Illinois Football 2025 Scouting Report: Inside Linebacker Malachi Hood

Illinois on SI is delivering scouting reports for each of the key players on the Illini football team's 2025 roster. Below, we present our breakdown of Illini junior inside linebacker Malachi Hood. We will add more as other on-field contributors emerge during the season. Find our scouting reports of other Illinois players by searching in your favorite browser or clicking in our projected depth chart – coming soon.

Malachi Hood | Inside Linebacker | Junior | No. 45

Hometown: Plainfield, IllinoisHigh school: Joliet C atholicHeight: 6-foot-2Weight: 235 pounds

Scouting report

Hood, a three-star recruit coming out of a traditional Illinois high school power in Joliet Catholic, was faster and more athletic than many top linebacker prospects but needed to fill out. He has done that over the past several years and now, after recovering from an injury that robbed him of his 2023 season, seems fully recovered and ready to deploy his explosiveness in any role in 2025.

Hood can shed blockers, get through traffic, chase down ball carriers, burst into the backfield to make plays and capably cover backs and tight ends in pass coverage – qualities that translate well to special teams as well. His recognition, discipline and consistency (all characteristics developed with repetitions) will determine whether he can make the leap this fall, but he is by all accounts a smart, dedicated player who would seem to have great potential to do that.

Experience

Poor timing and bad luck delayed the launch of Hood's Illinois career. He played in one game as a freshman, then suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in 2023 that led to his redshirting. He was stuck behind starters Dylan Rosiek and Kenenna Odeluga in 2024, but Hood took advantage when a Rosiek injury called for a reserve to take over.

He made an important fumble recovery in the Michigan win, and in the final week of the regular season, in an expanded role, Hood delivered three solo tackles – including two sacks, both of which forced fumbles – to help key a win over Northwestern that punched Illinois' ticket to the Citrus Bowl. He added another tackle in that game against South Carolina and allowed the Illini coaches to enter the offseason with zero concerns about depth at inside linebacker.

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