2015 Football Roster
Jersey Number 17
Jihad Ward
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-6 / 295
- Position:
- DL
- Hometown:
- Philadelphia, Pa.
- High School:
- Globe Tech (NY)
Career Highlights
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2014 & '15)
2nd in FBS in fumble recoveries in 2014 (4)
Career stats (2 years): 104 tackles, 12.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 5 FR, 3 FF, 3 PBU
2015 Senior
- All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media
- Ted Hendricks Award Midseason Watch List (best defensive end)
- Started all 12 games on the defensive line, playing both defensive end and defensive tackle
- 53 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, two PBUs, two QB hurries one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
- Career-high 11 tackles, including nine solo, at Iowa
- 1.0 TFL, 0.5 sack at Purdue
- Sack for an 8-yard loss at Penn State
- Fumble recovery and nine tackles vs. Middle Tennessee
- Forced fumble vs. Wisconsin
- Seven tackles vs. Ohio State
2014 Junior
- Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honoree
- Started all 13 games at defensive end
- Totaled 51 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, five QB hurries, two forced fumbles and one PBU on the season
- Ranked second in FBS and led the Big Ten with four fumbles recovered
- Voted Illinois' Defensive Newcomer of the Year
- Turned a trifeca in win at Northwestern with a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery on the same play
- Had a career day against Penn State, recording six tackles, a career-high two TFLs, one sack and one QB hurry
- Had a fumble recovery that ended a potential scoring drive in the fourth quarter of win over Minnesota
- Started against Western Kentucky and combined with Dawuane Smoot on a fourth-quarter sack that forced a fumble and set up the UI touchdown that sealed the win
- Started in his Illini debut against Youngstown State and recorded five tackles
Junior College
- Four-star recruit by Scout and 247Sports
- Three-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN.com
- Ranked the No. 6 junior college player in the nation by 247Sports, No. 23 by Scout and No. 35 by ESPN.com
- Ranked the No. 2 junior college defensive tackle by 247Sports, No. 7 by Scout and No. 9 by ESPN.com
- Played in seven games in 2013, racking up 26 tackles, three TFLs and two sacks
- Had 55 tackles and eight sacks in 2012
High School
- Also played wide receiver in high school
- Played in Philadelphia Eagles Public vs. Non-Public City All-Star game at Lincoln Financial Field in spring 2012
- First-team All-City in 2011 and second-team All-City in 2010
Personal
- First name pronounced juh-HODD
- Born March 11, 1994
- Son of Kareema Ward
- Has two brothers and two sisters
- Says his favorite athlete is NFL star Julius Peppers
- Lists his high school coaches as the biggest influences on his athletic career
- Majoring in sport management
Career Highs
Tackles: 11 at Iowa, 10/10/15
Solos: 9 at Iowa, 10/10/15
TFLs: 2.0 vs. Penn State, 11/22/14
Sacks: 1.0, three times (last at Penn State, 10/31/15)
PBUs: 1, three times (last vs. Ohio State, 11/14/15)
QBH: 1, five times (last vs. Nebraska, 10/3/15)
FF: 1, twice (last at Northwestern, 11/29/14)
FR: 1, five times (last vs. Middle Tennessee, 9/26/15)
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
