Illinois coach Lovie Smith announced three team captains on Tuesday, one from each unit on the team. Senior offensive lineman Nick Allegretti is the offensive team captain, senior linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips is the defensive captain and junior linebacker Dele Harding is the special teams captain.

Illini players from each unit (offense, defense and special teams) voted for its unit captain for the entire season. A fourth team captain will be voted on weekly by the Illini coaching staff.

“To get selected, you’ve gone through an awful lot,” Smith said. “They’ve seen you on and off the field, offseason workouts, know what you do, represent the university, everything, and you have to perform a certain way on the football field.”

Allegretti, one of seven scholarship seniors on the team, returns as the unquestioned leader on the offensive line. The Frankfort (Ill.) native has more career starts (24) than anyone else on the team.

Allegretti was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection last season and was named to the All-Big Ten second team by Pro Football Focus. He earned his bachelor's degree in accountancy in December and is pursuing a master's degree in recreation, sport and tourism. He also was nominated to the 2018 AFCA Good Works Team Preseason Watch List.

“Nick Allegretti has been a team leader the entire time I’ve been here,” Smith said. “He leads the offensive line group, of course. Toughness. Graduate as he plays his senior year of football.”

Phillips, a senior who will start at middle linebacker, is in his second season at Illinois since transferring from Garden City Community College. In 11 games last season, Phillips led Illinois with 85 tackles and added 4.0 tackles for loss. The Michigan native played high school football for Detroit powerhouse Cass Tech.

“Del’Shawn Phillips came into a little bit different situation being a junior college football player, but he quickly moved into that leadership role," Smith said. "He’s everything we want a linebacker to be on and off the football field.”

Harding, one of 15 scholarship juniors on the team, enters his third season at Illinois and will start at linebacker, Smith said on Tuesday. He originally committed to Michigan before signing with former Illinois coach Bill Cubit.

Harding made five starts at linebacker last season and totaled 32 tackles, but the Maryland native also has been a key cog on the Illini special teams units during his first two seasons. He was second on the team with four special teams tackles last season.

“Dele Harding will be one of our starting linebackers, but he’s also one of our core special teams players,” Smith said. “When I say core, I mean he’ll be on all of the special teams for us. He moved into that type of role also.”