The quarterback at the helm of IC football's best four-year stretch in program history, Michael Bates had a record of 30-8 as a starter and led the Blueboys to its only Division III playoff appearance as a freshman in 2011. He would be named All-MWC in his final three seasons and as a senior was both a finalist for the 2014 Gagliardi Trophy and the Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for Division III football. He holds or is tied for five single-game, season or career records at Illinois College, including most career completions (836), most career passing yards (10,787) and most career passing touchdowns (107).