Rose Bowl Hall of Fame
1947 Rose Bowl Game
1993 Inductee
Although he lettered just one season at the University of Illinois, Julius Rykovich made the most of his senior season. A halfback from Gary, Indiana, he led the 1946 Illini to their first-ever Rose Bowl Game appearance. Rykovich (who ran for 107 yards) and teammate Buddy Young (103 yards) were named Co-Players of the Game in the Illini’s 45–15 victory over UCLA.
After graduation, Rykovich played football with the Buffalo Bills (1947–48), Chicago Rockets (1948), Chicago Bears (1949–1951) and Washington Redskins. He died in 1974.
