Latest news with #JoshMcCray
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Illinois football to lose Citrus Bowl MVP running back to NCAA transfer portal
Illinois running back Josh McCray will jump into the NCAA football transfer portal when it opens on Wednesday, according to a report by The 6-foot-1, 235-pound mauling back ran for 609 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Illini last season, after three previous seasons in which he produced a combined 761 yards and 4 TDs. Advertisement He was a standout in the Illini 21-17 Citrus Bowl win over South Carolina, during which he rushed for 114 yards and notched a pair of TDs on just 13 carries and was named MVP. Illinois football 2024: Every story from Illini run to Citrus Bowl title CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 2: Josh McCray #6 of the Illinois Fighting Illini breaks away to run for a touchdown during the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Memorial Stadium on November 2, 2024 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by) McCray was head coach Bret Bielema's first recruit after taking the Illinois job in December 2020. The Illini have Aidan Laughery and Kaden Feagin (season-ending hip surgery) plus Ca'Lil Valentine all returning. Illinois has already added incoming freshman running backs John Forster and Cedric Wyche. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: NCAA transfer portal: Illinois football to lose Citrus Bowl MVP running back
USA Today
21-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Georgia football signs Illinois transfer RB
Georgia football signs Illinois transfer RB The Georgia Bulldogs have signed Illinois Fighting Illini running back Josh McCray via the NCAA transfer portal. McCray is a bruising back, who has one year of eligibility left, and was Illinois' leading rusher in 2024. McCray had a team-high 117 carries, 609 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns (No. 9 in the Big Ten/tied) in 2024. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound running back has a physical running style and is tough to bring down on first contact. McCray does not have elite speed, but runs with toughness and is excellent in between the tackles. McCray spent the first four seasons of his college football career with Illinois. He missed a lot of action in 2022 and 2023 due to injuries, but returned for a healthy and productive campaign in 2024. 247Sports ranks McCray as the No. 27 transfer running back in the country and the No. 435 overall player to enter the portal (includes the spring and winter portal windows). McCray's transfer ranking is surprisingly low considering his production from last season. However, McCray has some limitations as a pass catcher and a concerning injury history, so perhaps that explains McCray's transfer ranking. Highlights from McCray's Cheez-It Bowl game McCray's top performance in 2024 came in Illinois' 21-17 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. He recorded 114 rushing yards on 13 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns. Kirby Smart reacts after McCray's commitment Georgia also brought in Army outside linebacker transfer Elo Modozie and Miami defensive line transfer Josh Horton. The Bulldogs have several other notable transfer portal targets, but they are mostly on defense. Georgia is in the mix for Syracuse defensive lineman Maraad Watson and UNC edge rusher Beau Atkinson, who are two of the top available players in the transfer portal.
USA Today
20-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Illinois transfer RB expected to visit Georgia football
Illinois transfer RB expected to visit Georgia football Illinois Fighting Illini transfer running back Josh McCray is reportedly planning to visit the Georgia Bulldogs. McCray is one of the top running backs available in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound running back has excellent size and could help Georgia replace running back Branson Robinson, who entered the transfer portal this spring. McCray also has a solid track record of production. As a junior, McCray posted 117 carries for 609 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns (tied for No. 9 in the Big Ten) in 2024. He also added 13 receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown. McCray would be a good complement to Georgia's projected starting running back Nate Frazier, who is shifty and elusive, but does not have McCray's size. McCray is from Enterprise, Alabama. He was originally a three-star recruit in the class of 2021. He's spent the first four seasons of his college football career with Illinois. McCray missed the majority of the season in both 2022 and 2023 due to injuries. The bruising running back has 291 carries, 1,370 rushing yards, and 14 rushing touchdowns in his college football career. He's appeared in 33 games including two starts. McCray's top performance last season came in Illinois' 21-17 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. He recorded 114 rushing yards on 13 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns. Georgia's other transfer targets include
