Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 42-23vs UAB | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 0 | 4 | Season-high 5 yds |
| Total | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 0 | 4 |
#23
Jordan Anderson
Senior running back for Illinois. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 240 lb · Naperville, IL · Joliet Catholic
Returning to Illinois for 2026
The numbers
5
rushing yards · 2026
1.7 per carry
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 5 rush yds, vs UAB
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 running back for Illinois. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Illinois in 2022.
Jordan Anderson
This is his third year in the same backfield at Illinois. One game to point at: 5 rush yds against UAB — Week 1, 2026.
5 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 3 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2022
- Signed with Illinois3-star out of Hun School
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Illinois
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Illinois
Played his entire career under Bret Bielema.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Bret Bielema — 20-8 over that span.
2024Illinois10-3HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2025Illinois9-4HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning
2026Illinois1-1HC: Bret Bielema · Balanced, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 5.0 YDS/g, 1.7 YPC, 0.0 TD/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
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 42–23
vs UAB
5 rush yds (3 car)
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
Running back · Illinois
Returning around him
- 21% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- 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 - Illinois Played in all 13 games at tight end Nine carries for 41 yards and one rushing touchdown on the season Three receptions for 12 yards on the season Critical first-down rush in the final drive of the 30-28 win over #23 Tennessee in the Music City Bowl (12/30/25) First career rushing...
The backfield · Illinois
- #5Ca'Lil Valentine614 rushing yards · 2025
- #21Aidan Laughery382 rushing yards · 2025
- #23Jordan Anderson41 rushing yards · 2025
- #27Corey Rashadno box-score line yet
- #31Murphy Clementno box-score line yet
4 more on the roster · Illinois team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology