2024 All-Big Ten

Illinois Record - Tackles in a Bowl Game (13)

2025 Redshirt Junior

• Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten fourth team

2024 Redshirt Sophomore

• All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Fighting Illini Male Spirit Award Winner
• Played in all 13 games
• 14th in the Big Ten in tackles per game (6.8) during the regular season
• AP All-Bowl Team after tying the Illinois record for tackles in a bowl game with 13 against #14 South Carolina (12/31/24) in Illinois' Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win
• Tied Illinois bowl record with a career-high 13 tackles (five solo, eight assisted) in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against #14 South Carolina (12/31/24)
• Nine tackles (three solo, six assisted) against #9 Penn State (9/28/24)

2023 Sophomore

• Academic All-Big Ten
• Missed 11 of 12 games with injuries and redshirted the season

2022 Freshman

• Played in all 13 games as a true freshman
• 10 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, and one fumble recovery on the season
• Eighth in the Big Ten in interceptions (3)
• Interceptions against Virginia 9/10/22, Iowa 10/8/22, and Mississippi State 1/2/23
• First career start in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State 1/2/23
• Career-high five tackles against Mississippi State 1/2/23
• No. 4-graded true freshman defensive back and the No. 3-graded true freshman in coverage during bowl season, according to PFF
• Against Virginia 9/10/22, became the first true freshman in the nation to record a fumble recovery for a TD and an interception in the same game since 2006 (Jerrett Sanderson of Bowling Green vs. FIU)

High School 

• Three-star recruit by 247Sports
• Position ranks: #130 (247)
• State ranks: #37 (247)
• Played for head coach Mike Morrissey at Moline
• 2021 Illinois High School Football Coaches Association 7A All-State first team
• 2021 Quad City Times Player of the Year
• All-Western Big 8 offense, defense, and special teams
• Academic All-Western Big 8
• Set Moline records for single-season receiving yards (802) and touchdown receptions (10) as a senior

Personal

• Born August 4, 2004
• Son of Dwight Bailey and Michelle Westerdale
• Two brothers, Immanuel and Avrom
• Chose Illinois because, “The coaches made me feel special and welcomed, and I’m grateful because that is hard to find. Also, the academic side of things at Illinois are something to look forward to.”
• Majoring in kinesiology
• Plans to become a physical therapist or an athletic trainer following his playing career