Illinois Football: Illini losing a legend in running back Chase Brown

Chase Brown took to social media to announce his decision to opt-out of the ReliaQuest Bowl on January 2.

Brown is trading in his cleats from Saturdays and making the transition to Sunday football, officially announcing his transition and declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft.

The news means that Brown, who was a Doak Walker Award finalist and the Big Ten’s leading rusher during the 2022 season, will not participate in the ReliaQuest Bowl for the Illini on January 2. He finished with 1,643 yards, good enough for second in the country, while also tacking on 10 touchdowns.

In a statement shared on social media Friday morning, No. 2 thanked everyone who helped him get to this point.

Chase Brown was a vocal point of the Illinois football offense.

No matter who Illinois played in 2022, Brown rushing for 100+ yards nearly every week was a given.

Brown’s ability to run inside and outside the tackles was a thing of beauty, as he kept the Orange and Blue in nearly every game. He was also the leading force to a second-place Big Ten West finish and one win short of a berth in Indianapolis.

Regardless of who Brown is drafted by, watching him run on Sunday afternoons will be a special treat.