James Kreutz
James Kreutz
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. This is his fourth year in the same linebacker corps at Illinois. The receipt on tape: 5 tackles, 1 TFL against Rutgers, Week 10, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2022–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Bret Bielema.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bret Bielema
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 1 · 2-deepR04 · Rotational
Rotational. Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 5 · 2025
W 34–32
vs USC
4 TOT · 1 SOLO · 1 TFL
Edged out USC at home in a shootout.
How he plays
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Illinois
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Illinois
Returning around him
- 3 Illinois players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -8 net (19 in / 27 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Illinois · Last season: 9-4 (AP #23) · Talent rank #64 · 2026 recruiting class #24
DNA match
Player DNA
Coverage 'Backer
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jackson Wiegold’s 2024 season.
Matches Jackson on
Differs from Jackson on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Jalen Woods's senior season at UCLA (2025).
Matches Jalen on
Differs from Jalen on
Background
University of Illinois Graduate Pronunciation: krew-tz 2025 Junior Played in all 12 games with one start 29 total tackles (15 solo) with 3.5 tackles for loss and three pass breaksups on the season Tied for fifth on the team with 3.5 tackles for loss Three tackles (one solo) with a tackle for loss...