National Football Foundation

A four-year starter at center for the Illinois Fighting Illini, Curtis Lovelace captained the 1990 team that went 8-4 and claimed a share of the Big Ten title. That season, he earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from UPI and was named a First Team Academic All-American. A standout on and off the field, he twice earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (1988-90). He appeared in the All-American Bowl, the Citrus Bowl, and the Hall of Fame Bowl.

His academic and leadership accolades include the George Huff Scholar-Athlete Award, the Toyota Leadership Award, and two Honda Scholar-Athlete Awards.

Lovelace earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1990 and a Juris Doctor in 1994.