Ben Clawson brings veteran depth and academic-earned reliability to Illinois’ secondary
In the 2026 season, Illinois DB Ben Clawson is a fifth-year veteran at 6-foot, 210 pounds who has survived the college-football grind, battled back from an injury-shortened stretch, and earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition along the way[1][3]. He’s not a flashy stat-sheet monster, but his appeal is steadiness, physicality, and coach-friendly dependability in coverage and run support; if you want a mature, high-floor defensive back with local roots and a team-first profile, he fits the bill[1][3][14].
