Bailey, Clarke, Houser to Represent Illinois at Big Ten Media Days
June 24, 2026 | Football
NEWS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Senior Illinois football student-athletes Matthew Bailey, Juice Clarke, and Katin Houser will head to Chicago next month to represent the Fighting Illini program at Big Ten Media Days. The event runs July 28-30, with Illinois' players and head coach Bret Bielema kicking off Media Days on Day 1 at the Hilton Chicago.
DB Matthew Bailey
Bailey is a two-time All-Big Ten performer, and he enters the 2026 campaign as a Phil Steele Preseason All-Conference Third Team pick and is a candidate for the Lott IMPACT Award. Bailey has led the Illini in total tackles each of the last two seasons, and for his career has amassed 185 total stops, four interceptions, and four forced fumbles from his safety position.
DB Juice Clarke
Clarke enters 2026 on the heels of an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention performance as a junior last season, despite missing the first four games due to injury. For his career he has played in 33 games with 10 starts at cornerback, tallying 69 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and 12 pass breakups – including a team-leading seven breakups in nine games last year.
QB Katin Houser
Houser joined the Fighting Illini in January as one of the top transfer quarterbacks in the nation. Over his first four collegiate seasons at Michigan State (2022-23) and East Carolina (2024-25), he has thrown for 6,438 yards and 43 touchdowns, with 15 rushing touchdowns. Last season Houser appeared on the Manning Award watch list, posting 3,300 yards on 66% passing with 19 touchdowns and just six interceptions and added 193 rushing yards and nine more scores on the ground.
