University of South Alabama Athletics

Jaguar Highlights: Earned second-team preseason all-Sun Belt Conference recognition from Athlon Sports and Lindy’s, and selected preseason third-team all-SBC by Phil Steele Publications ... Expected to start his final season at the collegiate level at one of two safety slots ... Posted six total stops, including an assist behind the line of scrimmage, in the Jags’ opening scrimmage of the spring campaign.

As A Junior (2017): Appeared in all 12 outings, starting each of the last 11 at the ‘Rover’ safety position ... Named honorable mention all-Sun Belt Conference after posting a career-best 83 stops — which ranked second on the squad — a team-high-tying three forced fumbles and three passes broken up ... Ranked among the top 12 in the Sun Belt in tackles per game, and was among the top 10 in conference-only games … Was also among the top five in the conference in forced fumbles, one shy of tying the school season record … Recorded a team-high tackle total in four of the last eight games of the season ... Tied a career best with 12 stops in the regular season finale at New Mexico State to share game-high honors ... Credited with 11 stops and a pass defensed against Idaho in the Sun Belt opener ... Led the Jaguars for the first time with eight tackles at Louisiana Tech the next week, adding a forced fumble ... Posted a game-best nine stops and broke up a pass in win over rival Troy in the “Battle For The Belt” ... One of three Jags to finish with eight tackles in Homecoming victory over ULM ... Also credited with eight stops at Georgia Southern ... Finished with six tackles against Louisiana and five at Georgia State ... Made four solo stops against No. 10 Oklahoma State in USA’s home opener ... Had four tackles in season debut at Ole Miss as well ... Recorded four stops in wins over Arkansas State and Alabama A&M, with one behind the line of scrimmage and a forced fumble against the latter.

As A Sophomore (2016): Started each of the first six contests while appearing in all 13 games ... Finished the year with 53 total tackles, one forced fumble, one pass broken up and a blocked kick ... Credited with a career-high 12 tackles and a forced fumble at Sun Belt Conference co-champion Arkansas State ... Collected seven tackles and a pass defensed in Nicholls victory, also posting seven stops against rival Troy ... Made five stops in home opener against Georgia Southern and in defeat of 19th-ranked San Diego State ... Recorded four tackles and blocked a punt to help the Jaguars open the year with a win at Mississippi State, receiving the coaches’ special teams award after the contest ... Has four stops at ULM as well ... Posted three solo tackles at Louisiana ... Finished with three stops in defeat of New Mexico State in the regular-season finale that helped South become bowl eligible, and was credited with a pair of solo tackles in victory over Presbyterian.

As A Freshman (2015): Played in eight games his first season at the collegiate level, making his first career start against North Carolina State ... Recorded a season-best two stops against the Wolfpack, adding an assist in his collegiate debut in a win over Gardner-Webb.

High School Highlights: Considered a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, garnering two stars from both Rivals.com and Scout.com ... Ranked among the top 35 players in Alabama by 247Sports.com ... Earned three letters in both football and baseball at Smiths Station High ... Ended his Panther career with 217 total tackles, four interceptions — three of which he returned for touchdowns — and 20 passes broken up ... In addition to posting 91 total stops his senior year, added five passes defensed, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in earning second-team all-state honors ... Was also selected first-team all-region and all-Bi-City ... Recorded 52 tackles, two interceptions and broke up nine passes as a junior, helping the Panthers finish 10-3 after advancing to the quarterfinals of the state 6A playoffs ... A member of the SSHS baseball team as well, helped the Panthers claim the state 7A championship his final season ... A second-team all-state selection as a designated hitter as a senior ... Hit a three-run home run to clinch third game in opening-round win over Enterprise High, then hit another in the third contest of the next round to lead SSHS to an 8-6 come-from-behind win over Auburn HS ... Helped the school reach the quarterfinals of the state 6A tournament his junior year as well.

Personal: Full name is Illya Nigel Lawrence ... Born May 27, 1997, in Phenix City, Ala. ... Son of Illya and Tanisha Lawrence ... Father, Illya, lettered as a linebacker at Troy from 1992-94 ... Favorite movie is “Furious Seven” ... Favorite book is “Hamlet” ... Favorite team is the Carolina Panthers ... Favorite athlete is Deion Sanders ... Favorite musical artists are Future and Kevin Gates ... Favorite food is teriyaki chicken ... Favorite subject is zoology ... Likes to play video games in his free time ... Hopes to tour the world and study animals in Africa in the future ... Also had offers from Cincinnati, Troy and Western Kentucky ... Major is leisure studies.