Illinois football didn’t do a ton of winning the past couple of decades, but there have been some special players come through the program.
Not every great Illini player had to be ranked inside the top 1000, though. Some players are overlooked for one reason or another. There are times when these overlooked players go out there and shocked the recruiting world.
There are actually a lot of Illinois players who have been overlooked but have gone on to have good football careers. So, I compiled a list of some of the best.
Here are the top 10 most overlooked Illinois football recruits.
Honorable Mention
Quan Martin – #1495
- All-Big Ten Second Team (SR)
- 221 tackles, 23 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles, 7 interceptions in 5 seasons
- #124 graded player in the 2023 NFL Draft (PFF.com)
Martin will likely be picked in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was close to making the top 10 but narrowly missed out.
Jake Hansen – #1999
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (JR)
- All-Big Ten Second Team (SR)
- 275 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 8 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions (College)
- Undrafted
- 25 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery (NFL)
Hansen is one of the lowest-ranked players on this list. His injuries derailed him from being in the top 10. He has done some amazing things despite not getting drafted, though.
Doug Kramer – #2013
- Big Ten All-Freshman Team Honorable Mention
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (JR)
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (SR)
- 6th round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft (Chicago Bears)
- Missed rookie season with injury
If Kramer didn’t get hurt this season, he probably would have played some snaps with the Chicago Bears. He was close to making the top 10, but his accolades in college didn’t meet the top 10 expectations.
Chase McLaughlin – Not Ranked
- All-Big Ten First Team
- Big Ten Kicker of the Year
- 44-of-59 Field Goals and 79-79 Extra Points (College)
- Undrafted – 6 NFL Teams
- 67-of-85 Field Goals and 88-of-90 Extra Points (NFL)
I really wanted to put McLaughlin up in the top 10. He wasn’t ranked coming out of high school, but most kickers aren’t ranked. A good college career and a journeyman kicker in the NFL gets him to the honorable mention list.
No. 10 Gabe Jacas – #1254
- Freshman All-American
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (FR)
- 36 tackles, 4 sacks in 1 season
One wouldn’t expect a player who is ranked No. 1254 in the class of 2022 to make a huge impact in year one. Usually, when players are ranked sub-1000, they are future stash and development type of recruits.
Jacas came out of the gates like a bull and tore down the Big Ten. He finished his freshman season with 36 tackles and four sacks. His dominance on the field earned Jacas All-Big Ten honorable mention honors, and he was named to the Freshman All-American team.
The future is extremely bright for Jacas. He was one of the best players on a great Illinois defense, and the crazy part is the fact he is only a freshman. Being ranked No. 1254 and doing what he did in year one is impressive.
No. 9 Bobby Roundtree – #1335
- Big Ten All-Freshman Team
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (SO)
- 116 tackles, 10 pass deflections, 11.5 sacks in 2 seasons
In July 2021, the football world lost a true legend in Bobby Roundtree. He isn’t with us anymore in person, but his spirit and the legacy he left behind will never be forgotten.
Despite only being ranked as the No. 1335 player in the class of 2018, Roundtree was great for the Illini from the start. During his two seasons playing for the program, Roundtree would amass 116 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 10 pass deflections. This included his sophomore year where he had 7.5 sacks.
The tremendous play on the field earned Roundtree Big Ten All-Freshman team honors and All-Big Ten honorable mention honors as a sophomore. This kid was so good on the field. He hadn’t even grown into his body yet either. Roundtree will always have a special place in Illini fans’ hearts.
No. 8 Johnny Newton – #1057
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (FR)
- Second Team All-American (SO)
- All-Big Ten First Team (SO)
- 132 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 10.5 sacks in 3 seasons
- #71 graded player in the 2023 NFL Draft (PFF.com)
There are multiple Illinois players who suited up in 2022 on this list. Newton is one of those talented players. Coming out of high school, he was only ranked as the No. 1057 player in the class of 2020.
