Danny Cameron is in his fifth season at Illinois and his third as an assistant tight ends coach in 2026. Cameron served as an offensive analyst during his first two seasons with the Illini from 2022-23.
Since Cameron's arrival for the 2022 season, Illinois ranks fifth in the Big Ten in points (1,359), fifth in passing touchdowns (83), and fifth in passing yards (11,739) among the 14 teams that have been in the league all four seasons. Illinois has the fourth-most Power-4 wins (15) over the last two seasons among Big Ten teams, behind only Ohio State (21), Oregon (20), and Indiana (19). The Illini are one of 15 Power-4 programs to win 9+ games in each of the last two seasons.
Cameron helped the offense have its fourth straight season of improvement in 2025 by averaging 29.4 points per game, the fifth-best offensive season in Illinois history, during the Illini's second straight 9+-win season. Illinois’ tight ends accounted 379 receiving yards, 41 rushing yards, and four total touchdowns in 2025.
Cameron helped Illinois to a 10-3 record in 2024, tying the program's single-season wins record, and a final ranking of #16 in the AP Top 25. The season was capped by a victory over #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in one of the biggest bowl wins in program history. Illinois’ tight ends accounted for four of the team’s 22 touchdown receptions. Tanner Arkin, who was voted a team captain before the season, hauled in 16 receptions for 111 yards and three scores and Carson Goda caught four passes for 49 yards and one touchdown.
Cameron helped Illinois to an 8-5 record in 2022, the Illini's first 8-win season in 15 years. Illinois ranked in the AP Top 25 for five straight weeks, reaching as high as No. 14, and were ranked in the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time in school history. Under the direction first-year offensive coordinator Barry Lunney, the Illinois offense made a leap forward behind All-American running back Chase Brown, who finished fourth in the nation in rushing. Brown rushed for 1,643 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on his way to becoming Illinois' first ever Doak Walker Award finalist.
Cameron came to Champaign from McNeese State, where he was a defensive analyst in 2021. Prior to McNeese, he worked as an offensive intern with the quarterbacks from 2019-20 at Michigan.
Cameron is a former Big Ten player at Indiana, where he was a quarterback for three seasons. He finished his playing career at New Mexico Highlands of Division II as a two-year starting quarterback and team captain, throwing for 4,570 yards and 36 touchdowns for the Cowboys.
Cameron is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and played at Catholic High School. He graduated from New Mexico Highlands in 2019 with a degree in liberal studies.
