Deakon Tonielli

CAREER HIGHS Receiving • Catches: 1 - at Northwestern (Nov. 15, 2025) • Yards: 8 - at Northwestern (Nov. 15, 2025) • TDs: none • Long: 8 - at Northwestern (Nov. 15, 2025) Junior (2025) • Made his collegiate debut contributing on special teams against New Mexico (Aug. 30) • Played as a tight end and contributed on special teams against Central Michigan (Sept. 13) • Contributed on special teams at Nebraska (Sept. 20), at USC (Oct. 11) • Played as a tight end and contributed on special teams against Wisconsin (Oct. 4), at MSU (Oct. 25) • Caught three passes totaling 38 yards against Washington (Oct. 18) • Caught a four-yard pass playing tight end and on special teams against Purdue (Nov. 1) • Caught an eight-yard pass to convert a third down against Northwestern at Wrigley Field (Nov. 15) • Started at tight end at Maryland (Nov. 22) and was targeted once; also contributed on special teams • Made a two-yard reception and also contributed on special teams against Ohio State (Nov. 29) Sophomore (2024) • Did not see game action • Named Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week for his role in preparing the teams units for Minnesota • Named Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week for his role in preparing the defense for Michigan State Freshman (2023) • Did not see game action Prep • Attended Oswego High School (2023) coached by Brian Cooney • The Panthers finished 3-6 in his senior season • Helped Oswego go 6-4 with a playoff appearance his junior year • During his sophomore year, the Panthers went 5-1 in a COVID-shortened season and won the district title • Also lettered in basketball and track and field for the Panthers; a full-time varsity player in football and basketball as a sophomore Key Statistics • Caught 42 passes for 550 yards with five touchdowns during his senior campaign • As a junior, caught 32 passes for 385 yards with two touchdowns, accounting for over 38 percent of the team’s receiving yards • Made 25 catches for a team-high 440 yards and two touchdowns his sophomore year • Also played defensive end, punted and snapped for Oswego; played safety early in his career and filled in as emergency quarterback during his junior year Honors and Rankings • Earned a 247Sports Composite ranking of four stars; the No. 390 overall player nationally, the No. 20 tight end and the No. 6 player in the state of Illinois • Named a four-star prospect by 247Sports; the No. 19 tight end and the No. 4 player in the state of Illinois • Rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 33 player in the region, the No. 13 tight end nationally and the No. 6 player in the state of Illinois • Rivals.com three-star prospect, the No. 46 tight end in the nation and the No. 10 player in Illinois • On3.com four-star consensus prospect, the No. 378 player in the country, the No. 22 tight end in the nation and the No. 6 player in Illinois • On3.com four-star prospect, the No. 17 tight end in the nation and the No. 3 player in Illinois • Special Mention All-State by the Champaign News-Gazette (2022) • All-Conference performer (2022) • Beacon-News/Courier-News All-Area Team (2022) Personal • Deakon Tonielli was born Oct. 7, 2004 • Son of Saul Tonielli and Jill Bryska