National Signing Day has come and gone, but Illinois football evidently wasn’t finished adding to their 2017 recruiting class. The Fighting Illini received a surprise commitment on Friday afternoon from defensive end Isaiah Gay (NC). The 6-foot-3, 215-pound prospect has already submitted his Letter of Intent, making this addition official.
Gay is currently unranked by all major recruiting services, however Scout indicates that he was receiving interest from Wake Forest and East Carolina. 247Sports also lists a prior verbal commitment to Elon.
Late addition to @LovieSmith's first class. #RUSHMEN getting stronger!
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) February 10, 2017
Welcome to the #Illini, Isaiah Gay. #WeWillWin pic.twitter.com/rZs1VN0LGU
Northern Nash's Isaiah Gay commits to Illinois pic.twitter.com/nn4p828MB2
— Patrick Mason (@pm222) February 10, 2017
Gay recorded 117 tackles, 25 TFLs, and 3 forced fumbles during his senior season; he was named the Big East Conference’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
Assuming that JUCO quarterback Dwayne Lawson eventually completes his degree and makes it to campus, Gay will be the 26th member of Illinois’ recruiting class. The North Carolina native will join a pretty impressive lineup of defensive lineman, including four-star DT Kendrick Green (IL), three-star DE Owen Carney (FL), and three-star DE Olalere Oladipo (IL).