Michael Clayton II - 2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 7
Michael Clayton II
- Position:
- QB
- Class:
- Freshman
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 205
- Major:
- Exploratory Studies
- Hometown:
- Orlando, Fla.
- High School:
- Miami Edison
2026 - Illinois
- Enters Week 9 at Maryland ranked second in Illinois program history for career TD passes by a true freshman QB (4) behind only Juice Williams (9 in 2006)
- Became the third true freshman QB in Illinois history to win a game as the starter (Juice Williams at Michigan State in 2006 and Kurt Kittner at Northwestern in 1998) going 11-for-18, for 84 yards with 2 TD passes in 21-10 victory over #25 Oregon (10/24/26)
- 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
High School
- 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
Personal
- Born December 11, 2007
- Son of Michael and Kanetra Clayton
- One sister, Aryonna
- Majoring in exploratory studies
Tuesday, November 10
Monday, November 09
Saturday, November 07
Saturday, November 07
