CHAMPAIGN — What Ty Rodgers would do after redshirting the 2024-25 season was a reasonable topic of conversation as the offseason started.

It didn't take long to get an answer.

Nine days after Illinois saw its season end with a second-round exit in the NCAA tournament, Rodgers announced his intention to return for the 2025-26 season. It came with no note, no caption. Just a simple "I'm back" graphic posted to social media.

Rodgers' decision to redshirt the 2024-25 season came as a surprise. The 6-foot-6 junior guard represented Illinois at Big Ten media day in Rosemont in early October. A month later, on the night of the season opener against Eastern Illinois, the news broke he wouldn't play in the game against the Panthers ... or in any others this past season.

Then Rodgers assumed a spot mostly behind the scenes for Illinois. He challenged his teammates in practice with a season on the scout team and was locked in for every moment during games from his spot near the end of the bench.

“I’ve been able to work on myself and really just help my teammates,” Rodgers told The News-Gazette during the NCAA tournament in Milwaukee. “I feel like I’ve been able to lead in different ways I haven’t in the past. I think it’s been able to help me, and I’ve been able to help everybody else.

“Mentally, I’m in a better place. Physically, I’ve been working with (strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher). I’ve been able to do a lot of things I think will be able to help me for next year.”

Help Rodgers will provide for Illinois after deciding to return for what will be his redshirt junior season.

Rodgers started all 38 games for Illinois during the 2023-24 season, helping the Illini reach the Elite Eight for the first time since the 2004-05 season. The Saginaw, Mich., native averaged 6.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and two assists during that 29-win season and was Illinois' second-most effective offensive rebounder behind Dain Dainja.

A four-star recruit in the Class of 2022, Rodgers arrived at Illinois ahead of the 2022-23 season having finished his high school career at Thornton where he earned News-Gazette All-State First Team honors. He played in all 33 games as a freshman and 3.3 points and four rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game off the bench.

There was no guarantee Rodgers would return to Illinois after redshirting the 2024-25 season. Sencire Harris redshirted the season prior, left last offseason for West Virginia and is in the transfer portal again following Mountaineers coach Darian DeVries departure for Indiana.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood, however, was optimistic when discussing Rodgers' decision to redshirt this past November.

“I think he’s an Illini," Underwood said after his team beat EIU in the season opener. "I think he’s our guy. We love Ty to death, but our world doesn’t have any guarantees now. We’ll do everything that we can do within our power to help him be as successful as he can be. There’s no rhyme or reason to anything, but we sure hope he’s an Illini.”

Five months later Rodgers still is.

Scott Richey covers college basketball for The News-Gazette. His email is , and you can follow him on Twitter ( @srrichey ).