Newton has dazzled since joining the Illinois program. He has compiled 132 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and three pass deflections in three seasons. These numbers helped earn him All-Big Ten honorable mention as a freshman.
This past season, Newton would secure a spot on the All-Big Ten first team and be named as a member of the second-team All-American squad. He is currently ranked as the No. 71 graded player for the 2023 NFL Draft by Pro Football Focus. Newton has decided to return to Illinois for one more season despite that fact. The kid is a legend.
No. 7 Sydney Brown – #1598
- Second Team All-American (SR)
- All-Big Ten First Team (SR)
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (JR)
- #58 graded player in the 2023 NFL Draft (PFF.com)
- 307 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 10 interceptions, 2 touchdowns, 16 pass deflections in 5 seasons
There are some pretty special players who have been ranked sub-1500 come through the Illinois football program. Brown is one of those players.
Brown was ranked as the No. 1598 player in the class of 2018. That ranking was a little off, as Brown would be one of the main staples in the Illinois secondary for much of the past three seasons.
During his Illinois career, Brown amassed 307 tackles, 16 pass deflections, 10 interceptions, four forced fumbles, two sacks, and two touchdowns. These numbers earned him All-Big Ten honorable mention honors as a junior and All-Big Ten first team and All-American second team honors as a senior.
Brown is going to be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is currently graded as the No. 58 player in the draft by Pro Football Focus.
No. 6 Dawuane Smoot – #1515
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (JR)
- All-Big Ten Second Team (SR)
- 137 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble (College)
- 3rd round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft (Jacksonville Jaguars)
- 123 tackles, 22.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 5 pass deflections (NFL)
Smoot had a pretty impressive career with the Illini, and he has parlayed that great play into the NFL. His ranking of No. 1515 in the class of 2013 was way off.
The Illinois class of 2013 was solid, but Smoot was toward the bottom of the group they brought in. Despite that fact, Smoot came out and was one of the best defensive players on the team. He would finish his Illinois career with 137 tackles, 16.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. These numbers earned him All-Big Ten honorable mention as a junior and All-Big Ten second team as a senior.
Smoot would get picked in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Over six seasons with the Jaguars, Smoot has complied 123 tackles, 22.5 sacks, five pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He has had a great football playing career despite being ranked No. 1515 in his recruiting class.
No. 5 Nate Hobbs – #1757
- Big Ten All-Freshman Team
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (JR)
- All-Big Ten Third Team (SR)
- 168 tackles, 14 pass deflections, 3 interceptions (College)
- 5th round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft (Las Vegas Raiders)
- 146 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 7 pass deflections (NFL)
- NFL All-Rookie Team
I was impressed with Nate Hobbs from the start of his career. The fact that he was ranked as the No. 1757 player in the class of 2017 blows my mind.
While at Illinois, Hobbs had 168 tackles, 14 pass deflections, and three interceptions. He would make the Big Ten All-Freshman team in year one. Hobbs would then earn All-Big Ten honorable mention as a junior and All-Big Ten third team as a senior.
Hobbs would get picked in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. Through two seasons, he has complied 146 tackles, seven pass deflections, two sacks, and one interception. He also made the NFL All-Rookie team in 2021. Hobbs has busted through the No. 1757 expectations.
No. 4 Jeff Allen – Not Ranked
- Freshman All-American Second Team
- All-Big Ten Second Team (JR)
- All-Big Ten Second Team (SR)
- 2nd round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft (Kansas City Chiefs)
- 1-Time Super Bowl Champion
- 66 starts with 2 teams over 8 seasons
I am not just going to reference recent players and their ability to break through recruiting rankings. Allen is someone who has had a great football career, and he wasn’t even ranked.
Allen joined the Illinois program from the class of 2008, and he was instantly one of the best offensive linemen on the team. He would earn Freshman All-American second-team honors in year one. Allen would then go on to make the All-Big Ten second team as both a junior and senior.
