The 1965 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1965 Big Ten season. In their sixth season under head coach Pete Elliott, the Fighting Illini compiled a 6–4 (4–3 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents 235 to 118.
Fullback Jim Grabowski led the Big Ten with 252 rushing carries and 1,258 rushing yards. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the most valuable player in the Big Ten and was a consensus pick for the 1965 All-America team. Grabowski, linebacker Don Hansen, and defensive back Ron Acks received first-team honors on the 1965 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Fred Custardo (1,124 passing yards, 52.9% completion percentage) and wide receiver John Wright (47 receptions for 755 yards).
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Schedule
Awards and honors Jim Grabowski (fullback) Chicago Tribune Silver Football Consensus All-American
1966 NFL draft Player Round Pick Position Club Jim Grabowski 1 9 Running back Green Bay Packers Don Hansen 3 42 Linebacker Minnesota Vikings Ron Acks 4 57 Defensive end Minnesota Vikings Sam Price 16 240 Defensive end New York Giants Gary Eickman 17 254 Defensive end New York Giants Kai Anderson18 268 Defensive end New York Giants Dale Greco 18 270 Defensive tackle Minnesota Vikings
Jim Grabowski was also the first pick overall in the 1966 American Football League draft. He was the first ever draft pick of the Miami Dolphins.
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