NFL Draft Recap: Smoot Selected in Third Round | Illini Draft History
UPDATE (May 1): Two more Illini are invited to rookie mini-camp tryouts – LS Michael Martin (Patriots) and OL Joe Spencer (Jaguars) – brining the totals to five UDFA signings and three mini-camp tryouts.
Six former Illinois football players, in addition to third-round draft pick Dawuane Smoot, will have a shot to make their NFL dreams a reality in 2017. Five former Fighting Illini signed undrafted free agent (UDFA) contracts following the completion of the 2017 NFL Draft on Saturday – WR Justin Hardee (Houston Texans), QB Wes Lunt (Minnesota Vikings), LB Hardy Nickerson (Cincinnati Bengals), DE/OLB Carroll Phillips (Jacksonville Jaguars) and DE/OLB Gimel President (Texans), while DT Rob Bain (Jets) received a tryout invite to the Jets' rookie-mini camp. Rookie mini-camps begin early May.
WR Justin Hardee (Texans) » A native of Cleveland, Ohio, the 6-1, 200-pound speedster had 25 catches for 314 yards in 2016. For his career, he had 72 receptions for 841 yards and one touchdown. Hardee missed the entire 2015 season with a knee injury before returning in 2016 as a team leader. Hardee will leave Illinois with three degrees, earning a bachelor's degree in communication in December 2014 and a master's degree in the recreation, sport and tourism in May 2016. He's currently on pace to earn a second master's degree in education policy, organization and leadership in 2017.
QB Wes Lunt (Vikings) » The 6-5, 225-pound signal-caller from Rochester, Illinois, ended his three-year Illinois career with 36 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions, ranking seventh in career passing yards (5,900), seventh in career completions (550) and eighth in career TD passes (36) in Illinois history. In 2016, he played in eight games and threw for 1,376 yards, eight TDs and three INTs, including a 377-yard, two TD performance at Northwestern. In 2015, He threw for 2,761 yards and 14 TDs, leading the Big Ten in completions per game (22.5). In 2015, he led Illinois to three fourth-quarter comeback wins and threw for a career-high 456 yards against WKU. Lunt earned bachelor's degree in recreation, sport and tourism – sport management in May 2016 and currently is pursuing a master's degree in RST. He played in the 2017 East-West Shrine game.
LB Hardy Nickerson (Bengals) » The 6-0, 232-pound linebacker led Illinois in tackles in 2017 with 107 to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. A 2017 team captain, he ranked fourth in the Big Ten in tackles per game (8.9), while adding 5.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and two interceptions. The graduate transfer from Cal, whose father is the Illinois defensive coordinator and former All-Pro linebacker of the same name, finished his career with 353 career tackles, ranking sixth among active players and second among active power-five tacklers. He played in the 2017 East-West Shrine game and earned bachelor's degree in legal studies from UC Berkeley in May 2016.
DE/OLB Carroll Phillips (Jaguars) » Phillips, measuring 6-3, 242 pounds, had a monster senior season, earning first team All-Big Ten honors at defensive end, the first Illini to do so since 2011, after racking up 56 tackles, 20.0 TFLs, 9.0 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. He ranked sixth in FBS in TFLs per game (1.7), ranked second in the nation in solo TFLs (19), and his 20.0 total TFLs tied for the fifth-most in a season in Illinois history. He clinched the Nov. 5 Illini win over Michigan State with a sack on the final play of the game. In his Illinois career, Phillips had 88 tackles, 25.5 TFLs and 12.0 sacks. He played in the 2017 Senior Bowl.
DE/OLB Gimel President (Texans) » The versatile 6-3, 253-pound lineman played both end and tackle for the Illini, but some teams project him as an OLB/edge rusher at the next level. A graduate transfer from Auburn, President racked up 40 tackles, 12.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in his lone season at Illinois. At Auburn, he played in 25 games over three seasons, making 45 tackles, 7.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks for the Tigers. He earned bachelor's degree in fitness, conditioning and performance at Auburn. First name is pronounced juh-MEAL.
DT Rob Bain (Jets) » At 6-3, 296 pounds, Bain was force on the defensive line and on special teams at Illinois. The Bolingbrook, Ill., native blocked four kicks in his career and made 103 tackles, 13.5 TFLs and 4.0 sacks during his time in orange and blue. He had his most productive year in 2015, making 36 tackles, 6.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks, while blocking three kicks on the season. He's a two-time Academic All-District and four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Bain earned a bachelor's degree in communication in Dec. 2015 and currently is pursuing master's degree in education policy, organization and leadership.
The six undrafted Illinois players – along with Smoot, who was selected by Jacksonville in the third round of the NFL Draft Friday night – will look to join a long list of former Fighting Illini in the NFL. In 2016, a total of 17 former Illini were on NFL rosters, including five rookies (Geronimo Allison, Clayton Fejedelem, Josh Ferguson, Ted Karras and Jihad Ward).
Illinois has a habit of producing undrafted NFL contributors, like recent NFL veterans Steve Weatherford (NFL 10 seasons) and Pierre Thomas (9 seasons), and current NFL Players Jeff Cumberland (7 seasons, currently with the Chargers), Justin Staples (3 seasons, currently with the Titans), Matt LaCosse (2 seasons, currently with the Giants), Geronimo Allison (1 season, currently with the Packers) and Josh Ferguson (1 season, currently with the Colts).
