CHAMPAIGN — Sam Mays was among the last players on the Memorial Stadium practice fields Tuesday morning, taking reps off a JUGS machine. Mays had one of Illinois' managers holding on to a towel wrapped around his arm, simulating a physical defensive back.
Mays took ball after ball off the machine working on hauling in contested catches. It's not an unusual sight.
The senior wide receiver is regularly among the last players on the practice field taking extra reps, either with one of the Illini quarterbacks or solo.
"I'm just honing my craft trying to make sure that I'm ready when the opportunity comes," Mays said.