Xanai Scott holds the SS · Backup spot in Illinois Fighting Illini’s safety room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Xanai Scott is a safety for the Illinois Fighting Illini. A native of Riviera Beach, Florida, Scott attended Cardinal Newman High School, where he earned three-star recruit status from recruiting services. He was ranked #102 by recruiting services and #118 by national outlets at his position. Scott also competed in basketball and track and field, qualifying for the state meet in long jump and helping Cardinal Newman win a state basketball title in 2023. During his 2025 freshman season, Scott appeared in four games, recording defensive snaps in two contests and special teams reps across all four. He is pursuing a major in recreation, sport, and tourism.

Illinois2025 — present