Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 42-23vs UAB | 5 | 4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 27-31vs Duke | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
#93
Ean Rhea
Senior defensive lineman for Illinois. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 235 lb · Glade Spring, VA · Patrick Henry
Returning to Illinois for 2026
The numbers
1
sack · 2026
2 TFL · 7 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 sacks, 2 TFL, 5 tackles, vs UAB
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 defensive lineman for Illinois. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
His career, year by yearEan Rhea
One game to point at: 5 tackles, 2 TFL against UAB — Week 1, 2026.
7 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Illinois
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Illinois1-1HC: Bret Bielema · Balanced, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: sacks (87th percentile). Strength: tackles for loss (85th percentile). Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 3.5 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bret Bielema
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Illinois | 7 | 5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 7 | 5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 42–23
vs UAB
5 TOT · 4 SOLO · 1 SACKS
With K. Houser — 182 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · QBR 98.9 · 29 rush yds (3 car) · 1 TD · C. Valentine — 88 rush yds (11 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Illinois
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive line · Illinois
Returning around him
- 3 Illinois players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -7 net (20 in / 27 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Illinois · Last season: 9-4 (AP #23) · Talent rank #51 · 2026 recruiting class #24
Background
2025 - Emory & Henry 2025 NCAA Division II First Team All-American (AP, AFCA) 2025 NCAA Division II Second Team All-American (Don Hanson) 2025 South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year 2025 Touchdown Club of Richmond Defensive Lineman of the Year All-South Atlantic Conference First T...
The defensive line · Illinois
- #96Darrell Prater4 tackles for loss · 2025
- #17Isaiah Thomison3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #43Joe Barna2 tackles for loss · 2025
- #52Pat Farrell2 tackles for loss · 2025
- #93Ean Rhea2 games · 2026
12 more on the roster · Illinois team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology