Jeff Cumberland, football player | University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Football
Jeff Cumberland, football player | University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Football
Former University of Illinois football player Jeff Cumberland has been named honorary captain for the team's upcoming game against Rutgers, scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on NBC.
Cumberland was a member of the Illinois football team from 2006 to 2009. During his collegiate career, he recorded 1,001 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He played both wide receiver and tight end, starting in three games during the team's Rose Bowl season in 2007. In the final regular season game that year against Northwestern, he achieved a personal best with 131 receiving yards. In the 2008 Rose Bowl Game versus USC, Cumberland made three catches for 37 yards.
As a freshman in 2006, Cumberland became the first true freshman tight end in program history to start a season opener. He concluded his college career by earning the Wright Commitment to Excellence Award as a senior in 2009.
Following his time at Illinois, Cumberland played seven seasons in the National Football League with the New York Jets from 2010 to 2015 and with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017. His professional career included 1,121 receiving yards and ten touchdowns.
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