Ben Clawson is a defensive back for Illinois from Arlington Heights, Illinois, where he played three-year varsity for Hersey under head coach Joe Pardun. He redshirted in 2022 and made his Illinois debut on September 2, 2023, versus Toledo. Primarily contributing on special teams across four games in 2023, five games in 2024, and five games in 2025 following an early-season injury, Clawson recorded two total tackles in 2025. A 2025 graduate and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, he is pursuing a master's degree in management while returning as a senior defensive back.