Tarique Barnes

LB · Illinois · Sr. · #8

Illinois 2023 alumnus

This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Tarique Barnes

LB · Illinois · Sr · #8

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

Recruit

★★★

#1386 national

CFB

College

Illinois

2021–2023

NFL

NFL Draft

—

Not drafted

Coaching Lineage · 2021–2023

1 coach

2021

Bret Bielema

Illinois

2022

Bret Bielema

Illinois

2023

Bret Bielema

Illinois

Played his entire career under Bret Bielema.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2021Illinois5-7HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning

2022Illinois8-5HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning

2023Illinois5-7HC: Bret Bielema · Balanced

Career stats

Season	Team
2023	Illinois	25	13	2.0	1.0	--	--	--
2022	Illinois	40	30	8.0	1.5	2	--	--
2021	Illinois	80	44	6.0	2.0	5	1	--
Career		145	87	16.0	4.5	7	1	--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 11 · 2023

W 48–45

vs Indiana

1 TOT

Edged out Indiana at home in a shootout.

How he plays

Play style

Is steady in every phase without a signature trait.

CFB Index positional classification

DNA match

Player DNA

Balanced Linebacker

Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.

His 2023 production profile sits closest to Jake Hansen’s 2021 season.

Jake Hansen

84%match

Illinois · 2021

Mohamed Sanogo

Ole Miss · 2021

78%

Desmyn Baker

Rice · 2021

78%

Kendrick Blackshire

Alabama · 2023

78%

Vonta Bentley

Clemson · 2021

78%

Matches Jake on

TFL rate

Tackle volume

Sack rate

Differs from Jake on

Hurry rate (higher)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Caleb Kibodi's senior season at Louisiana (2025).

Caleb Kibodi

80%match

Louisiana · 2025

Solomon Deshields

Texas A&M · 2024

79%

Roman Harrison

Tennessee · 2023

78%

Justin Medlock

SMU · 2025

NFL Rd 5

77%

Cody Moon

San Diego State · 2024

77%

Matches Caleb on

Tackle volume

Weight

Solo tackle rate

Differs from Caleb on

Hurry rate (higher)