Apr. 5—CHAMPAIGN — If Josh McCray picks up where he left off, he is going to finish his Illinois football career with a bang. And that's the plan.
The MVP of Illinois' Citrus Bowl victory against South Carolina, McCray met with the media earlier this week at the Smith Center after a spring practice.
Illinois wouldn't have won against the Gamecocks without McCray's clutch contributions: 114 yards and two touchdowns.
"That's cool having the hardware and all, but at the end of the day, I was just worried about doing my job," McCray said.
He did his job until the end. His 60-yard run late in the game sealed the deal.
"That wasn't only just me," McCray said. "That was the O-line, tight ends, receivers, great blocks. QB (Luke Altmyer) made a great call. Coach (Barry) Lunney made an amazing call."
McCray didn't realize at the time he had topped 100 yards.
"I was just so locked in on going out there and executing," he said. "I was just falling back on my training."
Of course, he did take the MVP trophy. It's in his apartment.
This is the final spring for McCray as an Illini. After the last workout later in the month, he will be down to fall camp and at least 12 games.
What's his approach to the final season?
"Just being more confident," he said. "Right now, I'm in a great state of my comfortability, executing well, going out there and playing fast. Coach (Thad) Ward told you the other day, 'The more you know, the faster you can play.' I kind of know the whole offense. Now, it's just speeding it up, being out there playing fast and having fun with it."
So far at Illinois, McCray has gained 1,370 yards, good for 27th on the school's career list. He has a great chance to climb high up the chart, landing in the Top 20 with 400 yards and Top 10 if he has a Chase Brown-like performance in 2025. Not bad for a guy rival schools wanted to play other positions.
Hanging in thereMcCray gained 549 yards his rookie season in 2021 at Illinois and looked to be on his way to stardom.
But injuries derailed him the next two years, limiting McCray to just nine total games and 212 yards.
What kept him going?
"I'm very motivated myself," McCray said. "I want to be the best and push myself every day, just trying for greatness.
"We've got Coach Ward and now we've got James White in there. They push me even more, trying to bring out the best of everyone in the room."
McCray appreciates Ward being frank with the guys.
"You don't want a coach to sugarcoat anything to you," McCray said. "It's a business at the end of the day. Just be honest with the guys and tell them everything they need to know because that's going to make us better, knowing our flaws."
Loaded room
Few positions on the 2025 Illinois roster are as talented as running back. The 23-year-old McCray is the grizzled veteran in a group that includes area products Kaden Feagin (Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond), Aidan Laughery (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) and Ca'Lil Valentine, a sophomore-to-be-from Arizona.
They are teammates and friends. None of them seem to care who gets the ball as long as the chains are moving.
In 2024, McCray led the team in carries with 117. Laughery was next with 97, followed by Feagin with 67 and Valentine with 53. Feagin's numbers were limited because he missed half the season with a hip injury.
They were effective, all averaging at least 4 yards per carry and Laughery leading the team at 6.1. You can win a lot of games with those kind of numbers, which Illinois did, taking 10 for the first time since 2001.
Laughery closed the ...
