Pronunciation: EX-ay-veer

2024 Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention

Two-Time All-Big Ten

2026 Senior

• Announced his return to Illinois on Jan. 15, 2026

2025 Senior

• Played and started the first three games of the season
• Redshirted the season
• Injured in Week 3 home game vs. Western Michigan (9/13/25)
• Missed the final 10 games of the season following surgery on Sept. 24
• Athlon Preseason All-America Fourth Team
• Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
• Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List
• No. 139 overall player in college football according to CBS.com's spring rankings

2024 Junior

• Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention
• All-Big Ten First Team (Media)
• All-Big Ten Second Team (Coaches)
• AP All-Big Ten First Team
• Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist as one of the top 15 defensive backs in college football
• Started all 13 games at defensive back
• 49 tackles (43 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, four interceptions, and six pass breakups
• Tied for second in the Big Ten and 15th in the nation in interceptions (4) during the regular season
• Led Big Ten cornerbacks in snaps played (792)
• No. 3-ranked cornerback in the Big Ten by PFF (82.3)
• No. 4-ranked tackling grade among cornerbacks in the Big Ten by PFF (85.1)
• Sixth-career interception (fourth of the season) against Northwestern (11/30/24)
• Third interception of the season (fifth career) against Central Michigan (9/14/24)
• First-career pick six, first-career two-interception game, and one forced fumble vs. #19 Kansas (9/7/24), becoming the first player in the nation to force three turnovers in a game during the 2024 seson

2023 Sophomore

• All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)
• Played in all 12 games with 11 starts at defensive back
• Led the Big Ten in pass breakups (11) during the regular season
• Tied for first in the Big Ten in passes defended (14) during the regular season
• Second in the Big Ten in passes defended during conference games (10)
• Career-high nine tackles vs. Indiana (11/11/23)
• First career interception at Kansas (9/8/23)
• Led the Illinois secondary with two pass breakups in season-opening win over Toledo (9/2/23)

2022 Freshman

• Played in 11 games as a true freshman with one start at cornerback
• First career start in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State 1/2/23
• 15 tackles, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble on the season
• Career-high six tackles at Michigan 11/19/22 and against Mississippi State 1/2/23

High School

• Played for head coach McKinley Rolle at Dwyer
• Also played basketball in high school
• 2020 6A-7A All-County first team in basketball

Personal

• Born December 19, 2002
• Son of Xavier Scott and Latoya Bush
• Two brothers, Xanai Scott and Derian Williams
• Chose Illinois because, “I saw the brotherhood here. The players and coaches were very welcoming and I saw that they had great intentions for me.”
• Majoring in recreation, sport, and tourism