Champ Smith holds the LT · Backup spot in Illinois Fighting Illini’s offensive line room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Champ Smith is a true freshman left tackle at Illinois who stands 6'6" and weighs 330 pounds. Originally from Fort Pierce, Florida, Smith attended Vero Beach High School, where he earned four-year letter status and was selected to the Under Armour All-American Game as a junior. In 2024, he posted 22 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks while playing defensive line. He received offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, and over 20 other Power Four programs. Smith enrolled at Illinois as a three-star recruit ranked 1924 nationally in the 2026 class.

Illinois2026 — present