(WAND) - As Illinois football gets set for their final game of the 2025 season at the Music City Bowl, Rochester native and wide receiver, Hank Beatty, is prepping for his final game in an Illini uniform.

In his senior season, Beatty earned All-Big Ten third team honors as a wideout and second team honors for his role as a punt returner. He ranked third in the conference with 64 receptions during the season, and fourth in receiving yards with 826. Hank was the only player in the nation with a passing, rushing, receiving, and punt return touchdown during the regular season.

Beatty took time to sit down with WAND Sports' Jake Bedell to reflect on his career, this season, and the journey from Rocket to Illini.

Hank Beatty 1-on-1 Q&A:

Jake: First and foremost, what has been the most exciting part for you following the last game of the regular season - going out with a win over northwestern to where the team is at now, getting ready to go and play another SEC opponent in a bowl game?

Hank: Yeah, I think we were all excited to see, you know, where we were going to be playing this postseason and who we were going to be playing. So obviously going down to Nashville and playing Tennessee is a great opportunity for everybody on the team. And I think we're all just enjoying the process of, you know, having a bowl game and going out there and trying to play to the best of our abilities.

J: With this being the final game of your senior season, is it kind of surreal to take a look back at the last several years of your career here and say, "Wow, everything has really built up to this moment for me to go take the field one more time with my team,"?

H: Definitely. I mean, just kind of thinking back over the past four years here, it's been like such a ride and I'm just grateful for all the opportunities I've had and one more chance to go out there and play with these guys and for these coaches is really big for me.

J: What is the biggest difference that you've noticed, whether that be with the team as a whole or you personally, from where things first started out when you first got here?

H: I think I'd have to say it's with the locker room really. Just how close guys are and how well they take from each other, taking from the coaches, everything in between and, you know, I think accountability is really big in the locker room too. Nobody's afraid to call somebody out. That other person is not going to get hurt, they're going to own it. Everybody meshes well together.

J: There's some clowns in the locker room as well. What is it like kind of having that dynamic of guys that are all business versus the guys that like to keep it fun and loose? Where would you say you kind of fit on that spectrum?

H: I'd say, me personally, I have my days where I might be in this mood - serious. Maybe in a little more goofy mood. But I think that's important because it's a long season and we're out here practicing every day. So, I mean, having those guys who we're going to keep people locked in to stay focused on our goals, but also guys who are going to keep things loose and make the process enjoyable are both really important things in this day and age.

J: With the transfer portal and everything involved with commitment to different teams, a lot of people have said that you could have gone anywhere and transferred to any other program, given just how the first couple of years were. What kept you at Illinois and what made this home for you and made you wanted to see it through regardless, one way or another?

H: I would say that this was always home for me, just being from central Illinois. I really liked Coach B, so leaving here wasn't something that I really wanted to do. But, you know, there were obstacles that I had to overcome. It came down to whether I wanted it or not here, and I wanted to be here, and I wanted to earn it here, and I'm thankful for the opportunities that I got. I wanted to play for Coach B.

J: Everybody is pretty happy that you stuck around. If you look at the first 5 weeks of the season, you broke a 100+ year old record set by Red Grange, you ran for a touchdown, you threw for a touchdown. What was it like going through that phase there early in the season and just putting a number of teams on notice of what Hank Beatty is capable of?

H: I'm not going to lie, it felt great just because, you know, it took a lot of work to get there. I'm glad that I was finally able to make that breakthrough. But I wouldn't have been able to do it without the people around me - my support group, the coaches, the players, the team here. So I'd give thanks to all those guys for allowing me to be able to do that. 

J: You alluded to it earlier, that connection that you have with this school and part of that comes from where you're from - your home in Rochester. You and a number of players have that unique connection. Is there a bond that you guys create, just given the region where you grew up in and your proximity to the university, with just the tradition and culture from players that are around this part of the state?

H: I would definitely say there is. Guys from the 217 area, like Central Illinois, I feel like we all get along pretty well and we all kind of look out for each other. I know some of us older central Illinois guys are,  trying to help out the younger central Illinois guys. It's just kind of, you know, a unique feeling.

J: Now, with this being one final game, getting to go down and go out there with your guys one more time this season - What's the hardest thing about saying goodbye to things as a senior?

H: Just saying goodbye to all my friends that I've made here. They're some of my best friends, and I'll be friends with them for the rest of my life. That not only goes for my friends on the team, but coaches that I've made relationships with, support staff that I've made relationships with. It's a family here and that's really going to be something that I'm going to miss.

J: But lastly, you're going to have a bright future and wherever it is that you decide to do next. So, what is the biggest thing that you're looking forward to next?

H: Just the next opportunity, I guess.

J: Awesome stuff. Hank, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. I really appreciate it. We're wishing you all the best of luck down in Nashville.

You can check out WAND's 1-on-1 with head coach Bret Bielema here.

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