Deakon Tonielli

Receiving:

Catches: 1 - at Northwestern (Nov. 15, 2025)

Yards: 8 - at Northwestern (Nov. 15, 2025)

TDs: none

Long: 8 - at Northwestern (Nov. 15, 2025)

At Michigan:

• Named the team’s Most Improved Player on Special Teams (2025)

• One-time letter winner (2025)

Junior (2025):

• Appeared in all 13 games (two games, special teams only) with two starts at tight end and contributed on special teams; caught eight passes for 72 yards and made two tackles to earn his first varsity letter

• Named the team’s Most Improved Player on Special Teams

• 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)

• Caught two passes for 20 yards and made two tackles on special teams against Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Dec. 31)

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