Curry’s departure puts Illinois at 16 scholarship defensive backs for the 2023 season including four transfers and four true freshman.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

July 26, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Kionte Curry is no longer a member of the University of Illinois football team.

The defensive back from Mims, Florida, who was expected to enter his third season with the Illini, was not included in the updated Illinois roster less than 24 hours before Illini head coach Bret Bielema’s appearance at Big Ten Football Media Days in Indianapolis.

According to Pro Football Focus data, Curry participated in a total of 23 defensive snaps in three games last season where he earned two tackles at the free safety spot. Curry finished the spring practice season but wasn’t taking majority of his reps with either the first team or second team units in the final scrimmage inside Memorial Stadium on April 22.

Illinois team officials confirmed the news Tuesday evening that Curry was no longer a member of the program. IlliniGuys.com has the Illini back at an unofficial total of 85 scholarship players heading into the upcoming 2023 season but Bielema has said to local media throughout the offseason that he still has open scholarships to potentially add any mid-year transfers if he chooses to do so.

With Curry’s departure as one of the first commitments of the Illini program after Bielema took the head coaching position in Dec. 2020, Illinois is at 16 scholarship defensive backs. Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry and the Illini coaching staff continue to oversee a positional room that continues to reshape itself after four starters leave for the National Football League and an offseason that includes four true freshmen and four transfers.