Brunstein reflects on Tropical Bowl, historic IC career
By Ryne Turke
There’s a good chance we’ll never see another athlete with the resume of Collin Brunstein. With a record-setting career at Jacksonville High School and Illinois College under his belt, Brunstein received one final accolade, an invite to the FBS All-American Tropical Bowl.
Held at Daytona Stadium in Florida, the yearly event showcases an all-star exhibition of the top college senior football players in the country.
Brunstein, who broke the NCAA career receiving touchdown record (77) this past season on the Hilltop, was thrilled to get the call to suit up one more time as a representative of Illinois College.
He shared, “We arrived on Thursday and were busy nonstop. They got all our measurements in front of a hundred scouts then went through tons of 1 on 1s, 7 on 7s, special teams and practice drills. The competition was really good and was awesome for me to go up against guys that play on tv every Saturday. The talent across the board was as big and fast as me. I ran great routes, blocked well and even got a target in the game. I’m happy I was able to showcase my ability.”
As Brunstein prepares for his Pro Day invite at Northwestern in March, he reflects on his memorable career in Jacksonville.
“Illinois College gave me the opportunity to play receiver and kick in my hometown. I think every athlete tries to paint this picture of going D1 or a really big school for sports, but ultimately what led me to IC is I wanted to play football, not watch it.”
After a freshman season on the second-string, an injury in the Illinois College receiver depth chart opened up a spot for Brunstein. By his junior season, Brunstein was earning attention not only in the Midwest Conference, but in the entire nation.
“When I got my shot to play, I knew I’d have to make the most of it. Going into my senior year I set high standards for myself and the team. I ended up with a record breaking year of 2,200 yards and 32 touchdowns, and to top it off, we won the conference.”
In a career full of highlights, Brunstein recalls his lights out performance against University of Chicago in 2023.
“We got on the board early when I scored a 90-yard touchdown on a screen pass, but I tweaked something in my back on the play. I was playing at around 75% the whole day, but ended up with seven catches, 300+ receiving yards and three touchdowns.”
As Illinois College’s all-time leading receiver with 5,047 yards, Brunstein says he was put into the perfect situation to thrive.
“These past few years I was fortunate to play under our offensive coordinator, Drew Chance. We ran a no-huddle, fast-paced offense that helped me play at my best. Our receivers coach Michael Salerno set high standards for me, because he knows the kind of athlete I am. My offensive line is always where the thanks needs to start, but my quarterback, Destin Chance, is a big reason why I ended up with so many records. He’s a smart player that can sling the rock like no one else. Football has been a major part of my life. It’s helped shape me into the man I am and I’m grateful for this opportunity.”
Saturdays won’t be the same without Brunstein on the Hilltop. His weekly highlights have been among my favorite moments in the broadcast booth. From me and so many others, thanks for laying the foundation of excellence at Illinois College and putting our community on the national map.
Do great things. We’re all cheering for you.
