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Elite Illinois football trio heading to Las Vegas for Big Ten Media Days

Illinois football has a lot of promise in 2025, and the top players are heading to Las Vegas for Big Ten Media Days.
ByRees Woodcock|
Oct 19, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Xavier Scott (14) steps into the light on the tunnel before the start of a game with the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Oct 19, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Xavier Scott (14) steps into the light on the tunnel before the start of a game with the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

This might be the biggest Big Ten Media Days the Illinois football program has ever had.

Coming off a 10-win campaign, the media’s eyes will be on the Illini. We are one of the darling programs of the Big Ten entering the 2025 campaign, so there will be more attention than ever before.

For the first time ever, the Big Ten Media Days will be out west. The event will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, naturally, and it will be from July 22-24.

This year, Illinois is sending three players who will represent the program.

QB Luke Altmyer

After two years at Ole Miss, Altmyer transferred to Illinois. He had a breakout year in 2024, throwing for 2,717 yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Altmyer is now entering his third season in Champaign. While he isn’t listed as one of the best quarterbacks in the country, everything the Illini do offensively runs through him. This program goes as Altmyer goes.

OT JC Davis

Bret Bielema traveled out to California to bring JC Davis back for one more season. He returned to the Illini after getting another year of eligibility thanks to a court ruling.

Davis was a stalwart on the Illinois offensive line in 2024. He played 824 snaps last season, and that will be the expectation once again. Davis is Illinois’ best offensive lineman, and he is going to be protecting Altmyer’s blindside. So, naturally, he should be in Las Vegas at Big Ten Media Days.

CB Xavier Scott

Illinois had to send a defensive player, so picking the best defender makes sense. Xavier Scott will be the third player in the Illini trio heading to Big Ten Media Days.

Scott is entering his fourth season at Illinois, and he is coming off his best campaign, where he had 49 tackles, six pass deflections, and four interceptions. Scott graded out as the No. 59 out of 848 cornerbacks in the country last season.

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