The News-Gazette · Jul 29, 2018
Top 50 most important Illini: No. 6, Mike Epstein
Vitals: 6-0, 200, RB
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas
Looking back at 2017: Epstein was well on his way to a breakout true freshman season, racking up 346 yards and three touchdowns on 57 carries in the first five games last season. He scored a pair of touchdowns in his debut against Western Kentucky and led the Illini in both rushing yards and yards per carry (6.1) to become the fifth true freshman in program history to accomplish the former. Then he suffered a season-ending leg injury at Iowa and missed the last seven games.