2015-16 Football Grads | Illinois Commencement | #ILLINOIS2016

University of Illinois commencement ceremonies took place across campus May 13-15, including the main ceremony at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Included in the Illinois Class of 2016 are 119 Fighting Illini student-athletes and 42 current and former football players who earned degrees in 2015-16.

Illini Football Graduation Facts

• 42 football players will earn degrees in 2015-16 | The List

• 10 of the 42 are on the current 2016 roster, meaning they'll already have degrees when they play in 2016

• 9 of the 42 earned a master's degree or second bachelor's degree

• 3 of the 42 played pro ball and came back to finish their degrees
        » Michael Hoomanawanui (Illinois 2006-09) – current New Orleans Saint
        » Kyle Hudson (Illinois 2005-08) – Illini dual-sport star and former Baltimore Oriole
        » Corey Liuget (Illinois 2008-10) – current San Diego Charger

• All 6 new Illini in the NFL will have at least one degree
        » Geronimo Allison (Packers)
        » V'Angelo Bentley (Patriots)
        » Josh Ferguson (Colts)
        » Clayton Fejedelem (Bengals)
        » Ted Karras (Patriots)
        » Jihad Ward (Raiders)

• In the last two years, 80 football players have earned degrees
        » 42 in 2015-16
        » 38 in 2014-15

• Football degrees by year (since 2012)
        » 2012 – 15
        » 2013 – 16
        » 2014 – 21
        » 2015 – 38
        » 2016 – 42

Congrats to all 42 #Illini football graduates! ?????? #STUDENTathletes #ILLINOIS2016 pic.twitter.com/eu462p0qfw

— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) May 14, 2016

Congratulations to the 42 #ILLINI football players graduating from the best University in the Country! pic.twitter.com/gvcjh8IhHt

— Lovie Smith (@LovieSmith) May 13, 2016

Proud of #Illini @NFL vets @CoreyLiuget & Michael Hoomanawanui. ????

Now @Illinois_Alma grads! ?? @Chargers @Saints pic.twitter.com/T8QeJVfKS4

— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) May 15, 2016

It was not always easy but I never stopped. Always have your eyes on the prize. Set goals and achieve them. If you want something bad enough nothing nor no one will stop you. Thank you to my family, teachers, friends ect...appreciate you all. Especially @ethiofay we did this together. I want my kids to always remember education is important. I did it for y'all. Cj, Eden, Eva I love y'all man.

A photo posted by Corey Liuget (@coreyliuget94) on May 15, 2016 at 4:14pm PDT

Hail Alma Mater, Ever So True #Graduated #ILL #WeWillWin pic.twitter.com/jh5HBmn5dv

— Joseph Spencer (@IlliniJoe71) May 14, 2016

Congrats to all the graduates moving on with their lives. As for me, I have some unfinished business to attend to... #WeWillWin #Illini

— Michael Martin (@MPMartin_56) May 16, 2016

The class I came in with and the class I'm leaving with. Truly blessed class of 2012 now class of 2016 pic.twitter.com/waPpUwqFju

— Justin Hardee (@jhardee_19) May 14, 2016

Football. 05/15/16 pic.twitter.com/uvo6PQgeTw

— ? (@QiD_QUE) May 15, 2016

Time flies like crazy. Been a fun ride Illinois

— Taylor White (@illini35) May 13, 2016

This sport has been a blessing in my life in incredible ways...#GraduationTime pic.twitter.com/b1qwcsYW5a

— henry enyenihi (@henlo_2) May 15, 2016

Alumni status. 1 degree down, next one coming up shortly. U of I has been great to me, more blessings coming at Isu. pic.twitter.com/mpTFBwcAFr

— BJ Bello (@bj_bello) May 15, 2016

Congrats grads @813MrFreakShow, @KingMarch2, @SupRaff,@jhardee_19, @T2_Nice, @lpoole31 & Martez Barr. #UNTOUCHABLES pic.twitter.com/rcZwxPKvwd

— Mike Bellamy (@CoachBellamy) May 14, 2016