A Southern man at heart, junior running back Josh McCray took his talents over 700 miles north to Illinois in 2021. Though not finished yet, McCray has made a name for himself as one of the Illini’s toughest running backs in recent memory.
His story is unique in every way. McCray has overcome obstacles on and off the field, which have shaped him into the successful athlete he is today.
High school superstar
McCray’s journey to stardom began early in Enterprise, Alabama. While he’s always been a runner, he dabbled in other positions, including safety, linebacker and wide receiver. In his junior year at Enterprise, he rushed for 604 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Then, in his senior year, he ran for 774 yards and finished with 11 touchdowns.
At a young age, he showcased his versatility on the field and knew he could take his talents further. He received offers from Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington State but committed to playing in the Midwest in 2021. With that, McCray entered Illinois’ program as a three-star recruit with tons of potential.
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Freshman phenom
McCray wasted no time jumping into action with the Illini in his first season. In 2021, he played in 11 games — an uncommon occurrence for freshmen. McCray was different. He demonstrated just how unique and skillful he was as a teenager and aided the Illini in countless ways.
McCray rushed for a total of 549 yards on 112 carries, the second most on the team that year, and scored two rushing touchdowns. At 4.9 yards per carry, he tied for 12th in the Big Ten and came in 14th among the country’s freshmen.
To average nearly 50 rushing yards per game as a freshman was tremendous. He was fast, strong and never gave up. The Illini found a gem and knew how to use it. Earlier this year, head coach Bret Bielema emphasized his admiration for McCray and got emotional discussing his time with Illinois.
“He always means a lot to me,” Bielema said. “He just continues to persevere … Everything keeps telling him that he’s going to get beat down, and he just keeps getting back up. Couldn’t be prouder of the guy today.”
Redshirt sophomore, times two
After his phenomenal freshman season, the following two seasons took quite a turn for McCray. He played in the first four games of the 2022 season, but an injury caused him to miss the remaining nine. After his injuries, McCray was set for his major comeback in 2023. However, history repeated itself. McCray played in the first five games of the 2023 season, but another injury caused him to miss the rest of the year.
“Finding success just came from following my rules and principles,” McCray said. “I faced a lot of adversity, going on my sophomore year to junior year … I was raised in a family where they never quit on anything, so I just got a ‘not quit’ mentality.”
While McCray’s family played a major part in his determination, he also attributes part of his mentality to Bielema.
“Knowing that (Bielema’s) got my back and I got his back means a lot to me,” McCray said.
Return of the runner
After two major setbacks with injuries to his knee and neck, McCray focused on bettering his health for his 2024 junior season.
“My body is great,” McCray said to Sports Illustrated. “This (is) probably the best my body has ever felt. I definitely changed a lot but I’m ready.”
McCray wasn’t the only one with high hopes for his 2024 production. He was named to the College Football Comeback Player of the Year preseason watch list.
McCray was right. His 2024 season was a much-needed comeback. McCray’s regular season ended with eight rushing touchdowns and 495 rushing yards, surpassing his combined total touchdowns from his three previous years.
Even though McCray is a running back, he also had a receiving touchdown and over 100 receiving yards this season. He has been versatile and a key player for the Illini in his junior season, and Illinois wouldn’t be where they are without him.
With one more year to go, McCray can build on his second healthy season. Illinois has already announced the return of junior quarterback Luke Altmyer and attacked the portal. McCray brings consistency and power to Illinois as it continues to establish itself as a solid Big Ten program.
