Illinois Football: Top 10 Most Impactful Players of the Bret Bielema Era

When Bret Bielema arrived in Champaign ahead of the 2021 season, Illinois Football was on a long-haul search for stability. Now, just five years since Bielema took over a struggling program, the Illini have produced several NFL Draft picks, attended 3 bowl games, and established themselves as one of the more respected programs in the Big Ten.

Of course, a major reason for that rise has been the upgraded talent level Bielema has injected into Illinois Football since taking over in 2021.

These rankings aren’t necessarily just of the ten best players of the Bielema era. Rather, it’s a look at the players who were the most impactful in transforming Illinois Football from a struggling program into a consistent winner. Some were stars from the moment they arrived. Others developed into NFL players through major adversity. In fact, a few even helped bridge the gap between the Lovie Smith era and the strong foundation that Bielema has built.

Honestly, there are plenty of deserving names that could have made this list. It was a difficult list to build in total transparency. That speaks to how much talent has come through Champaign since he arrived in 2021…. However, when looking at the players who left the biggest mark on Illinois’ rise under Bielema, these are the 10 names that stand out most. 

Watch: Ranking the Top 10 Most Impactful Players of the Bret Bielema Era

After diving into the list, be sure to check out the Armchair Illini Podcast on YouTube! Armchair Illini’s Kirkland Chappell and host Austin Burklund break down this entire top ten and discuss some of the players who helped shape the Bielema era. If you enjoy Illinois Football content, make sure to subscribe to the channel as we gear up for what should be another exciting Illinois Football season in 2026.

No. 10: Isaiah Williams

Isaiah Williams arrived at Illinois as a formerly highly touted five-star quarterback from St. Louis, but willingly shifted from being the offense’s signal-caller to wide receiver. Williams did whatever it took to help Illinois Football win at the time. His versatility made him one of the most dynamic playmakers in the Big Ten. Off the field, his selfless approach embodied everything Bielema wanted the program to become. His speed and versatility as a slot receiver became a major weapon for Tommy DeVito, who maximized his final season in Champaign during his grad transfer year. The two helped power Illinois Football to its first bowl appearance of the Bret Bielema era, marking a key early turning point for the program’s momentum in Champaign.

His journey continued in the NFL with the New York Jets. Interestingly, Williams was cut by the team earlier in the 2025 season. He battled his way back onto the roster as a scout team player and eventually made an impact as a versatile return man and offensive weapon. Surprisingly, Isaiah’s comeback season ended with him earning Jets Team MVP honors in 2025.

No. 9: Tommy DeVito

Sometimes one season can change everything. After transferring in from a struggling Syracuse program, Tommy DeVito revitalized in Champaign. Tommy impressively threw for 2,650 yards and 15 touchdowns while leading Illinois Football to a breakthrough 8-5 season in 2022. More importantly, he helped establish the offensive foundation that Illinois would continue building upon in the years that followed.

Of course, his story didn’t stop in Champaign. DeVito’s personality and underdog rise quickly captured NFL attention. What began as a backup opportunity turned into a national storyline, with his charisma and “Cutlets” persona making him one of the league’s most recognizable figures almost overnight. DeVito has landed endorsements, commercials, and constant media attention. Now, DeVito has signed into a backup role with the New England Patriots.  DeVito has continued to capitalize on every step of his unlikely football journey.

No. 8: Gabe Jacas

From the moment he arrived in Champaign, Gabe Jacas showed that he was going to be a headache for Big Ten offenses. Jacas quickly evolved into a Freshman All-American under former DC Ryan Walters. Following Johnny Newton’s departure, he embraced the role of Illinois’ primary pass-rushing threat. He finished his Illinois Football career second in program history with 17 total sacks, trailing only Illini legend Simeon Rice. His consistency, production, and ability to take over games made him one of the defining defensive players of the Bielema era.

 Jacas was recently drafted by the New England Patriots, where he now joins a growing Illinois Football pipeline in Foxborough. He’ll team up with former Illini like Tommy DeVito and Tanner Arkin as they look to help lead Mike Vrabel’s second-year push toward a championship run in the 2026–27 season.

No. 7: Kerby Joseph

Kerby Joseph’s rise is one of the best development stories of the Bielema era. After showing flashes early in his career, he broke out in his final season in Champaign and emerged as one of the nation’s premier ball-hawking safeties. His instincts, range, and ability to consistently find the football turned him into a true game-changer for Illinois Football, flipping momentum in critical moments and anchoring the back end of a 2022 Illinois Football defense loaded with NFL talent, including Quan Martin, Sydney Brown, and Devon Witherspoon.

