Tanner Heckel
Tanner Heckel
Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.
Career Arc
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 5 · 2025
W 34–32
vs USC
5 TOT · 3 SOLO
Edged out USC at home in a shootout.
How he plays
Play style
Moves between deep coverage and the slot.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Illinois
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive back · 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
Hybrid Nickel
Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Tevin Tucker’s 2025 season.
Matches Tevin on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Five Hamilton's sophomore season at Kennesaw State (2025).
Matches Five on
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2025
Peak #9377
Peaked at #9377 this season.
Background
Pronunciation: HECK-uhl 2025 Sophomore CSC Academic All-District Academic All-Big Ten Played in all 13 games with nine starts 37 tackles (26 solo) with 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble Three tackles (two solo) with a half sack in Music Ci...