Rashard Mendenhall’s performance in 2007 was one for the books … the Illini record books. Rushing for a UI single-season best 1,681 yards, the junior from Niles West High School broke Antoineo Harris’ mark by an amazing 351 yards.
Mendenhall chose to turn pro after his junior season and was the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NFL
Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He rose to stardom following back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2009 and ’10, then a near-1,000-yard effort in 2011.
Mendenhall retired from the NFL at the age of 26 in March 2014. He now is a staff writer for the HBO football show "Ballers.