Illinois State wide receiver Luke Mailander was running varsity track as a high school sophomore, which helped him develop confidence, maturity and leadership skills. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
Editor’s note: This is the fourth of a four-part series.
By Barry Bottino
Early in his high school track career at Elmhurst’s York High School, Luke Mailander found himself on a big stage.
“As a sophomore, I was running on varsity and competing at state (at Eastern Illinois in Charleston),” he said. “You walk out on that Eastern track … I was shaking. But you’ve got to get in the blocks and go.”
Mailander’s career as a sprinter blossomed into a second-place finish in the 4×200-meter relay and seventh place in the 4×100. The experience left an indelible impression, which has helped shape his football career.
“It helped me mature as a person and a leader,” said Mailander, a redshirt freshman wide receiver at Illinois State.
What lessons did he learn? “Don’t be afraid of pressure. Don’t be afraid of competition,” he said. “I always try to look at it that way.”
Mailander is still running past the competition. He’s scheduled to start at wide receiver for the Redbirds in their season opener Saturday at FBS Oklahoma.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Mailander is among four Fresh Faces for 2025 at Illinois State as chosen by Prairie State Pigskin. This series highlights new or returning players stepping into bigger roles at every Illinois FCS program.
ISU wide receivers coach Mickey Turner said Mailander made an impression immediately after the 2024 season ended.
“The biggest thing was his demeanor every day. He gained a little confidence that he’d been through a year seeing the level of play,” Turner said.
Mailander’s improvements continued through the summer and into fall camp. He added 10 pounds, improved his blocking and sharpened his overall game.
“Everything is a lot more crisp,” Turner said. “He always could run by people. Now he can stop and start. He trusts his (blocking) technique and he finishes. He had a nice, consistent camp.”
The same speed he flashed at York is still a key piece of his game.
“I like to play fast,” Mailander said. “I like to use my speed to my advantage. I’ve got strong, confident hands. I’m a strong route runner.”
Mailander is taking over a starting job from Xavier Loyd, who had 66 catches for 912 yards and six touchdowns before leaving for FBS Missouri via the transfer portal. But he isn’t focused on matching those numbers.
“I need to be the best version of myself,” he said. “Just play hard and don’t overthink it.”
Here are ISU’s other Fresh Faces to watch this season:
Jack McGarry, OL
Center was one of the biggest off-season holes the Redbirds needed to fill on their roster. Enter McGarry, a junior transfer from Missouri who played prep football at Hinsdale Central.
The 6-4, 285-pound McGarry spent three seasons with the Tigers, including the past two years as a reserve at center.
McGarry is slated as the starter for ISU, replacing last season’s center, Ryan Gudaitis, who chose not to use his final year of eligibility because of a lingering back issue.
Shadwel Nkuba II, DB
When considering a transfer to Illinois State from FBS Louisiana, Nkuba sought out an assistant coach at Tyler (Texas) Junior College, where he previously played. That coach was former ISU quarterback Brady Davis.
The connection helped get Nkuba to Normal and he has earned a starting spot at cornerback in ISU’s rebuilt secondary. He played in only four games in 2024, but in 2023 at Louisiana, he played in 13 games as a backup and had five pass breakups to go with 13 tackles. The 6-1, 190-pound Nkuba is a Texas native.
Garret Steffen, DL
A year ago, Steffen was slated to be part of ISU’s defensive line rotation after transferring from Western Illinois. He never got that chance, sustaining an injury just before the season that cost him the entire 2024 campaign.
This year, the Wisconsin native will get another shot. At 6-4 and 275 pounds, Steffen is projected to back up Nick Kessler at defensive end. In 2023 at WIU, he played in all 11 games and started 10, collecting 27 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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