The Illinois Fighting Illini are one of the best “offseason teams” in the country, there’s no doubt about that. Brad Underwood is, WITHOUT QUESTION, one of the best recruiters out there. He has proven that time and time again, with his ability to bring in guys like; Ayo Dosunmu, Kofi Cockburn, Terrence Shannon Jr. and even Andrej Stojaković.

He is on another level when it comes to building a roster. But sadly, Coach Underwood will reportedly be without one of his top veterans this season, after he suffered a gruesome injury during a pickup game that will require surgery.

#illini head coach Brad Underwood said Ty Rodgers is “out indefinitely” after an injury in a pickup game back home. Rodgers is still in Michigan and will require surgery.

— Joey Wagner (@mrwagner25) June 16, 2025

I will admit, this is a hard piece of news to swallow. Rodgers, who has played in 71 career games for Brad Underwood and the Illini, was supposed to make his return to the team this season after red-shirting all of last year. He was poised to become a key player off the bench for the navy and orange, after Underwood basically acquired every foreign player from the portal that he could get his hands on.

Ty, for those of you who may have forgotten, basically became a “Junknyard DAWG” of sorts for Underwood and co. From starting as a sixth man that every team dreams of, to becoming a consistent starter in his sophomore season; it became clear that this guy was going to be a VALUABLE commodity for the Illini program.

He is the epitome of the “hardhat and lunch pail” player, who’s elite rebounding and ability to run the point has given him the versatility he needs to stay in the fold on a nightly basis. But now, after a reported knee injury that he suffered in a non-program related activity…..it looks like we will have to wait another year to see his return to the court.

It’s a sad sight to see, because I was kind of excited to see Rodgers come back. Not only that, with the turnover that this team continues to have on a yearly basis……it would’ve been nice to have a veteran like him coming off of the bench. His presence on and off the court just brings another level of intensity to this already STACKED Illinois lineup.

Hopefully he decides to come back after his injury, because WHO KNOWS what this lineup will look like in 2026. But in the end though, as always…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.