University of Illinois Graduate

2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl MVP

Transferred in 2025 after four seasons
Totaled 33 games played (2 starts), 291 carries, 1,370 rushing yards, and 14 rushing touchdowns during his Illinois career

Played in all 13 games
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl MVP after rushing 13 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns to lead Illinois to a victory over #14 South Carolina (12/31/24)
Rushed for three touchdowns in win vs. Michigan State (11/16/24), becoming the first Illini running back to run for three scores in a game since Jason Ford on Nov. 20, 2010, vs. Northwestern at Wrigley Field
Career-long 42-yard rushing touchdown vs. Minnesota (11/2/24)
Ran six times for 27 yards to reach 1,000 yards rushing in his career at #1 Oregon (10/26/24)
Posted first-career three touchdown game in win vs. Purdue (10/12/14), rushing for two scores and also recording his first-career touchdown reception
Scored his first rushing touchdown of the season in season-opening win vs. Eastern Illinois (8/29/24)
Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List
College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List

Played in the first five games before missing the rest of the season with an injury
One start on the season at Purdue
Doak Walker award watch list
Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten third team
Recorded third-career rushing touchdown, a 1-yard plunge to cap the Illini's opening drive vs. Toledo (9/2/23)

112 carries for 549 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on the season
Second on the team in carries (112) and rushing yards (549)
Ninth in the Big Ten in rushing yards per carry (4.9)
14th in the nation in rushing yards per carry among freshmen (4.9)
14th in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (49.9)
Rushed for 142 yards at #7 Penn State 10/23/21, the most rushing yards ever by an Illini true freshman against a ranked opponent
Rushed for career-high 156 yards on a career-high 24 attempts against Purdue 9/25/21
156 rushing yards at Purdue were the fifth-most in a game by a true freshman in 2021 and the most by a true freshman in a road game in 2021
Rushed for 60 yards on eight attempts including his first-career touchdown before leaving the game with an injury against Maryland 9/17/21
Finished with five carries for 18 yards in his Illinois debut against UTSA 9/4/21
Illinois victory team MVP against Nebraska 8/28/21

Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
Position ranks: #103 (247), #125 (ESPN)
State ranks: #35 (Rivals), #75 (ESPN), #81 (247)
2020 Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 7A All-State first team
2018 Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 7A All-State second team
Three-time Southeast Sun Player of the Year
Rushed for 774 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior, averaging 7.0 yards per carry (111 carries), and caught 28 passes for 440 yards and six touchdowns as a senior
Returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as a senior
Rushed for 604 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior
Started games at running back, safety, linebacker and wide receiver for Enterprise
Played for head coach Rick Darlington at Enterprise
Helped Enterprise reach the 2020 Alabama 7A state playoffs
Under Armor All-America Camp Series invite
ESPN300 Elite Underclassmen Camp invite
Rivals Camp Series invite
Also played basketball in high school
Committed to Illinois on January 5, 2021
Offers included Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington State

Born February 24, 2002
Son of Chris Ann
Chose Illinois because, “of the family atmosphere.”
Graduated from the University of Illinois in May 2025 with a degree in communication

Josh McCray