Illinois’ best defenders since 2004
Sydney Brown has the most interceptions of the 148 defenders who played at Illinois since 2004, 10. Taylor Barton is tied for 2nd with 7. Xavier Scott is tied for 5th, with 6.
Of the Big Ten’s best defenders since 2004, Sydney Brown is tied for 9th.
Illinois’ defenders this season
- Ismael Kante1interception
- Matthew Bailey5 at Illinois, tied for the 7th-most since 2004.1interception
- Tanner Heckel2 at Illinois.1interception
Compare with in · side by side
| Place | Player | interceptions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney Brown2018 – 2022 | 10 |
| T2 | Taylor Barton2013 – 2016 | 7 |
| T2 | Quan Martin2018 – 2022 | 7 |
| T2 | Miles Scott2022 – 2025 | 7 |
| T5 | Tony Adams2017 – 2021 | 6 |
| T5 | Xavier Scott2023 – 2026 · still playing | 6 |
| T7 | Mason Monheim2012 – 2015 | 5 |
| T7 | Kerby Joseph2018 – 2021 | 5 |
| T7 | Devon Witherspoon2020 – 2022 | 5 |
| T7 | Kendall Smith2017 – 2022 | 5 |
| T7 | Matthew Bailey2022 – 2026 · still playing | 5 |
| +1 this season | ||
| T12 | Eaton Spence2014 – 2015 | 4 |
| T12 | Del'Shawn Phillips2017 – 2018 | 4 |
| T12 | Torrie Cox Jr.2024 – 2025 | 4 |
| T15 | Bennett Williams2017 | 3 |
| T15 | Dele Harding2019 | 3 |
| T15 | Stanley Green2016 – 2019 | 3 |
| T15 | Nate Hobbs2017 – 2020 | 3 |
| T15 | Jake Hansen2018 – 2021 | 3 |
| T15 | Tyler Strain2022 – 2025 | 3 |
| T21 | Earnest Thomas2012 – 2014 | 2 |
| T21 | Clayton Fejedelem2015 | 2 |
| T21 | V'Angelo Bentley2013 – 2015 | 2 |
| T21 | Darius Mosely2013 – 2016 | 2 |
| T21 | Hardy Nickerson2016 | 2 |
interceptions by decade
2020s
- Miles Scott2022 – 20257
- Sydney Brown2021 – 20226
- › Xavier Scott2023 – 20266
- Devon Witherspoon2020 – 20225
- Kendall Smith2021 – 20225
2012–19
- Taylor Barton2013 – 20167
- Mason Monheim2012 – 20155
- Eaton Spence2014 – 20154
- Del'Shawn Phillips2017 – 20184
- Tony Adams2017 – 20194
Also at Illinois: quarterbacks · running backs · wide receivers · tight ends · kickers · punters · Illinois record book
Method
- Every defender who played at Illinois since 2004, ranked by interceptions over his games there. Bowl and playoff games count.
- Tackles and sacks are only recorded since 2024, so the defenders are ranked by interceptions. A defender is in a box score only in a game he has a stat in, so his games aren’t counted.
- The numbers here start in 2004, so a defender who played at Illinois before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his interceptions at Illinois in its seasons.