Illinois Football Presents Team Awards

Illinois Sports Information

December 10, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois football team handed out its 2022 team awards at the annual Illinois Football Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening at the I Hotel. Chase Brown (offense), Devon Witherspoon (defense), and Caleb Griffin (special teams) took home MVP awards. Former Illini Brit Miller emceed the event, which also featured Director of Athletics Josh Whitman and head coach Bret Bielema. A full list of award winners is below.

Illinois Traditional Awards

Award Winner
The Scholar Athlete Award Alex Pihlstrom
The Wright Commitment to Excellence Award Chase Brown and Sydney Brown
The Paul and Tiz Bresee Award - Illini FamILLy Award Tarique Barnes and Michael Marchese
The Bruce Capel Award Jartavius Martin
The Land of Lincoln Award Alex Palczewski and Julian Pearl
The Tim McCarthy Scholarship Michael Marchese
Spirit of the Illini Award Jason Epperson

Team Awards 

Award Winner
Red Grange Offensive MVP Chase Brown
Dick Butkus Defensive MVP Devon Witherspoon
Dike Eddleman Special Teams MVP Caleb Griffin
Rookie of the Year Gabe Jacas
Illini Power Isaac Darkangelo and Isaiah Adams
Coaches Appreciation Offense Tommy DeVito and Reggie Love III
Coaches Appreciation Defense Seth Coleman and Jer'Zhan Newton
Howard Griffith Impact Player Award Tahveon NicholsonKeith Randolph Jr.Isaiah Williams
Offensive Look Team Player of the Year Clayton Leonard
Defensive Look Team Player of the Year James Kreutz
Special Teams Look Team Player of the Year Mike Manning

 

 

Podcasts

Portal Kombat – March 30, 2025 Edition - #476

Listen

Mar 28 - Hr2 - S4Ep33 - Illini Seasons End

Listen

Mar 28 - Hr1 - S4Ep33 - Illini Seasons End

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Men’s Season Ends with Loss to Kentucky Wildcats - #475

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Women Win First NCAA Tourney Game Since March 2000 - #474

Listen

Mar 21 - Hr2 - S4Ep32 - Illini in NCAA Tourney

Listen

Mar 21 - Hr1 - S4Ep32 - Illini in NCAA Tourneys

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini 86-73 NCAA Tourney Victory over Xavier - #473

Listen

IlliniGuys NCAA Tournament Selection Bracket Breakdown Show - #472

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Smashed by Maryland Terrapins in the B1G Tourney - #471

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Defeat Iowa Hawkeyes in B1G Tourney Opener - #470

Listen

The Next 5 Years Are the Most Important in the History of Illini Athletics

Listen

IlliniGuys B1G Men’s Basketball Tournament Preview - #469

Listen

Mar 7 - Hr2 - S4Ep30 - Floyd Mayweather, Jimmy Johnson, Serena, LeBron & Game Predictions

Listen

Mar 7 - Hr1 - S4Ep30 - Illini vs Purdue, Illini Women in B1G Tourney, Illini NIL & the Next Cinderella

Listen