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University of Illinois Athletics

2018 Football Roster

9 Sam Mays

  • Ht./Wt. 6-3 / 200
  • Position WR
  • Hometown Missouri City, Texas
  • High School The Kinkaid School

Biography

Career Highs

Receptions: 4, three times (last vs. Western Illinois, 9/8/18)
Receiving Yards: 47 vs. Kent State, 9/1/18
Long Reception: 30, twice (last vs. Purdue, 10/13/18) 
Rec. Touchdowns: 1, twice (last vs. Michigan State, 11/5/16)
All-Purpose Yards: 39, twice (last vs. Michigan State, 11/5/16)

2018 Senior

  • Started all 12 games at wide receiver 
  • 29 receptions for 331 yards
  • Second on the team in receiving yards (331) and third in receptions (29)
  • Career-high 69 receiving yards and tied a career-high with four receptions in the season finale at Northwestern 11/24/18
  • Tied career long with 30-yard reception against Purdue 10/13/18
  • Tied career high with four receptions against Kent State 9/1/18, Western Illinois 9/8/18, and Northwestern 11/24/18

2017 Junior

  • Played in seven games

2016 Sophomore

  • Nine games played with one start at wide receiver
  • Started at Wisconsin, his second career start
  • 13 receptions for 158 yards and one touchdown on the year
  • Averaged 1.4 receptions per game and 17.6 yards per game
  • Averaged 12.2 yards per reception
  • 10 of 13 receptions came in the last five games
  • 30+ receiving yards in three of the last five games
  • Game-winning touchdown with 1:35 left vs. Michigan State
  • Career-high 39 receiving yards vs. Minnesota and Michigan State
  • Career-high four receptions against Michigan State
  • Career-long 30-yard reception against Minnesota

2015 Freshman

  • Played in all 12 games as a wide receiver, making one start
  • Seven receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown on season
  • Two receptions for 37 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown, in the season opener vs. Kent State
  • Two receptions for 21 yards vs. Nebraska
  • First career start at Iowa

High School

  • Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN.com, Rivals and Scout
  • Ranked as the No. 9 wide receiver in Texas by 247Sports
  • First-team All-Area and All-State private school team after hauling in 58 catches for 905 yards and eight touchdowns in 2014
  • Selected to Greater Houston first-team offense
  • Finalist for Touchdown Club of Houston Offensive Player of the Year
  • Four-year letterwinner in football and three-year letterwinner in basketball
  • Team captain for both football and basketball teams as a senior

Personal

  • Born Nov. 13, 1996
  • Son of Joe and Gwen Mays
  • Has two sisters
  • Cousin, Roger Lee Jordan, played football at Northwestern from 2000-04
  • Cousin, Larry Micheaux, played basketball for the University of Houston from 1979-83 (Phi Slamma Jamma)
  • Cousin Kendrick Bridges played basketball at Houston Baptist University from 1998-2002
  • Involved in many community services initiatives, including Beating Cancer with a Stick and Kinkaid Special Olympics
  • Served as a mentor in Kinkaid Peer Mentor Program
  • Plans to major in business

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 9

    2015Freshman

    WR
    6'3" 200 lbs
    9
  • 9

    2016Sophomore

    WR
    6'3" 200 lbs
    9
  • 9

    2017Junior

    WR
    6'3" 200 lbs
    9
  • 9

    2018Senior

    WR
    6'3" 200 lbs
    9