Illinois Football 2025 Scouting Report: Defensive Back Matthew Bailey

Bailey, who had a breakout 2024 season, may be ready to take the next step for the Illini – and his career

Sep 14, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Matthew Bailey (7) pursues Central Michigan Chippewas wide receiver Jordyn Williams (18) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois on SI is delivering scouting reports for each of the key players on the Illini football team's 2025 roster. Below, we present our breakdown of Illini junior defensive back Matthew Bailey. We will add more as other on-field contributors emerge during the season. Find our scouting reports of other Illinois players by searching in your favorite browser or clicking in our projected depth chart – coming soon.

Matthew Bailey | Defensive back | Junior | No. 7

Hometown: Moline, Illinois

High school: Moline

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 215 pounds

Preseason honors: Phil Steele preseason All-Big Ten fourth team

Scouting report

Bailey has excellent size and is as physical as they come at his position. He covers ground quickly moving forward or down the line, and he gets through traffic, sheds and wraps up about as productively as any safety in the Big Ten. He can put a lick on a ball carrier or rip the ball loose. Bailey can move into the box and effectively serve as a fifth linebacker for the Illini in certain schemes and short-yardage situations.

Although best deployed in zone coverage and most effective when he's able to see the action and make plays on passes thrown in front of him, Bailey is a solid pass defender and has better ball skills than most college strong safety types. He has a playmaker's mentality and is an ideal fit in defensive coordinator Aaron Henry's scheme.

Experience

Bailey played in 13 games as a true freshman in 2022, not only on special teams but also earning a fair number of reps from scrimmage, recording three interceptions and five pass defenses. He was a hero of the ReliaQuest Bowl, earning his first start, snaring a pick, forcing a fumble and returning it for a score to grade out as the No. 3 true freshman defensive back during bowl season, according to PFF.

A shoulder injury scuttled all but one game of Bailey's sophomore season (which he then redshirted), but he returned in 2024 to deliver a breakout season. An All-Big Ten honorable mention last year, Bailey played in every game, ranking 14th in the conference in tackles (6.8 per game) and peaking in the Citrus Bowl by tying an Illinois record with 13 tackles in a bowl game.

Year	Team	Games	Tackles	TFL-Yds	Sacks	INTs	Pass breakups	Forced fumbles
2024	Illinois	13	94	1.5-3	0	1	8	2
2023	Illinois	1	5	0.5-0	0	0	0	0
2022	Illinois	13	10	0	0	3	5	0

Media highlights

Picked off by the Illini 😱

Matthew Bailey makes the play for @IlliniFootball 🤝#B1GFootball on CBS 📺 pic.twitter.com/NmTEEIUFVZ

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 19, 2024

What they're saying

"We didn't offer him until, like, two days before signing day because I knew if I did, other people would follow. And we've been lucky enough to be the recipient of Matt Bailey for a long time, He's got two years [left], and to be honest, if he plays the way I think he's capable of playing, he'll probably have a decision to make because he's an elite football player and an elite person," Illini coach Bret Bielema on Matt Bailey, hinting that he he may be ready for the NFL after this season.

Sep 20, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Isaiah Neyor (18) runs after a catch against Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Matthew Bailey (7) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

2025 outlook

Illinois has its headliners in quarterback Luke Altmyer and linebacker Gabe Jacas, but Bailey is one of the experienced, talented supporting stars without whom the Illini couldn't have dreamed of winning 10 games last season. In order for the program to repeat and make a push for the College Football Playoff, Bailey will have to be at least as good in 2025. He'll be a starting safety for Illinois and a candidate to take yet another step up.

More from Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

Illinois Football 2025 Scouting Report: Defensive Back Xavier Scott

Illinois Football 2025 Scouting Report: Defensive Back Kaleb Patterson

Illinois Football 2025 Scouting Report: Defensive Back Torrie Cox Jr.

Illinois Football 2025 Scouting Report: Defensive Back Jaheim Clarke

Illinois Football 2025 Scouting Report: Defensive Back Tanner Heckel