Matthew Bailey

2025 REDSHIRT JUNIOR 2025 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media) Academic All-Big Ten Playerd and started in all 12 regular-season games Team-leading 76 total tackles (59 solo), with 4.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recoveries, one quarterback hurry, and two pass breakups on the season Single-season career highs with 59 solo tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss 23rd in the Big Ten in tackles per game (6.33) Tied for 10th in the Big Ten with one fumble recovery Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten fourth team 2024 REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media) Academic All-Big Ten Fighting Illini Male Spirit Award Winner Played in all 13 games 14th in the Big Ten in tackles per game (6.8) during the regular season AP All-Bowl Team after tying the Illinois record for tackles in a bowl game with 13 against #14 South Carolina (12/31/24) in Illinois' Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win Tied Illinois bowl record with a career-high 13 tackles (five solo, eight assisted) in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against #14 South Carolina (12/31/24) Nine tackles (three solo, six assisted) against #9 Penn State (9/28/24) 2023 SOPHOMORE Academic All-Big Ten Missed 11 of 12 games with injuries and redshirted the season 2022 FRESHMAN Played in all 13 games as a true freshman 10 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, and one fumble recovery on the season Eighth in the Big Ten in interceptions (3) Interceptions against Virginia 9/10/22, Iowa 10/8/22, and Mississippi State 1/2/23 First career start in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State 1/2/23 Career-high five tackles against Mississippi State 1/2/23 No. 4-graded true freshman defensive back and the No. 3-graded true freshman in coverage during bowl season, according to PFF Against Virginia 9/10/22, became the first true freshman in the nation to record a fumble recovery for a TD and an interception in the same game since 2006 (Jerrett Sanderson of Bowling Green vs. FIU) HIGH SCHOOL Three-star recruit by 247Sports Position ranks: #130 (247) State ranks: #37 (247) Played for head coach Mike Morrissey at Moline 2021 Illinois High School Football Coaches Association 7A All-State first team 2021 Quad City Times Player of the Year All-Western Big 8 offense, defense, and special teams Academic All-Western Big 8 Set Moline records for single-season receiving yards (802) and touchdown receptions (10) as a senior PERSONAL Born August 4, 2004 Son of Dwight Bailey and Michelle Westerdale Two brothers, Immanuel and Avrom Chose Illinois because, “The coaches made me feel special and welcomed, and I’m grateful because that is hard to find. Also, the academic side of things at Illinois are something to look forward to.” Majoring in kinesiology Plans to become a physical therapist or an athletic trainer following his playing career