Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirms Thursday his leading receiver Pat Bryant has played his final college football game.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 5, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant has played his final college football game.

The fourth-year receiver who turns 22 years old on Tuesday has elected to opt out of the bowl that Illinois (9-3, 6-3 in Big Ten Conference) will be selected to play in later this month.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirmed the news during his signing day media conference on Thursday afternoon inside the Smith Family Football Complex.

Bryant sent out a social media message on Monday officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft after being officially invited to play in the upcoming Senior Bowl this spring. Bryant was honored earlier this week as a second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection after the four-year starter at wide receiver ranked second in the Big Ten in receiving yards (984) and tied for first in receiving touchdowns with 10. Bryant led the nation with three game-winning touchdown catches in the final minute/overtime this season, all coming from All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honoree Luke Altmyer. With Isaiah Williams' first-team pick last year, Illinois was able to boast having back-to-back years with a second-teamer or better wide receiver for the first time since Brandon Lloyd pulled off the trick by himself in 2001-02.

Bryant has had at least one reception in 24 straight games, dating back to 2023 and his 19 career receiving touchdowns are fourth-most all-time in program history. On Saturday, the game-winning touchdown catch at Rutgers allowed Bryant to surpass 2,000 receiving yards in his career and his 197 receiving yards in that 38-31 victory were the second-most by a Big Ten player this season and the most by a wide receiver (Penn State tight end Tyler Warren had 227 receiving yards in a win at Southern California).