An Illinois hometown hero who broke Red Grange's century-old punt return record before signing with the Titans as an undrafted free agent.
Hank Beatty grew up a few miles from the Illinois campus in Rochester, Illinois, and turned four years as a Fighting Illini into one of the more unusual statistical seasons in recent college football memory. Undrafted in 2026, the shifty receiver and return man signed with Tennessee looking to carve out a role as a slot target and punt returner.
Path to the league
A three-star recruit out of Rochester High School, Beatty chose to stay home and play for Illinois over offers from Iowa State, Air Force and Central Michigan. He was Illinois' Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior after piling up passing, rushing and receiving yardage in a do-everything high school role, then spent four seasons with the Illini from 2022 to 2025.
Career highlights
Beatty broke out in 2024 with 20 catches for 294 yards and a touchdown while adding 310 punt return yards, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. In 2025 he became the first Big Ten player since 2003 to score a passing, rushing, receiving and punt return touchdown in the same season, and he set Illinois' single-game punt return record with 133 yards against Western Illinois, breaking a mark Red Grange had held since 1923.
2025 season recap
Beatty led Illinois in receiving as a senior with 864 yards on 70 catches while also anchoring the punt return game. He entered the 2026 draft process with a reputation for reliable hands, going undrafted before signing with the Tennessee Titans on April 30, 2026, where he now wears No. 13.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Hank Beatty
- Tennessee Titans: Hank Beatty player page
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Illinois
- Hometown
- Rochester, IL, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
