Drake Leeper Assistant Director of Personnel | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Drake Leeper Assistant Director of Personnel | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois Director of Athletics, Josh Whitman, will take on the role of honorary captain for the No. 22 Illinois football team as they face off against No. 24 Michigan this Saturday. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on CBS.
Whitman, who played as a tight end for Illinois from 1997 to 2000, participated in 45 games during his college career. He achieved notable success with 52 career passes and seven touchdowns. His academic achievements include being a two-time First Team Academic All-American and earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors in his senior year. Following his college career, Whitman spent parts of four seasons in the NFL with teams such as the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills.
In his current role since 2016, Whitman has become one of the longest-serving athletic directors in the Big Ten Conference. He represents the Big Ten on the NCAA Division I Council and was elected chair of this council in April 2024; he will serve in this capacity until June 30, 2026.
Whitman has been actively involved in organizing events for the Memorial Stadium Rededication Game.
The upcoming game against Michigan has already sold out.
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