Bowl season means a handful of top players across the country, outside the College Football Playoffs, have decided to opt out of their team’s respective bowl game. In the case of the Music City Bowl matchup between Illinois and Tennessee, both sides are going to be without some top players.
On the UT side, the Vols will be without five players headed to the NFL. That includes wide receiver Chris Brazzell, cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood, edge rusher Joshua Josephs and linebacker Arion Carter. Tennessee has also lost some transfers, but none are starters.
Here’s a detailed look at who Illinois will be without for the game.
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EDGE – Gabe Jacas
2025 stats:
- 43 tackles
- 23 solo
- 1 PD
- 11 sacks
- 3 FF
ESPN 2026 NFL Draft Big Board Rank:
- No. 48 overall
- No. 11 EDGE
LT – J.C. Davis
2025 stats:
- 12 starts, 776 snaps
- 86.6 PFF grade
- 77.4 pass block grade
- 85.1 run block grade
- 1 penalty
ESPN 2026 NFL Draft Big Board Rank:
- Not listed
S – Matthew Bailey*
*Had surgery prior to the bowl game, may still return next year
2025 stats:
- 76 tackles
- 59 solo
- 2 PD
- 2 FF
Transfers
- CB – Vernon Woodward III
- DNP this season
- WR – Mario Sanders II
- 3 games, 0 starts
- DL – Jeremiah Warren
- 11 games, 0 starts
- LB – Easton Baker
- DNP this season on defense
- QB – Trey Petty
- DNP this season
- WR – Malik Elzy
- 4 games, 1 start
What Was Said
Illinois HC Bret Bielema
“Really, got everybody back with us. A couple of those guys opted out with JC, Gabe and obviously Matt Bailey with the surgery. But otherwise, everybody else, good to go. Everybody cleared academics.”
Everything Bielema said here
IlliniGuys Reporter Matthew Stevens
“The Illini’s best pass rusher – Gabe Jacas – has opted out and that leaves a serious void when it comes to disrupting the quarterback. Matthew Bailey, a key leader as a safety, is out due to having offseason surgery instead of waiting until after the bowl game because Bailey has an outside chance of either getting drafted or (because he took care of his shoulder issue that he’s played through all season) can be healthy for spring practice. The left tackle, J.C. Davis, who has started each of the last 25 games for Illinois since transferring in from New Mexico, has opted out and redshirt freshman Nathan Knapik, who transferred in from Idaho last winter, will be making his first collegiate start. Those are the only key players who are not playing Tuesday as Bielema (who has been known to be cagey with his injury reports) said everybody is qualified and healthy to go.”
Full interview with Stevens here
