2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 58
Melvin Priestly
- Position:
- OL
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 305
- Major:
- Sociology
- Hometown:
- St. Louis, Mo.
- High School:
- East St. Louis (Ill.)
- Prev School:
- Grambling State
 2024 All-Big Ten |
2025 Senior
- Started all 13 games at right tackle
- Helped Illinois to its second straight bowl victory, a 30-28 win over #23 Tennessee in the Music City Bowl
- Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Fourth Team
- No. 78 overall player in college football according to CBS.com's spring rankings
2024 Junior
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Coaches)
- Started all 13 games at right tackle
- Transferred to Illinois with two years of eligibility remaining
2023 Sophomore - Grambling State
- Played in all 11 games with 10 starts at left tackle
- Played 655 snaps at left tackle
2022 Freshman - Grambling State
- Played in all 11 games with five starts at left tackle
- Played 649 snaps at left tackle
High School
- Two-star recruit by 247Sports
- Played for head coach Darren Sunkett at East St. Louis
- Played under East St. Louis assistant coach and former Illini Terry Hawthorne
- Led East St. Louis to an IHSA 6A state runner-up finish as a senior
Personal
- Majoring in sociology
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
