Illinois Football 2025 Projected Depth Chart: Live Roster Tracker

Illinois on SI will project and update the Illini football starting lineup and depth chart throughout the 2025 season, linking to scouting reports for key contributors below. Projections below will reflect changes based on injuries and announced lineup, depth chart and position moves, but they are only the best educated guesses from the staff of Illinois on SI and are by no means guaranteed.

This page will be updated as new information becomes available, including at least two hours before kickoff of each Illinois game, as mandated by Big Ten injury-transparency rules. More names and scouting reports will be added below throughout the season as players receive on-field opportunities and position battles play out.

Illinois' 2025 projected depth chart

Last updated: Sept. 30, 2025 @ 12:40 a.m. CT*

*Bookmark, refresh or just return often for the latest

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer makes a pass against Purdue — Oct 12, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) passes in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Offense

Position	Starter	Backup1	Backup2
QB	Luke Altmyer	Ethan Hampton	Carson Boyd

RB	Aidan Laughery	Kaden Feagin	Ca'Lil Valentine
WR	Collin Dixon	Justin Bowick
WR	Hudson Clement	Alexander Capka-Jones
WR	Hank Beatty	Ashton Hollins
TE	Tanner Arkin	Christian Abney	Cole Rusk	Davin Stoffel
LT	J.C. Davis	Ayden Knapik**
LG	Josh Gesky	Dezmond Schuster
C	Josh Kreutz	TJ McMillen
RG	Brandon Henderson	Brandon Hansen
RT	Melvin Priestly	Tyler McMillan

Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas sacks Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles — Nov 16, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) sacks Michigan State Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles (2) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Defense

Position	Starter	Backup1	Backup2
DE	James Thompson Jr.	Pat Farrell
NT	Curt Neal	Angelo McCullom	Gentle Hunt
DE	Tomiwa Durojaiye	Carter Hewitt
OLB	Gabe Jacas	Alec Bryant
ILB	Malachi Hood	Kenenna Odeluga
ILB	Dylan Rosiek	James Kreutz
OLB	Joe Barna	Leon Lowery Jr.	Daniel Brown**
CB	Torrie Cox Jr.	Tanner Heckel	Xavier Scott**
S	Matthew Bailey	Saboor Karriem
S	Miles Scott	Mac Resetich
CB	Jaheim Clarke	Kaleb Patterson

**Injured player

Sep 28, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini kicker David Olano (24) kicks a field goal during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Special teams

Position	Starter	Backup
Placekicker	David Olano	Lucas Osado
Punter	Keelan Crimmins	Lars Rau
Long snapper	Lane Hansen
Kick returner	Hank Beatty	Mac Resetich
Punt returner	Hank Beatty	Mac Resetich

Latest injury and position updates

Sept. 28, 2025: Receiver Malik Elzy has left the program and will redshirt the rest of the 2025 season.

GAME DAY (Sept. 27): The only injured Illini whose status was uncertain going into the USC game was linebacker Daniel Brown, who will sit out. Receiver Malik Elzy was also listed as out, though there had been no indications during the week that he was injured.

Sept. 25, 2025: Running back Aidan Laughery, receiver Justin Bowick, cornerback Jaheim Clarke and safeties Matthew Bailey and Mac Resetich are all expected to return for Saturday's home game against USC. Get the full story here.

Sept. 18, 2025: Cornerback Xavier Scott is expected to miss most, if not all, of the remainder of the 2025 season because of a foot/ankle injury.

Sept. 12, 2025: Get updates on Aidan Laughery, Dylan Rosiek and others.

GAME DAY (Sept. 6, 2025): Cornerback Jaheim Clarke (hamstring), defensive back Ben Clawson and offensive lineman Ayden Knapik will miss Saturday's Week 2 matchup at Duke. Illinois also declared that freshman tight end Logan Farrell will miss the rest of the season due to an injury.

Sept. 1, 2025: Cornerback Jaheim Clarke (hamstring strain) has started running but wasn't cleared for practice Tuesday. Coach Bret Bielema said that if Clarke didn't practice by Thursday, he likely wouldn't play in Saturday's game at Duke.

Aug. 30, 2025: Coach Bret Bielema indicated after the Western Illinois win that Branden Hansen started in place of Brandon Henderson at right guard because Henderson was late to a meeting. Bielema didn't commit to a starter going forward, but Henderson played most of the game after Hansen took the first play. Henderson figures to get the call against Duke – assuming he's timely to all his appointments this week. ... Get the latest on Week 1 postgame injuries here.

Aug. 21, 2025: Starting left tackle JC Davis, working through a case of plantar fasciitis, had been in a walking boot for two weeks. Coach Bret Bielema said in a press conference, "He's out of the boot, moving around. He hasn't practiced. We're gonna kinda move him in into the game week." Davis is expected to participate fully in practice by Monday of next week, four days before the opener against Western Michigan. "He's looked good. We're just kind of being overly cautious. He's done parts of practice – he just hasn't done live." ... Receiver Malik Elzy, expected by many to have a breakout season and take over the No. 1 receiver role from Pat Bryant (now a Denver Bronco), missed time because of a hamstring pull, but Bielema said he had practiced with the team the previous three days. ... Running back Ca'Lil Valentine, whom coach Bret Bielema described as having been "a little concussed," had returned to the team by Thursday. Junior college transfer Ismail Kante has been moved from inside linebacker, where Bielema says the team has great depth, to outside linebacker. Kante got a shot on the edge when the Illini were shorthanded in practice. "He just looked really good," Bielema said. ... Freshmen John Forster (running back), JJ Hirdes (offensive lineman) and Tywan Cox (defensive back) all have injuries that are expected to sideline them for the 2025 regular season, Bielema said.

Aug. 12, 2025: Starting right tackle Melvin Priestly missed "a day or two," according to coach Bret Bielema, because of a mild ankle sprain. ... Center TJ McMillen and guard Brandon Hansen missed time due to concussions. McMillen was expected to rejoin practices by Monday (Aug. 17), with Hansen not far behind.

The voices of the lock room. The captains of 2025. pic.twitter.com/vcE3sWpRSP
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) August 15, 2025