I know most Illinois football fans remember where this program was just a half-decade ago.
If you go back about five years, the Illini were one of the worst programs in the country. We were just hoping for six wins and a bowl game appearance. It was a pretty sad existence.
December 2020 changed everything, though. Josh Whitman hired Bret Bielema, and the program transformed into a competitive unit that could win and put players into the NFL.
Bielema is coming off his second bowl game in four seasons. Illinois actually won the bowl game too, which was a first since the 2011 campaign.
Illinois couldn’t have achieved these great heights without good players. That is why we are seeing so many Illini players getting picked in the NFL Draft.
Pat Bryant was the lone Illini picked in the 2025 NFL Draft. With his selection, Bielema has now had at least one player selected in each of the last four years. Even though Nate Hobbs and Kendrick Green were picked in 2021, I am not counting them toward Bielema’s draft picks.
That is a pretty solid feat, though. Bielema gets at least one player selected each year as the coach of the program.
To take things a step further, Illini Stats & Notes posted on social media that Bielema has had eight top 100 picks in the NFL Draft in the first four seasons he has coached. That takes the top spot with Ray Eliot (7), taking second place.
Most Top 100 Picks, First Four Seasons as Illinois Head Coach
— Illini Stats & Notes (@IlliniStats) April 26, 2025
8 Bret Bielema, 2022-25 NFL Drafts
7 Ray Eliot, 1943-46 NFL Drafts
5 John Mackovic, 1989-92 NFL Drafts
5 Lou Tepper, 1993-97 NFL Drafts
There are more Illinois football players ready for the NFL Draft on the horizon
Bielema has had a great streak of NFL Draft picks, and the crazy part is that Illinois isn’t going to slow down anytime soon.
Illinois didn’t have many seniors to send to the draft this year. In 2026, it will be a different story. The Illini have 28 seniors projected to be on the roster this upcoming season, and there are quite a few potential NFL Draft picks.
A couple of the top names I am watching for next year include offensive tackle JC Davis and outside linebacker Gabe Jacas. But there are many more than that, and I will come out with my top options later. Don’t expect Illinois to slow down the draft push anytime soon, though.