CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — One of Illinois' all-time great running backs and 2023 Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Rashard Mendenhall, will serve as the Fighting Illini's honorary captain on Saturday against Northwestern. The game is scheduled to kick off at Memorial Stadium at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Mendenall rushed for 2,539 yards at Illinois and set the Illini single-season record with 1,681 rushing yards in 2007, while earning the 2007 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Silver Football awards. He was selected to the All-Big Ten First Team and All-America Third Team, after leading the Illini to the 2008 Rose Bowl Game.
Mendenhall was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played six seasons in the NFL. He won a ring in Super Bowl XLIII and ran for a career-best 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010, helping the Steelers to a Super Bowl XLV appearance.
Mendenhall became an award-winning writer for HBO's "Ballers" in his post-playing career.
Illinois finishes out the regular season on Saturday. The Illini are looking for their third straight victory in the Land of Lincoln Trophy series.
Mendenall rushed for 2,539 yards at Illinois and set the Illini single-season record with 1,681 rushing yards in 2007, while earning the 2007 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Silver Football awards. He was selected to the All-Big Ten First Team and All-America Third Team, after leading the Illini to the 2008 Rose Bowl Game.
Mendenhall was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played six seasons in the NFL. He won a ring in Super Bowl XLIII and ran for a career-best 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010, helping the Steelers to a Super Bowl XLV appearance.
Mendenhall became an award-winning writer for HBO's "Ballers" in his post-playing career.
Illinois finishes out the regular season on Saturday. The Illini are looking for their third straight victory in the Land of Lincoln Trophy series.
