CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois commencement ceremonies take place across campus this weekend, 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 will earn degrees in 2015-16.
Illini Football Graduation Facts
• 42 football players will earn degrees in 2015-16
• 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
2015-16 Illinois Football Graduates
December 2015 (7)
Name Major
Geronimo Allison Communication
Rob Bain Communication
Martize Barr Communication
Josh Ferguson Kinesiology
Eric Finney Human Development & Family Studies
Michael Martin Mechanical Engineering
Cameron Tucker Political Science
May 2016 (24)
Name Major
Taylor Barton Communication
B.J. Bello Community Health
Jesse Chadwell Communication
Ryan Frain Kinesiology
Justin Hardee Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Zach Hirth Kinesiology
Michael Hoomanawanui Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Kyle Hudson Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Ted Karras Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Jevaris Little Sociology
Corey Liuget Sociology
Nelson Lugo Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Wes Lunt Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Mason Monheim Community Health
T.J. Neal Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Chris O'Connor Agricultural Leadership & Education (2nd degree)
Leslie Poole Accountancy (Master's)
David Reisner Advertising
Joe Spencer Finance
Tyrin Stone-Davis Communication
Mike Svetina Finance
LaKeith Walls Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Sean White Civil Engineering
Taylor Zalewski Technology Management (Master's)
August 2016 (11)
Name Major
Raphael Barr Communication
V'Angelo Bentley Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Tim Clary Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Cedric Doxy Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Henry Enyenihi Communication
Joe Fotu Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Davontay Kwaaning Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Marchie Murdock Communication
Kenny Nelson Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Teko Powell Sociology
Jihad Ward Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Illini Football Graduation Facts
• 42 football players will earn degrees in 2015-16
• 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
2015-16 Illinois Football Graduates
December 2015 (7)
Name Major
Geronimo Allison Communication
Rob Bain Communication
Martize Barr Communication
Josh Ferguson Kinesiology
Eric Finney Human Development & Family Studies
Michael Martin Mechanical Engineering
Cameron Tucker Political Science
May 2016 (24)
Name Major
Taylor Barton Communication
B.J. Bello Community Health
Jesse Chadwell Communication
Ryan Frain Kinesiology
Justin Hardee Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Zach Hirth Kinesiology
Michael Hoomanawanui Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Kyle Hudson Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Ted Karras Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Jevaris Little Sociology
Corey Liuget Sociology
Nelson Lugo Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Wes Lunt Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Mason Monheim Community Health
T.J. Neal Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Chris O'Connor Agricultural Leadership & Education (2nd degree)
Leslie Poole Accountancy (Master's)
David Reisner Advertising
Joe Spencer Finance
Tyrin Stone-Davis Communication
Mike Svetina Finance
LaKeith Walls Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Sean White Civil Engineering
Taylor Zalewski Technology Management (Master's)
August 2016 (11)
Name Major
Raphael Barr Communication
V'Angelo Bentley Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Tim Clary Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Cedric Doxy Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Henry Enyenihi Communication
Joe Fotu Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
Davontay Kwaaning Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Marchie Murdock Communication
Kenny Nelson Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master's)
Teko Powell Sociology
Jihad Ward Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management
