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Safety Matthew Bailey is one of three University of Illinois football players who will represent the school at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, later on this month. It's obviously a tremendous honor, as only a trio of players are chosen by their respective head coach each year. Getting selected to greet the media at the summer kickoff event speaks to what each player's role on the current team will be this upcoming season.
It also confirms that the chosen player possesses leadership skills, and coincidentally that's what Bailey believes is his best selling point as a player.
"I would say something that I bring to the table is leadership and camaraderie," he responded, when we asked him what his best traits are as a player, during our exclusive conversation with him.
"I think the off-the-field aspect of Matthew Bailey, the football player, brings someone who builds his teammates up and brings the best out of them, and can encourage them through hard times and keep the mindset the same, whether we're winning or we're losing.
Bailey appeared at Illini Night at the Chicago Cubs, where he joined his head coach, Bret Bielema in singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch.
Additionally, Bailey's teammate, junior DE/OLB Joe Barna, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field that evening. Illini Night was the program's marquee event of the summer offseason, and it won't be long until this off period ends, and training camp commences.
Bailey further discussed (this time, he didn't refer to himself in the third person) how his leadership skills help the team, noting that he is:
"able to emphasize things, areas that we need to improve, or areas that we need to continue to be successful in, and keep that focal point on the right spot.
"I think that's what I bring to the table."
You can measure Bailey's impact on the team by looking at what Illinois' record has been with, and without him. When he missed 11 of 12 games due to injury (and thus took a redshirt season) in 2023, they went 5-7. In the other three seasons, where he was mostly fully healthy and playing just about every game (2025, 2024, 2002), they went 27-12.
That is the definition of a "difference maker" right there.
The preseason All-Big Ten third team selection also acknowledged that he needs to be more consistent. We asked the Moline, IL native what he needs to work on, in order to improve his game.
"Well, I would say I need to work on consistency," the 2024 Citrus Bowl co-MVP answered.
"I think that there are times where I become inconsistent and figuring out a way to create a routine and be consistent in my game on the field, but all of that comes with all the preparation off-the-field, the consistency on-the-field comes from all of the preparation off."
Currently, Bailey projects as a mid-to-late day three kind of NFL Draft prospect, so a big final season in Champaign could really boost his draft stock.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Illinois DB Matthew Bailey discusses what he brings to the table
Continue reading...
It also confirms that the chosen player possesses leadership skills, and coincidentally that's what Bailey believes is his best selling point as a player.
"I would say something that I bring to the table is leadership and camaraderie," he responded, when we asked him what his best traits are as a player, during our exclusive conversation with him.
"I think the off-the-field aspect of Matthew Bailey, the football player, brings someone who builds his teammates up and brings the best out of them, and can encourage them through hard times and keep the mindset the same, whether we're winning or we're losing.
Bailey appeared at Illini Night at the Chicago Cubs, where he joined his head coach, Bret Bielema in singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch.
Additionally, Bailey's teammate, junior DE/OLB Joe Barna, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field that evening. Illini Night was the program's marquee event of the summer offseason, and it won't be long until this off period ends, and training camp commences.
Bailey further discussed (this time, he didn't refer to himself in the third person) how his leadership skills help the team, noting that he is:
"able to emphasize things, areas that we need to improve, or areas that we need to continue to be successful in, and keep that focal point on the right spot.
"I think that's what I bring to the table."
You can measure Bailey's impact on the team by looking at what Illinois' record has been with, and without him. When he missed 11 of 12 games due to injury (and thus took a redshirt season) in 2023, they went 5-7. In the other three seasons, where he was mostly fully healthy and playing just about every game (2025, 2024, 2002), they went 27-12.
That is the definition of a "difference maker" right there.
The preseason All-Big Ten third team selection also acknowledged that he needs to be more consistent. We asked the Moline, IL native what he needs to work on, in order to improve his game.
"Well, I would say I need to work on consistency," the 2024 Citrus Bowl co-MVP answered.
"I think that there are times where I become inconsistent and figuring out a way to create a routine and be consistent in my game on the field, but all of that comes with all the preparation off-the-field, the consistency on-the-field comes from all of the preparation off."
Currently, Bailey projects as a mid-to-late day three kind of NFL Draft prospect, so a big final season in Champaign could really boost his draft stock.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Illinois DB Matthew Bailey discusses what he brings to the table
Continue reading...
