CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Illini and NFL tight end Jeff Cumberland will serve as the Illinois football team's honorary captain against Rutgers on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on NBC.
Cumberland played at Illinois from 2006-09, totaling 1,001 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns during his four-year career. He started games at both wide receiver and tight end during his time at Illinois, including three starts during Illinois' Rose Bowl season in 2007. He posted a career-high 131 receiving yards to finish the 2007 regular season against Northwestern. Cumberland had three receptions for 37 yards in the 2008 Rose Bowl Game against USC.
In 2006, Cumberland was the first true freshman tight end in program history to start the season opener. He finished his career as the program's Wright Commitment to Excellence Award winner as a senior in 2009.
Cumberland went on to play seven seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets (2010-15) and Los Angeles Chargers (2017). He totaled 1,121 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in the NFL.
