2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 21
Ben Clawson
- Position:
- DB
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 205
- Major:
- Agribusiness, Markets, & Management
- Hometown:
- Arlington Heights, Ill.
- High School:
- Hersey
2025 Junior
- Played in five games, primarily on special teams
- Played in the final five games of the season following an injury that sidelined him for the first nine games
- Academic All-Big Ten
2024 Sophomore
- Played in nine games
- Academic All-Big Ten
2023 Redshirt Freshman
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in four games
- Made Illinois debut in season-opening win vs. Toledo (9/2/23)
2022 Freshman
- Did not play in a game and redshirted the season
High School
- Played for head coach Joe Pardun at Hersey
- Three-year varsity starter
- Two-time all-area and All-MSL East Conference
- Hersey team MVP as a junior
- Two-year captain
- Missed his senior season with an injury
- Also played baseball in high school
- Offers included Air Force, Army, South Dakota, Southern Illinois, and Valparaiso
Personal
- Born October 16, 2003
- Son of Scott and Diana Clawson
- One brother, Daniel, who attends the University of Illinois
- Chose Illinois because, “From the very first visit, the coaches made me feel right at home. The facilities are outstanding. I really liked the campus and the wide variety of academic offerings."
- Majoring in agribusiness, markets, and management
Thursday, March 05
Thursday, February 12
Thursday, February 05
Wednesday, January 21
