Michael Clayton

Relieved injured Katin Houser and went 6-for-8 passing for 88 yards and two TDs, including a 25-yard TD strike to Hudson Clement on the first play of the overtime period, in the Illini's road win at Michigan State (10/10/26) · Also threw first-career touchdown pass to Collin Dixon (14 yards) in the fourth quarter at MSU, becoming the first true freshman QB with 2+ TD passes in a B1G game in Illinois program history · Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals · Position ranks: #49 (ESPN), #53 (247), #91 (Rivals) · State ranks: #107 (247), #139 (ESPN), #144 (Rivals) · Played for head coach Luther Campbell at Miami Edison · Four-year letterwinner and three-year starting quarterback · Threw for over 6,000 passing yards and 72 passing touchdowns · Led Miami Edison to a 30-6 record as the team's starting quarterback · Two-time team captain · Two-time All-District · 2024 Rivals Camp MVP · 2025 Elite 11 Accuracy Challenge 1st Place Award · Four-year member of the Honor Roll · Led his eighth grade team to the 2022 Pop Warner national title · Offers included Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Cincinnati, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska,North Carolina State, Ole Miss, Pitt, Purdue, South Carolina, Syracuse, UCF, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech Born December 11, 2007 · Son of Michael and Kanetra Clayton · One sister, Aryonna · Majoring in exploratory studies