Ismael Kante holds the WLB · Backup spot in Illinois Fighting Illini’s linebacker room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Ismael Kante is a 6'2", 235-pound linebacker from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, who attended Park Center High School before playing at Iowa Central CC. At Iowa Central in 2024, he recorded 71 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks while earning recognition as the top-ranked junior college linebacker in the nation by recruiting services. Kante transferred to Illinois for the 2025 season and appeared in all 13 games, primarily on special teams but also in 10 regular-season defensive contests. He finished 2025 with 8 total tackles (3 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, and 1 pass breakup. He is a University of Illinois graduate with a degree in communication.