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Two Illinois Football players named to AP All-B1G First Team

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2 years ago

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Illinois football stars, Pat Bryant and Xavier Scott.
Credit: Vincent Carchietta

Xavier Scott and Pat Bryant were named to the AP All-Big Ten First team per the official Illinois Football Twitter account. Scott and Bryant were standout players for the Illini and instrumental in achieving a 9-3 record with a birth to the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. Pat Bryant has made it clear that he intends to move on and skip the Bowl game to solely focus on his NFL dream. Xavier Scott, however, has not announced anything yet and also has one more year of eligibility. Though Scott could certainly be a late-round draft pick, he has the option to return to Champaign to build on what was a historic season.

Xavier Scott

Despite a mid-late season injury, Scott had a fantastic season. In addition to the AP Poll recognition, Scott also earned All Big-Ten first team by the Big Ten media and second team per the coaches. He totaled four interceptions and was one of the leaders on a defense that truly rebounded from a subpar year in 2023. If Scott returns, the defensive secondary will immediately become a strength of the team. Xavier Scott, Matthew Bailey, and Miles Scott would be huge for an Illinois football team that needs as much experience as possible. Along with outside linebacker, Gabe Jacas, Scott’s offseason decision will be one of the most pivotal events. 

Pat Bryant

It is certainly nice to see Pat Bryant recognized highly in the AP poll. Last week, Bryant was snubbed from the All-Big-Ten first team despite being the most productive receiver in the conference. Nonetheless, Pat Bryant will be an NFL draft pick. He has the length and NFL skillset to play on Sunday afternoons for a while. Bryant was an absolute savior for Illinois football this year as he totalled 54 receptions for 984 yards. Illinois football will definitely miss their star receiver for their Bowl Game vs South Carolina, however, Pat made a completely reasonable decision to prepare for his career.

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