Mike Bellamy WR - 1988-1989

Speed, power, explosiveness, quickness, pure hands and crisp-route runner are all words to describe legendary Illini wide receiver Mike Bellamy. As the nation's top junior college receiver prospect, he joined the Fighting Illini with much promise in 1987.

Bellamy played two seasons for the Illini after redshirting in 1987 and was a second-team All-American as a kick returner and first-team All-Big Ten as a wide receiver in 1989. As a senior in 1989, Bellamy caught 59 passes for 927 yards and eight touchdowns for the Fighting Illini. His 28.7-yard kick return average that season ranks second in school history. He still holds the Illinois single-game kick return record of 170 yards. Bellamy posted 10 catches for 189 yards in the 31-21 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl.

Bellamy was drafted in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent two seasons with the Eagles. He served as a wide receiver and kick returner but played in only six games for the Eagles because of injury. Bellamy spent four more years in the NFL with the Colts, Bears and Raiders. He also played for the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League of American Football for two seasons, winning the World Bowl in 1996 and leading the World League in touchdown receptions.

In 2007, Bellamy was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame for his accomplishments at the College of DuPage, which he attended before coming to Illinois. Today, Bellamy is entering his second season as the wide receiver position coach at Illinois. He helped mentor NFL rookies Ryan Lankford and Steve Hull in 2013.