Various former Illinois football players represented the program in week one of the NFL season.
The Illini have struggled in the recruiting world in recent years, and one of the reasons for that could be the program’s lack of success for its players beyond the college level. But Illinois does have 19 former players in the NFL who could help make a change.
Here is how the former Illinois football players performed in the NFL this week.
Nate Hobbs
Hobbs had a career performance in the Las Vegas Raiders’ season opener at Los Angeles. The defensive back held Chargers wide receiver, Mike Williams, to just two catches for 10 yards.
Hobbs recorded nine tackles, six of which were solo, two tackles-for-loss, and a pass defended. He finished the day as the Raiders’ third-highest graded player by Pro Football Focus.
5 highest-graded players for the #Raiders in Week 1 per @PFF:
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) September 12, 2022
1. DE Maxx Crosby (92.9)
2. WR Davante Adams (88.3)
3. CB Nate Hobbs (83.8)
4. RG Dylan Parham (82.3)
5. DT Andrew Billings (78.0)
The Raiders (0-1) will host the Arizona Cardinals (0-1) on Sunday.
Dawuane Smoot
Smoot contributed one tackle and a quarterback hit in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 28-22 loss to the Washington Commanders yesterday.
It wasn’t all good for the former Illini defensive lineman, however. Smoot committed a roughing the passer penalty that extended the Commanders’ drive, which ended with a touchdown.
Jacksonville's Dawuane Smoot gets an assist on the touchdown for a Roughing the Passer penalty on 3rd and 10 that would have forced Washington to try a field goal. https://t.co/6JmbigB5F6
— David Harrison (@DHarrison82) September 11, 2022
The Jags (0-1) will host Indianapolis (0-1-0) on Sunday.
Jihad Ward
Ward also repped the Orange and Blue well during the New York Giants win in a game that went down to the wire.
Ward was the Giants’ third-highest graded player by PFF with a six-tackle performance. The edge rusher was more than effective in the Giants’ run-stop, which held Titans star running back Derrick Henry to just 3.9 yards per carry.
.@Giants @JIHADWARD17 set a “Violent Edge” all afternoon and helped keep @KingHenry_2 under 4 yards /carry. Whaaaat? Yes sireeee. Great team effort. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/0TB8uIwZvF
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 12, 2022
The Giants (1-0) will host Carolina (0-1) Sunday.
Justin Hardee
The New York Jets special teams captain only saw action on special teams during their 24-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens yesterday. Hardee made the most of it, recording an “awesome” tackle after things could have turned bad.
Bad punt by Braden Mann but an awesome tackle by Justin Hardee to save the play.
— The Jet Press (@TheJetPress) September 11, 2022
That’s why he’s on the roster.
The Jets (0-1) visit the Cleveland Browns (0-1) on Sunday.
Ted Karras
Cincinnati Bengals captain and starting center Ted Karras had himself a day, according to a PFF analyst.
Karras was one of the lone bright spots of a Bengals offensive line that allowed seven sacks in their heartbreaking 23-20 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Karras and the Bengals (0-1) will look to recover on Sunday vs. Dallas (0-1).
Del’Shawn Phillips
Phillips didn’t see much action in the Baltimore Ravens’ season-opening win over the Jets, as he would finish the game with only a tackle. Like Hardee, Phillips only saw special teams action on Sunday.
The Ravens (1-0) will host Miami (1-0) on Sunday.
Kerby Joseph
Joseph recorded a tackle in his NFL debut yesterday.
The rookie only saw special teams action during the Detroit Lions’ 35-28 loss to Philadelphia.
The Lions (0-1) will host Washington (1-0) on Sunday.
Injured Alum
Houston Texans’ starting rookie strongside linebacker Jake Hansen was listed as inactive for the opener vs. the Colts.
Chicago Bears rookie center Doug Kramer is currently on the team’s injured reserve after suffering a Lisfranc injury during the preseason.