First featured on siu.edu
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Outstanding Salukis past and present will ensure Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s 2025 Saluki Spooktacular homecoming celebration is one of the best.
NFL safety Jeremy Chinn, currently playing for the Las Vegas Raiders, will return to his alma mater as the grand marshal for the homecoming parade, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Chinn left his mark in SIU’s football program amassing 243 tackles, 13 interceptions, 31 passes defended and six forced fumbles from 2016 to 2019. An exercise science major, Chinn earned consecutive All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors three times, in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and was the Salukis’ 7th Consensus All-American as a senior, earning finalist honors for the Buck Buchanan Award. He won academic accolades as well.
After earning the highest relative athletic score (RAS) by a safety in NFL Scouting Combine history, Chinn was a 64th overall 2020 NFL draft selection by the Carolina Panthers. He earned honors as Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up and All-Rookie honors with the Panthers, one of just three NFL players in history and the first since 1948 to return two fumbles for touchdowns in a single game. He subsequently played for the Washington Commanders before joining the Raiders this season. A versatile defensive player, Chinn has amassed more than 480 tackles, 6 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 24 passes defended and 3 interceptions in his NFL career.
