Julian Pearl

UPDATES

Week 6: Pearl, playing 54 snaps overalll, struggled at times that in the Illini's loss to Nebraska, 20-7, allowing two pressures and drawing a penalty in pass protection. He fared a bit better in run blocking but it was not the tackle's strongest performance this season. — JH

Week 5: A terrific day for Pearl as he posted an unblemished pass-protection stat line (no sacks, no pressures allowed) on 43 passing plays. The big tackle was also a road grader in the running game, helping Illinois rush for 149 yards on the day. — JH

Week 4: Pearl logged 77 snaps in Illinois' win over Florida Atlantic. It wasn't the big tackle's best game as he allowed a sack and three other pressures on Illini QB Luke Altmyer. He faired a bit better in his run-blocking. — JH

Week 3: Playing 80 snaps in the 30-13 loss to Penn State, Pearl struggled mightily when trying to protect his QB. The big tackle gave up two sacks and allowed five other pressures on Luke Altmyer. He didn't have a notable day run blocking either, but his poor performance in pass protection against a top-flight defense could come back to bite him next spring. — JH 

Week 2: Pearl played 53 snaps in Illinois' road loss to Kansas, 34-23, allowing one sack of Altmyer. He had and his linemates had a solid day in run blocking, as the Illini offense rushed for 202 yards. — JH

Week 1: In Illinois' 30-28 season-opening win over Toledo, Pearl played 63 snaps, almost evenly divided between run snaps (29) and passing plays (34). Not a solid day for Pearl in pass protection as he allowed two pressures on Illini QB Luke Altmyer. — JH

Week 0: DNP

HISTORY — from college profile

2023 (sr): Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Third-Team

2022 (jr): All-Big Ten honorable mention (coaches and media)...Started 12 of 13 games at left tackle…Missed the Indiana game with an injury…Part of the first offensive line in Illinois history to be named a Joe Moore Award semifinalist

2021 (redshirt soph): Played in 12 games with 11 starts

2020 (soph): Played seven games and started four at right tackle…First career start at Nebraska 11/21/20 

2019 (redshirt fr): Played in three games as a backup lineman…Made Illinois debut in the season opener against Akron

2018 (fr): Redshirted 2018 season (Did not play)

High school: Attended Danville High (Danville, IL)...3-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN…Two-star recruit by Rivals…Ranked No. 531 recruit in the nation by 247Sports…Ranked No. 41 OT in the nation by 247Sports and No. 107 by ESPN…Ranked No. 7 recruit in Illinois by 247Sports and No. 28 by ESPN…Played for head coach Marcus Forrest at Danville…2017 USA Today All-USA Illinois second team…2017 IHSFCA 6A All-State honorable mention…2017 All-Big 12 first team…2017 Champaign News-Gazette All-Area…Led Danville to back-to-back IHSA playoff berths…High school teammate of fellow Illini Caleb Griffin…Also played basketball in high school…Verbally committed to Illinois in April 2017.

PERSONAL

Born Oct. 6, 1999…Son of Ronique Heard…Two older brothers, Tayvian Johnson and Avery Pearl, and one younger sister, Dasia Middlebrooks…Brother, Tayvian Johnson, played Division III football…Brother, Avery, played Division III basketball…Picked Illinois because, “it would give me a chance to represent and improve my hometown and state.”...Majoring in sociology.

2018

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
1.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0