The Kansas City Chiefs saw a big-time professional player in Allen, so they drafted him in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. After getting picked by the Chiefs, Allen would go on to have 66 starts in the NFL with two different teams over eight seasons. He also has a Super Bowl title under his belt. Going from unranked to Super Bowl champ is a pretty impressive achievement.
No. 3 Kerby Joseph – #1602
- Second Team All-American (SR)
- All-Big Ten First Team (SR)
- 116 tackles, 6 pass deflections, 5 interceptions (College)
- 3rd round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft (Detroit Lions)
- 92 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 4 interceptions, 8 pass deflections (NFL)
- NFL All-Rookie Team
I thought about putting Joseph in the top two, but I think landing him at No. 3 is the right move. The fact that Joseph was ranked as the No. 1602 player in the class of 2018 is a travesty.
Joseph picked Illinois and was incredible for the program from day one. He would finish his time in Champaign with 116 tackles, six pass deflections, and five interceptions. Joseph would earn All-Big Ten first-team honors and second-team All-American honors as a senior.
The talent Joseph displayed at Illinois made the Detroit Lions want him. He was selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Joseph would compile 92 tackles, eight pass deflections, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery during his rookie season in 2022. His great play also earned him NFL All-Rookie team honors. Joseph went from little recruiting attention and being ranked No. 1602 to being one of the best defensive backs in the NFL.
No. 2 Ted Karras – #1239
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (JR)
- All-Big Ten Third Team (SR)
- 6th round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft (New England Patriots)
- 2-Time Super Bowl Champion
- 65 starts with 3 teams over 7 seasons
- Currently with the Cincinnati Bengals
It is hard to quantify offensive linemen in this conversation, but when you have done what Karras has done in the game of football, you earned the No. 2 spot on this list.
Karras was only ranked as the No. 1239 recruit in the class of 2011. He didn’t have a ton of recruiting attention, and he wasn’t even a top-80 offensive guard coming out of his recruiting class. Despite the rankings, Karras picked Illinois and had a good collegiate career.
As a junior, Karras would earn All-Big Ten honorable mention. He would then follow that up with an All-Big Ten third-team selection as a senior. Over his career, he would have 43 starts for the Orange and Blue.
Karras would then get selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Over his NFL career, Karras has had 65 starts with three teams over seven seasons. He has two Super Bowl titles under his belt, and he is currently the starting center for the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals play this weekend for a chance to head to the Super Bowl.
An offensive lineman who has been in the NFL for seven years, has protected the likes of Tom Brady and Joe Burrow, and is now on the verge of potentially winning a third Super Bowl. That is a hard career to beat, and he was only the No. 1239 player in his recruiting class.
No. 1 Devon Witherspoon – Not Ranked
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (SO)
- All-Big Ten First Team (JR)
- Consensus All-American (JR)
- 160 tackles, 25 pass deflections, 5 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries (College)
- #12 graded player in the 2023 NFL Draft (PFF.com)
- Projected #10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (PFF.com)
I think the No. 1 player on this list is an obvious one. When you have a player like Witherspoon accomplish what he has accomplished and wasn’t ranked coming out of high school, then you have to put him at No. 1.
Witherspoon only had one power-five offer, and that was from Illinois. He wasn’t ranked, but as soon as he stepped foot in Memorial Stadium, Witherspoon was a special player.
For his college career, Witherspoon would compile 160 tackles, 25 pass deflections, five interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. He would earn All-Big Ten honorable mention as a sophomore. Witherspoon would follow that up with honors of All-Big Ten first team and a consensus All-American selection as a junior.
Witherspoon had one of the greatest seasons in Illinois football history. He is one of just 21 Illini players to ever earn the honor of consensus All-American.
Obviously, Witherspoon has entered his name in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is currently graded as the No. 12 player in the draft by Pro Football Focus. They also have him getting picked with the No. 10 pick in the draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
It is hard to match the career of Witherspoon at Illinois. When you mix in the fact that he wasn’t ranked coming out of high school, it is a no-brainer that he belongs at the top of this list.