← the board · drewhoover.com · 2024–2026

Illinois's best defenders since 2024

Torrie Cox Jr. leads with 76 tackles in 23 games at Illinois; Malachi Hood had 58.

Every defender with 5 or more games at Illinois since 2024, ranked by tackles; the lines are each player's tackles game by game, the top 8 drawn. A link opens the player's page, where he has one, or his row on the board.

tackles · by game
03876123D. Briggs Jr.J. Thompson Jr.I. KanteK. PattersonT. HeckelJ. BarnaM. HoodT. Cox Jr.
sacks · by game
024123D. Briggs Jr.J. Thompson Jr.I. KanteK. PattersonT. HeckelJ. BarnaM. HoodT. Cox Jr.
tackles for loss · by game
048123D. Briggs Jr.J. Thompson Jr.I. KanteK. PattersonT. HeckelJ. BarnaM. HoodT. Cox Jr.
80 defenders with 5+ games at Illinoistackles
#playerseasonsgamestacklessackstackles for lossinterceptions
1Torrie Cox Jr.2024–20252376024
2Malachi Hood2024–20252158350
3Joe Barna2024–20262254480
4Tanner Heckel2024–202620541.561
5Kaleb Patterson2024–20252047020
6Ismael Kante2025–20261145061
7James Thompson Jr.20251241240
8Dennis Briggs Jr.202412403.550
9Jojo Hayden2024–20251536140
10Pat Farrell2024–20261625240
11Angelo McCullom2024–20251321250
12Leon Lowery Jr.20251220230
13Curt Neal20251016010
14Tomiwa Durojaiye2025816250
15Will Holmes2026615130
16Daniel Brown2024–2026814120
17Grant Beerman2025–2026714010
18Jeremiah Warren2024–20251013000
19Eli Coenen20257121.520
20Darrell Prater20265120.520
21Ean Rhea2026611120
22Gentle Hunt2024–20256111.530
23Carter Janki2026610010
24Jakwon Morris2026510000
25Demetrius John202669000
26Tyson Rooks2024–202567001
27Ben Clawson2025–202655000
28Miles Scott2022–202536———7
29James Kreutz2023–202634———0
30Matthew Bailey2022–202634———5
31V'Angelo Bentley2013–201534———2
32Gabe Jacas2022–202532———0
33Alec Bryant2022–202529———0
34Mac Resetich2023–202628———2
35Xavier Scott2023–202628———6
36Dylan Rosiek2022–202527———1
37Juice Clarke2023–202624———0
38Darius Mosely2013–201621———2
39Seth Coleman2021–202421———0
40Kenenna Odeluga2023–202520———0
41Nate Hobbs2017–202017———3
42TeRah Edwards2022–202417———0
43Ryan Meed2023–202415———0
44Michael Marchese2017–202214———2
45Alex Bray2023–202413———0
46Chris James2006–201713———0
47Jer'Zhan Newton2021–202313———0
48Justice Williams2017–201913———0
49Quan Martin2018–202213———7
50Tyler Strain2022–202513———3
51Ezekiel Holmes2023–202412———0
52Saboor Karriem2023–202511———0
53Sydney Brown2018–202211———10
54Devon Witherspoon2020–202210———5
55Keith Randolph2021–202310———2
56Tarique Barnes2020–202310———2
57CJ Bufkin2023–20249———0
58Isaiah Gay2017–20219———0
59Kerby Joseph2018–20219———5
60Tahveon Nicholson2021–20239———1
61Tony Adams2017–20219———6
62Christian Bobak2017–20218———0
63Jake Hansen2018–20218———3
64Kendall Smith2017–20228———5
65Luke Zardzin2023–20258———0
66Stanley Green2016–20198———3
67Austin Roberts2016–20187———0
68Caleb Day2015–20167———1
69Del'Shawn Phillips2017–20186———4
70Nicario Harper20236———1
71Taylor Barton2013–20166———7
72Zachary Tobe20236———0
73Bennett Williams20175———3
74Clayton Bush20235———0
75Denzel Daxon20235———0
76Grayson Griffin2023–20255———0
77Jamal Milan2016–20175———0
78Khalan Tolson2019–20215———0
79Mason Monheim2012–20155———5
80Owen Carney2017–20215———0

Also at Illinois: quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, kickers, punters. Every school and conference: schools, conferences. The games are ESPN's box scores since 2004 (the Method says where they fall short); a position is the roster's, else read off the box score, so a tight end from before 2014 may be listed with the wide receivers.