role model in the nation among athletes)
- Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winner
- All-Big Ten honorable mention (media)
- Phil Steele All-Big Ten third team
- Campbell Trophy semifinalist (top student-athlete in college football)
- Team captain
- Started 11 games at center
- 37 career starts
- Missed the opener against Murray State with an injury
- The Illini's all-time leader in rushing yards by a lineman with 17 (records dating back to 1950)
- 14 yards rushing on a fumble recovery against North Carolina
- Working on his MBA after graduated with a degree in finance in May 2016
- Rimington Trophy watch list (nation's best center)
- Wuerffel Trophy watch list (community service award)
- National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Awards nominee
- AFCA Good Works Team nominee
- Helped lead the Illini's "Lift For Life," which raised over $21,000 for charity
- Academic All-Big Ten
2015 Junior
- Nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service”
- Started all 12 games at center
- One of five offensive linemen to start all 12 games
- Played 83.7% of snaps during the regular season
- Helped the Illini allow just 20 sacks against (1.67 per game)
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (3.7+ GPA) and Academic All-Big Ten
- Earned a degree in finance in May 2016
2014 Sophomore
- Played in all 13 games, starting 12
- Started 10 games at center and two at right guard (Northwestern, Iowa)
- Played 762 snaps on the season and a season-high 83 in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (3.7+ GPA) and Academic All-Big Ten
2013 Redshirt Freshman
- Played in eight games and started two, the season-opener against SIU and against Ohio State
- Academic All-Big Ten
2012 Freshman
- Redshirted the 2012 season
High School
- Three-star recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com
- Ranked the No. 14 center in the nation by ESPN
- Named to the Rivals.com Ohio Top 60
- Named an Associated Press Division I second-team All-District selection in 2011
- Earned first-team All-Greater Miami Conference honors in 2011
- Played in Ohio North/South Game and the Big 33 All-Star Game
- High school coach was Brian Castner
Personal
- Son of Kristen and Jeff Spencer
- Born June 13, 1994
- Earned a degree in finance in May 2016
- Serves as president of the Illinois Uplifting Athletes chapter, which raises money for rare disease research and treatment
- Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president
- Illini Leadership Academy
- Freshman Athlete Mentor program
- Organized student-athlete variety show that has raised more than $80,000 for charity in the last five years
- Organized the Illini’s lift for life, which raised nearly $40,000 for charity in the last two years
- “Big” at the local Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Spearheaded the Leadership Summit for local middle school students
- Leads the Illini’s Thanksgiving Basket Program
- Has visited nearly every elementary school in Champaign-Urbana
- Visits to pediatric unit of local hospitals
- Volunteer at the Special Olympics
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
