CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Hank Beatty has been named the 27th Academic All-American in Illinois football history. Beatty has a 3.87 GPA as a marketing major at the Gies College of Business and led the Illini with 1,123 all-purpose yards in 2025 to earn one of the highest honors in college football.
"It is a great reflection of not only what you have done on the field, but also what you have done in the classroom," Illinois Director of Athletics and two-time Academic All-American selection Josh Whitman told Beatty when he called to notify the senior wide receiver on Monday afternoon (video of the call). "To be a part of that group that marries those two things together is a really special tradition."
"Just blessed to be able to do it at Illinois," Beatty told Whitman. "I never really thought I'd get something like that. Definitely grateful for my time and the opportunities you guys gave me there at Illinois."
Beatty, a native of Rochester, Illinois, was the only player in the nation to have a passing, rushing, receiving, and punt return touchdown during the 2025 season. He totaled 864 receiving yards, 213 punt return yards, 46 rushing yards, and 31 passing yards as one of the most versatile players in the country.
Beatty is Illinois' first Academic All-American since 2007. Since the Academic All-America program began in 1952, Illinois' 27 honorees have combined for 38 awards.Â
Beatty will be recognized with his photo on Illinois' Wright Family Academic All-America Wall at the Smith Football Center. Beatty joined John Wright Sr. and John Wright Jr. as the only three wide receivers in Illinois history to earn Academic All-America distinctions.Â
Illinois Academic All-Americans
Bob Lenzini, DT, 1952
Dick Deller, G, 1963
Mike Dundy, HB, 1963
Mike Taliaferro, QB, 1963Â
Bruce Capel, C, 1964
Jim Grabowski, FB, 1964
Ron Acks, DB, 1965
Jim Grabowski, FB, 1965
John Wright Sr., WR, 1966
Dave Tomasula, LB, 1967
Tony Pleviak, DL, 1967
John Wright Sr., WR, 1967
Tony Pleviak, DL, 1968
Doug Redmann, OG, 1969
Bob Bucklin, DE, 1970
Jim Rucks, DE, 1970
Bob Bucklin, DE, 1971
Dan Beaver, K, 1976
Bruce Thornton, DT, 1977
Charlie Weber, FB, 1977
Charlie Weber, FB, 1978
Dan Gregus, DL, 1980
Dan Gregus, DL, 1981
Dan Gregus, DL, 1982
Curt Lovelace, C, 1990
Mike Hopkins, DB, 1991
John Wright Jr., WR, 1991
John Wright Jr., WR, 1992
Brett Larsen, P, 1994
Brett Larsen, P, 1995
Fred Wakefield, OG, 1999
Josh Whitman, TE, 1999
Fred Wakefield, OG, 2000
Josh Whitman, TE, 2000
Tony Pashos, OT, 2002Â
J Leman, LB, 2007
Ryan McDonald, C, 2007
Hank Beatty, WR, 2025