His momentum at Illinois carried over somewhat seamlessly to the NFL, where, as a third-round pick in the 2022 Draft, Kerby quickly developed into a leading defensive playmaker for Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions. By 2024, he had erupted into one of the league’s premier ballhawks, earning First-Team AP All-Pro honors after leading the NFL with 9 interceptions. That breakout season cemented him as one of the most dangerous playmakers in football, and he has since continued to anchor a rising Detroit defense.

A knee injury limited him to just 6 games in 2025. However, in that short stretch he snagged 3 INT’s, racking up 18 solo tackles, and 4 PBU’s. Undoubtedly, there’s a special career ahead of Kerby, as long as he can stay on course.

No. 6: Chase Brown

Like his brother Sydney, Chase Brown became one of the faces of Illinois Football. His combination of vision, toughness, and explosiveness made him one of the most productive running backs in the country. Alongside Tommy DeVito, Brown helped lead Illinois Football to that ever-important breakthrough 8-5 season in 2022 that shifted the trajectory of the program. He finished his career in Champaign with more than 3,200 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Undoubtedly, Brown is one of the most accomplished backs Illinois has produced in the modern era.

Since being selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Chase has steadily worked his way from a rotational rookie role into a central piece of Zac Taylor’s offense alongside quarterback Joe Burrow. He has quickly established himself as the Bengals’ clear lead back. Chase has shown plenty of versatility as well. He is a force running the ball and catching balls in the backfield.

Through his first 3 seasons in the NFL (2023-2025), Brown has totaled an impressive 2,188 rushing yards, 953 receiving yards, and 23 total touchdowns, emerging as a reliable dual-threat weapon in Cincinnati with his abilities as a ball carrier and in the passing game. His blend of burst, balance, and versatility has made him a true every-down contributor and one of the more productive young backs from his draft class.

No. 5: Sydney Brown

Sydney Brown was the emotional heartbeat of a dominant 2022 defense for Bielema and the Illini. A relentless competitor and vocal leader, he brought an edge and intensity that helped define a unit loaded with NFL talent and became the tone-setter for one of the best defenses in school history during a pivotal transitional year in Illinois’ breakout. Over his five-season career in Champaign, Sydney finished with 319 total tackles, 10 interceptions, 26 PBU’s, 10 TFL’s, and 4 forced fumbles, cementing himself as one of the most productive and consistent defensive backs in program history.

Since being selected in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, Brown has carved out a role as a high-energy contributor in the secondary and on special teams. Through his first three NFL seasons, he’s started in 9 games for Philly, but has appeared in 42. In those appearances, Brown has recorded 86 total tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defensed, and 2 forced fumbles.

One of Sydney’s early defining NFL moments came in 2023, when he returned a 99-yard pick-six against the Arizona Cardinals, tying for the fourth-longest touchdown in Philadelphia Eagles history. Notably, he already appeared in a Super Bowl with the Eagles back in 2025, contributing to their championship run in Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs.

No. 4: Pat Bryant

Pat Bryant arrived in Champaign as an underrated three-star prospect from talent-rich Florida and left as one of the most productive receivers in Illinois Football history. Beyond his high-level production, Bryant served as an important bridge between the Tommy DeVito and Luke Altmyer eras, providing key consistency, leadership, and big-play ability during Illinois Football’s offensive evolution under Barry Lunney Jr. He developed into Luke Altmyer’s most trusted target, eventually finishing his career in Champaign with over 2,000 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns.

Selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round (74th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft, Pat Bryant was the highest-drafted Illinois Football wide receiver since A.J. Jenkins in 2012. He stepped into a rotational role right away in 2025, playing in 15 games as a rookie. Bryant hauled in 31 catches for 378 yards and a touchdown. As the season went on, he steadily earned more trust from quarterback Bo Nix, working into a more consistent part of the passing game and flashing his ability to win in contested catches and move the chains. 

Unfortunately, his rookie season also included a scary late-year collision in Week 16 that resulted in a concussion. Thankfully, Bryant recovered fully with no structural damage and returned to finish out the season. Now heading into Year 2 in Denver, Bryant enters 2026 healthy and firmly in the mix for a larger role in the Broncos’ receiver rotation.

No. 3: Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton

Few players have been as disruptive in an Illinois Football uniform as Jer’Zhan Newton. Newton consistently demanded double teams and still found ways to wreck game plans from the interior. Plus, his presence helped elevate others around him like Gabe Jacas and Keith Randolph Jr. Over his Illinois career, he developed from a three-star recruit out of Clearwater, Florida, into one of the most dominant defensive linemen in program history. Jacas finished with 18.0 sacks, tying Moe Gardner for the most by a defensive tackle in school history. During his senior season in 2023, he earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and led the nation with four blocked kicks. Newton is one of the most complete defensive linemen Illinois has ever produced.

Newton was selected 36th overall by the Washington Commanders in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He quickly flashed the same disruptiveness that defined his Illinois Football career. Over his first two seasons in Washington, Newton has recorded 82 total tackles and 7 sacks. His best game includes a Christmas Day performance against Dallas. In that game, Newton posted 3 sacks and a career-high 9 tackles.

No. 2: Devon Witherspoon

Devon Witherspoon’s path is one of the clearest examples of Illinois Football development under Bret Bielema. Although he didn’t stay under the radar for long, he was a grossly overlooked addition who didn’t arrive in Champaign with much national attention. Over his career with the Illini (2019–2022), Spoon’ totaled 159 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 5 interceptions, and 25 PBU’s. His rise peaked in 2022 with a consensus First-Team All-American season, helping lead one of the best Illinois Football defenses and secondaries in modern program history. 

Before Witherspoon, the last Illinois players selected in the top five of the NFL Draft were Kevin Hardy (No. 2 overall) and Simeon Rice (No. 3 overall), putting him in rare company in Illinois record books. From a last-minute addition to the roster to a top-five pick and consensus All-American, his rise remains one of the most impressive development stories in recent Illinois Football history.

Selected fifth overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft, Witherspoon wasted no time becoming a star in the NFL. Since arriving in Seattle, he has emerged as one of the league’s premier young defensive backs. In fact, Witherspoon has made the Pro Bowl in all three of his seasons. He also earned Second-Team All-Pro honors this past season. He finished as Pro Football Focus’s top-graded corner, en route to helping lead the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl Victory.

No. 1: Luke Altmyer

The most impactful player of the Bielema era is Luke Altmyer. The Starkville, Mississippi native arrived in Champaign in 2022 as a transfer from Ole Miss and eventually became the stable long-term answer Illinois had been searching for at quarterback following Tommy DeVito. Altmyer battled through major adversity by leaning on his faith, resilience, and trust in Bret Bielema to mold himself into the Luke Altmyer we all came to know.

Over three seasons, Altmyer threw for 7,607 yards and 57 touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 741 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. However, his defining trait was his composure. Luke led Illinois to seven game-winning drives in the final minute or overtime, the most by any quarterback in college football during his tenure. That poise carried into his senior year in 2025, when he threw for 3,007 yards and 22 touchdowns. Altmyer helped lead Illinois to a 9–4 record and earned Music City Bowl MVP honors in a win over Tennessee. 

Altmyer quickly signed with the Detroit Lions as a UDFA in 2026. He will begin the next chapter of his career in a competitive quarterback room with Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater. 

Luke Altmyer had not only produced at a high level but had also become the face of stability, belief in the program, and sustained success in one of the most successful modern stretches of Illinois Football.

Honorable Mentions

Alex Palczewski: Originally an unrated late addition to Illinois’ 2017 class from Mount Prospect, Illinois, Alex Palczewski was the type of evaluation prospect that’s become a staple of Bret Bielema’s roster-building. Despite being overlooked as a recruit, Palczewski broke into the lineup early and developed into one of coach Bart Miller’s most reliable offensive linemen. He ultimately set a conference record with 65 career starts across six seasons in Champaign. Afterward, Palczewski signed with the Denver Broncos as a UDFA in 2023. His continued development earned him a lucrative two-year contract extension worth up to $11 million in 2026.

Quan Martin: Martin was a cornerstone of Illinois Football’s dominant 2022 secondary. He often gets overshadowed by names like Witherspoon, Brown, and Joseph. In reality, he was one of the most complete defensive backs in school history. Over five seasons in Champaign, Quan recorded 222 tackles, 7 interceptions, and 30 PBU’s. Martin also earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2022. Quan was later selected 47th overall in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. Martin has carved out a steady role in Dan Quinn’s secondary.

David Olano: The Bielema era has featured no shortage of clutch kicking moments. Olano delivered several of the biggest. From walk-off wins over USC and Tennessee to high-pressure situations. Olanob became one of Illinois Football’s most reliable specialists during his three seasons at Illinois. Though he transferred for his final year, his impact during a pivotal growth stretch for Illinois was crucial.

Final Thoughts

What stands out most about this group isn’t necessarily recruiting rankings or NFL success. It’s how many different paths these players took to becoming Illinois Football legends. Some arrived as highly touted prospects, while others were overlooked players who blossomed in Champaign. 

If the current trajectory continues, many of the greatest players of modern Illinois Football will have played under Bret Bielema. The names on this list undoubtedly helped lay the foundation. Itwas this group that helped change the trajectory of Illinois Football and sparked the program’s transformation under coach Bret Bielema.

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