FOOTBALL • 1987-90

Morris “Moe” Gardner is arguably the best defensive tackle in Fighting Illini history. He was a two-time consensus All-American defensive star and helped Illinois to three-consecutive bowl games and a share of the 1990 Big Ten Championship. Gardner earned All-Big Ten honors all four seasons, including First-Team recognition his final three years. He was the 1990 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and finished his UI career as the school-record holder with 57 tackles-for-loss. Gardner was a finalist for the 1990 Rotary Lombardi Award and 1989 Outland Trophy while being named to the Illinois All-Century Team in 1990. He played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1991-96 and currently resides in Duluth, Georgia.