Tanner Arkin
Tanner Arkin
Shows up in the passing game from any alignment. Tanner Arkin has played for three head coaches across five seasons and two programs. His first career honor landed in 2022: All-Mountain West. The receipt on tape: 33 rec yds, 2 receptions against Northwestern, Week 14, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- recognition record
- game log
Career Arc
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2022)
All-Mountain West
Coaching Lineage · 2021–2025
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 3 · RecognizedR09 · All-Conference HM / 2nd team
All-Conference HM / 2nd team. Conference recognition has started.
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2022)
All-Mountain West
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Illinois | 13 | 114 | 8.8 | 2 | -- |
| 2024 | Illinois | 16 | 111 | 6.9 | 3 | -- |
| 2023 | Illinois | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | -- |
| 2022 | Colorado State | 14 | 116 | 8.3 | 0 | -- |
| 2021 | Colorado State | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 45 | 351 | 7.8 | 6 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 5 · 2025
W 34–32
vs USC
1 rec · 12 yds
Edged out USC at home in a shootout.
How he plays
Play style
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Illinois
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Tight end · Illinois
Returning around him
- 52% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- 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
Complete TE
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Tanner Arkin’s 2024 season.
Matches Tanner on
Differs from Tanner on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a graduate, his production profile tracks closest to Jere Getzinger Jr.'s graduate season at Eastern Michigan (2024).
Matches Jere on
Differs from Jere on
Development
Development Trajectory · receiving yards
2021–2025+1167%
Up 1167% from first season to most-recent.