Football
Penn transfer Carter Janki ready to take the “big-stage” with the Illini
Janki will spend his final season of eligibility in the Orange and Blue.
Illinois Football added an intriguing and experienced piece to its defensive front with the addition of Penn transfer Carter Janki. A former underrated recruit, Janki developed into one of the Ivy League’s most consistent defensive linemen, earning two-time All-Ivy League honors, while racking up 78 tackles (39 solo) and 7 sacks in 2024 and 2025.
Janki is taking a significant step forward by trading the Ivy League for the weekly grind of the Big Ten.
At Illinois, he enters a defensive line room undergoing a massive transition. Starters Tomiwa Durojaiye and Curt Neal have entered the portal, along with James Thompson Jr. and Gentle Hunt, who are looking ahead to potential professional careers. Key rotational pieces like Angelo McCollum, Eli Coenen, and Jeremiah Warren — who all contributed in 2025 — also entered the portal. Nevertheless, the staff remains active on the transfer portal trail, searching for quality veteran pieces to reinforce coach Terrance Jamison’s defensive front. Janki represents a strong first step.
That said, the seasoned veteran suggests he could be a meaningful contributor both on the field as a chaos creator and as a leader in the locker room that will host many new faces in 2026.
After sitting down with Janki, it’s clear his path hasn’t been defined by shortcuts or overnight success. Instead, it’s been a steady climb rooted in discipline, leadership, and a belief in controlling the next step. Thankfully, Carter was kind enough to take some time to share a little bit of that journey from Redding, Connecticut, to Champaign.
Janki’s Rise From Underrated Recruit to All-Ivy League Standout
Janki’s development didn’t happen overnight. Instead, it developed through consistent progress and a focus on daily improvement. Seemingly, it’s the overall theme of his journey.
“Everything for me has been incremental. At first, the goal was just to play. Then it was to start. Then to be All-Ivy. And then, to transfer to a bigger school. I never thought I’d be where I am now five years ago. Every day, I just focused on the current step, knowing that was all I could control. I had a lot of support and good people around me, which made it easier to keep going. I’ve always had very few excuses and a mindset centered on improving every day.”
The senior believes that his steady, incremental approach helped him maximize his time at Penn and set the foundation for his next challenge.
Why The Transfer Portal? Why Was Illinois the Place to be?
For Janki, a great impression of Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini staff was what set Illinois apart from other programs that were in pursuit.
“I knew I wanted a real opportunity to play and didn’t want to overshoot and end up riding the bench for a year. But I also didn’t want to play it too safe and never find out how good I actually was. I wanted to go somewhere that would demand everything from me and show whether I was truly a high‑level player.
When it came to choosing Illinois, the staff was the biggest factor. I genuinely believe they’ve built a winning atmosphere, and they’re people whose respect I want to earn. With a team that has only gotten better over the last four years, I could see myself stepping into a system that works.”
That belief in Illinois’ trajectory under coach Bielema is ultimately what sealed his decision.
How the Ivy League Prepared Janki for the Big Ten
While the Ivy League may not mirror the Power-4 conferences in hype or overall talent, Janki believes the demands placed on him at Penn under coach Rick Santos fostered habits that translate directly to his new home in the Big Ten. Of course, all while balancing the stress of Ivy League academics…
“Being in the Ivy League, most players have a school or job‑first mentality, and whatever they have left goes to football. For four years, most of the extra work I did was on my own or pulling teammates along with me. That environment helped me become a leader, do extra work when no one else would, manage a high academic load while taking extra classes to graduate early, and still give everything I had to improve at the game I love.
Now, being in a place where football is the top priority for most players and the resources are endless, I’m excited to see how much I can grow.”
Projected Role For Carter Janki on Illinois’ Defensive Line in 2026
Schematically, Janki brings versatility and proven veteran experience to a room that desperately needs it. Certainly, Carter knows his role won’t be handed to him, but he’s confident in what he can provide as a leader in 2026.
“I hope to play mostly 3–5 tech, with occasional reps at 0 or on the edge, depending on the scheme. I bring good size and strong athletic ability, which makes me versatile and able to move around.
Coming in as an older guy, I know I’ll need to step up in a new program, lead, and adapt to the culture while adding what I can to make it even better.
At Penn, our entire focus was on run-stopping. So, I bring a strong run‑stop mentality, the ability to anchor against double teams, and good hands — along with the ability to rush the passer, which is the major focus this offseason.”
The Big Stage
For Janki, the opportunity itself is a dream. However, his focus remains solely on preparing to maximize his potential to compete on the big stage.
“This is an unbelievable opportunity, one that tens of thousands of players in my position dream about. Having this chance means the world to me. I know I have to prove myself, and I’m excited for the work ahead to show I can play at this level.
Of course, I want to start and have a big season with 10+ TFLs and put myself in position for the league, but that’s not my focus right now. I have an eight‑week winter program in front of me to build chemistry, buy into the culture, get my body and mind into Big Ten shape, and put myself in a position to compete for the starting role in spring ball.
Getting to play in that stadium, knowing my friends and family will be there supporting me no matter what, is a huge motivator. I don’t want to let them down or myself, because I know what I’m capable of and what I should achieve.”
The Influences That Shaped Janki’s Journey to Champaign
Behind Janki’s rise from underrated recruit to potential Big Ten starter is a support system at home that never wavered.
“My parents haven’t missed a single sporting event of mine in the last six years. Whether it was when I wasn’t touching the field my freshman year at Penn, random high‑school volleyball games hours away, or last season when I played every snap, they were always there. They’ve been a rock for me and have shown me nothing but support.
They taught me what it takes to be successful without losing integrity or who you are. I’m extremely grateful for how they raised me and for their support every single day.”
As Janki prepares for his final season of college football, that foundation remains at the center of everything he works for. Now, it carries him into the next chapter in Champaign, as he looks to earn a shot at the NFL.
