The Illini are producing NFL players at their highest rate ever
· Yahoo Sports
When Illinois head coach Bret Bielema took the stage at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago this week, he discussed all "the fours." In the last two years, Illinois is 4th in the Big Ten, behind only Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon in the following categories: winning percentage, home wins, wins over a ranked opponent and wins against teams from the power four conferences.
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After his time on dais, Bielema met with a media scrum at the back to the ballroom, and there he informed reporters that since he took the job in 2021, Illinois is fourth in the Big Ten in top 100 overall NFL Draft picks.
Fourth place may not sound so impressive at first, but consider this- the league is 18 teams deep now. Also, the Illini rank higher in all these major categories than historical/traditional blue bloods Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska. They're also ahead of consistently solid Iowa and (until very recently) Wisconsin.
Illinois was a factory for producing NFL players during the Ron Zook era (2005-2011), but then fell off for a bit. Bielema has now brought the program back to this elevated standard.
In April, Bielema spoke about how experiencing the 2023 NFL Draft first hand, with now NFL All-Pro and Seattle Seahawks star CB Devon Witherspoon. Being with the fifth overall pick, throughout the whole process, totally changed Bielema's perception of the draft.
"That moment, with Spoon changed the direction of my whole thought," Bielema said to Ratings.org. "I saw his life change in front of my eyes.
“I knew it happened, but to see it happen, to hug his mom and his family, I can say honestly right now, other than winning a football game, this is probably one of my more fulfilling moments as a head coach.
“To witness this, with these guys, because you realize that journey they dreamed about when they were kids is now becoming a reality, and it’s pretty cool.”
All 32 NFL training camps opened this past week, and Illinois is better represented than they ever have been, with about three dozen former players across the league.
"If you look at top 100 picks in the NFL draft, we're fourth in the conference since I've been here, right?" Bielema said.
"And that to me is an amazing number, right? Because you just you look traditionally at our conference and some of the programs, what they've been able to do and to have Illinois in that conversation is a really big step in that right direction to have NFL players."
It's not just draft picks who come out of Illinois and make it to the league, but also undrafted free agents.
New York Jets wide receiver Isaiah Williams, New England Patriots quarterback Tommy DeVito, Tampa Bay Buccaneers placekicker Chase McLaughlin, Tennessee Titans safety Tony Adams, Denver Broncos guard Alex "Palcho" Palczewski and Houston Texans linebacker Jake Hansen are six such examples of former Illini who have established themselves in the NFL despite going undrafted.
These six players aren't just guys in the 53 man roster; they are starters and/or major contributors.
"I would say we have actually kind of built a little reputation off of undrafted guys making it, right?" Bielema continued.
"And so I'm excited for the guys that got drafted, but it's kind of fun for me to watch Luke Altmyer (now with the Detroit Lions). I mean, it was a down day when he didn't get drafted, but I kept saying, man, it's not where you're at, it's where you end up going and what you do while you're there.
"And I think he's doing great there."
Bielema then referenced Altmyer's top target last season, the Illini wide receiver who signed a UDFA deal with Tennessee.
"Hank Beatty, I grabbed dinner with Hank and Luke, and Hank's very excited about where he is with those guys," Bielema said.
"It was great to see Gabe (Jacas, the last second round pick to sign his rookie contract) sign the other day and finally get his juices going out there in New England.
"So, super excited for all those guys and what their next step is."
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: The Illini are producing NFL players at their highest rate ever