Long-time Fighting Illini guard Ty Rodgers officially breaks Illinois hearts

Despite an inkling of hope remaining that Ty Rodgers would come back for one last year with the Illinois Fighting Illini, the veteran guard has officially committed to another program out of the transfer portal.

On Friday, May 8, Rodgers committed to the Boise State Broncos, officially leaving head coach Brad Underwood, who initially recruited him out of high school.

Now, Rodgers may be a name you haven't heard in a year or so. That's because he didn't play in a single game of the 2025-26 season, recovering from a torn patellar tendon and the subsequent reparative surgery.

However, before suffering the injury, Rodgers was a starter for the Illini, starting in all 38 of Illinois's games in the 2024-25 season.

Ty Rodgers commits to Boise State, officially leaves Illinois

When Rodgers first entered the transfer portal, it didn't come as much of a surprise because it had been so long since he had taken the court for the Fighting Illini.

However, it didn't make his sudden departure sting any less. Despite having his name in the portal, he stayed in Champaign, spending time with Illinois players who had announced their return, sparking hope that Rodgers might change his mind and decide not to actually transfer.

Despite that lingering hope, Rodgers broke the hearts of Illinois fans, leaving the program after three years with the Fighting Illini.

During his time in Champaign, Rodgers appeared in 71 games and started in 38 of them. He averaged 4.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game.

While his stats weren't jaw-dropping, he was a consistent presence every time he took the court. However, as Underwood continues to recruit higher-rated and more promising players to Illinois, the Illini faithful will have to grow more used to seeing players leave for the transfer portal.

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