Vitals: 6-3, 225, DE
Hometown: Nashville, N.C.
High School: Northern Nash
Looking back at 2017: Gay was the third-youngest FBS player to start a game last season when he made his first career start in Illinois' second game of the year against Western Kentucky. He made one other start as a true freshman but played in all 12 games, emerging as a key part of the Illini's defensive line rotation at the end position. Wildly prolific in his senior year of high school, Gay finished his first season of college football with 20 tackles, four tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and one sack.