CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illini Athletics Hall of Fame has announced its latest inductees, including Al Brosky, Jack Trudeau, and Rashard Mendenhall. These three Illini legends will be officially honored at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on October 1st.
Al Brosky played football at the University of Illinois from 1950 to 1952. He set Big Ten Conference single-season football records in interceptions with 11 in 1950 and again in 1951. As of 2018, Brosky holds the NCAA career records for interceptions with 29, career interceptions per game at 1.1, and most consecutive games with an interception at 15. Brosky was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Jack Trudeau was the starting quarterback of the Illinois Fighting Illini football team from 1983-85, his sophomore through senior years. Trudeau set Illinois school records in pass attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. He also set an NCAA record with 215 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. In 1984, he finished runner-up to Doug Flutie for the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the top college quarterback in the nation.
Rashard Mendenhall played for the University of Illinois football team and rushed for a then-school record 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns. Throughout his college career, he had 318 yards receiving and two touchdowns on 34 receptions. Mendenhall was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft and won Super Bowl XLIII with the team.
The Illini Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1980 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the University of Illinois athletics program.
The 2023 inductees will join the ranks of previous honorees, including Red Grange, George Halas, and Dee Brown. The induction ceremony will take place on October 1st at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.
