Michael Clayton II holds the QB · Depth spot in Illinois Fighting Illini’s quarterback room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Michael Clayton II is a quarterback for the Illinois Fighting Illini. The 6'4", 210-pound true freshman from Orlando, Florida, attended Miami Edison High School, where he played for head coach Luther Campbell. Clayton was a three-star recruit according to recruiting services, earning position rankings of #49 (national outlets), #53 (recruiting services), and #91 (Rivals). At Miami Edison, he completed four letters and started three seasons, accumulating over 6,000 passing yards and 72 passing touchdowns while leading the Eagles to a 30-6 record as a starter. He was named 2024 Rivals Camp MVP and won 1st Place at the 2025 Elite 11 Accuracy Challenge. Clayton received offers from 21 programs including Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Miami, and Michigan State.

Illinois2026 — present