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Bielema blasts Thorpe Award snub for Scott & Bailey
16 Aug
Summary
- Bret Bielema expressed frustration over two Illinois DBs missing the Thorpe Award list.
- Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey were excluded despite strong past performance.
- Bielema questioned Tulsa's two selections over Illinois's overlooked players.
Heading into the 2026 college football season, the Illinois Fighting Illini football team, fresh off two consecutive bowl game victories, is poised for success. While the offense features East Carolina transfer Katin Houser as the new starting quarterback, the defense, under new coordinator Bobby Hauck, is generating significant buzz.
However, head coach Bret Bielema recently voiced strong disapproval regarding the Thorpe Award watch list, an honor recognizing the nation's top defensive back. Bielema expressed anger that Illinois defensive backs Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey were not included on the list, a decision he found baffling.
Bielema specifically questioned how two players from Tulsa were selected while no Illinois defensive backs made the cut, highlighting Scott's finalist status in a previous year and Bailey's high NFL draft projections. He described Scott as intelligent and versatile, capable of playing all five defensive back positions.
With Scott and Bailey combining for eight years of experience at Illinois, they are expected to prove their worth this season. Their exclusion from the Thorpe list provides the Fighting Illini with considerable motivation as they aim for another successful season in 2026, potentially leading to individual accolades.
