#19
Nate Cichy
Returning to Illinois for 2026
Mount Prospect, Ill. → Mount Prospect
via fightingillini.com ↗Nate Cichy
Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.
Career Arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
—
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bret Bielema
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Illinois
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Wide receiver · Illinois
Returning around him
- 21% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- 3 Illinois players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -7 net (20 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
Background
High School Named three-star recruit by 24/7 Sports and Rivals Played for head coach DanDeBoeuf at Prospect High School Four-year letterwinner, three-year varsity starter Team captain as a senior 142 catches, 2,313 yards, 28 touchdowns for his career Class 7A First Team All-State as a senior Two-...
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology