CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Ty Rodgers can’t catch a break.
After two tough years of recovery and redshirting in Champaign, Rodgers faces yet another twist with his future plans up in the air. The third-year guard was expected to make his long-awaited return from injury this season, but knee surgery in the offseason slammed the brakes on his comeback.
It’s never been hard to cheer for Rodgers, a player who won over Illini fans right away with his grit and relentless effort. He’d earn respect by filling gaps wherever needed: diving for loose balls, making the extra pass and taking on the dirty work nobody else wanted.
In 2023–24, he averaged 6.2 points and 5.3 rebounds as the Illini reached the Elite Eight. Just as he looked poised for a bigger role, he sat out the 2024-25 season as a redshirt. This summer’s knee injury only complicates his comeback.
Even if Rodgers gets cleared, the bigger question is where he fits in a stacked wing rotation now featuring newcomers Andrej Stojakovic and Mihailo Petrovic. Rodgers’ lack of a perimeter game has always been a sticking point in Underwood’s five-out offense, and another lengthy recovery could make securing a spot in the rotation even tougher.
Rodgers has been through more than most players would ever want to shoulder in just two years, and fans haven’t stopped pulling for him. The latest setback hasn’t erased that support, but it has raised the question of what comes next.
The path ahead isn’t simple. Rodgers could try to battle back in Champaign with immense support and limited minutes, but he could also take his talents to another program in search of a bigger opportunity. Either way, Rodgers is left weighing loyalty to Illinois against the possibility of a bigger role elsewhere.
