Matthew Bailey holds the SS · Starter spot in Illinois Fighting Illini’s safety room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Matthew Bailey is a safety from Moline, Illinois, who has served as a team leader in tackles for the Illinois Fighting Illini. As a true freshman in 2022, Bailey recorded 10 tackles, three interceptions, and two pass breakups across 13 games. After redshirting in 2023 due to injury, he returned in 2024 as a sophomore to post 94 tackles and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors. He tied the Illinois bowl record with 13 tackles in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against #14 South Carolina on 12/31/24. In 2025, Bailey started all 12 regular season games, amassing 76 total tackles (59 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and one quarterback hurry before missing the bowl game with an injury. A returning sixth-year senior, Bailey was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List and earned Athlon and Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Third Team honors.

Illinois2022 — present