Illinois defensive end Jihad Ward has been selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft (No. 44 overall pick) by the Oakland Raiders. Ward, who played two seasons in Champaign after transferring from a junior college, is the first player to be drafted out of the program since 2013.
While his statistics don't exactly jump off the screen, Ward was an integral part of one of the nation's top defenses in 2015. Ward's versatility allowed the Illinois coaches to deploy him all over the defensive line, where he became a reliable and effective run-stuffer.
| Year | G | Solo | Ast | TOT | TFL | SK | INT | TD | PD | FR | FF |
| 2014 (JR) | 12 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 8. |