Chambana Sun

The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) has announced the recipients of its 2024-25 Newcomer of the Year award. The honors were given to J.C. Davis from the football team and Abria Smith from track & field. This award, now in its third year, is presented to top male and female non-freshmen athletes competing in their first season for the Fighting Illini. The selection was made through a vote by Illinois head coaches and DIA executive staff.

J.C. Davis played a significant role in Illinois football's successful 2024 season, which included tying a record with 10 wins and defeating South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The team ended with a #16 ranking by the Associated Press. Davis started all 13 games at left tackle, earning All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media. After allowing zero pressures during the bowl victory, he was rated as the No. 7 pass-blocking tackle nationally by PFF and was named to the AP's All-Bowl Team. Originally from Oakland, California, Davis transferred from New Mexico and began his first season at Illinois as one of the nation's highest-graded returning tackles according to PFF.

Abria Smith showed remarkable progress in her initial year with Illinois' throws program after transferring from Hampton. She improved her personal best shot put mark significantly under coach J.C. Lambert, setting a program record with an 18.92m throw—one of the top marks in NCAA Outdoor history—and finished as national runner-up with an 18.85m throw during outdoor competitions. She also became Big Ten Outdoor Champion in shot put, marking Illinois' first champion since Ashley Spencer in 2009.

Smith is noted as "the second consecutive member of the Illini women's track & field program to earn Newcomer of the Year," following Darja Sopova who received it in 2024.