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University of Illinois Athletics

2025 Football Roster

51 Clayton Leonard

  • Position OLB
  • Class Junior
  • Height 6-4
  • Weight 250
  • Major Kinesiology
  • Hometown Danforth, Ill.
  • High School Iroquois West
  • Instagram clayton_leonard
  • Twitter ClaytonLeonar16

Biography

2024 Redshirt Sophomore

  • Academic All-Big Ten
  • Played in one game on the season
  • Made Illinois debut vs. Eastern Illinois (8/29/24)

2023 Redshirt Freshman

  • Academic All-Big Ten
  • Did not play in a game

2022 Freshman

  • Did not play in a game and redshirted the season
  • Illinois’ Offensive Look Team Player of the Year

High School 

  • Three-star recruit by 247Sports and On3
  • Position ranks: #95 (On3), #125 (247)
  • State ranks: #27 (On3), #39 (247)
  • Played for head coach Jason Thiele at Iroquois West
  • Three-year letterwinner
  • 2021 Illinois High School Football Coaches Association 1A All-State first team
  • Two-time All-Vermillion Valley Conference offensive lineman and one-time All-Vermillion Valley Conference defensive lineman
  • Two-time News Gazette All-Area
  • Also played basketball in high school
  • Two-time Board Scholar
  • Offers included Central Michigan, Illinois State, and Toledo

Personal

  • Born August 11, 2003
  • Son of Josh and Jenny Leonard
  • Two brothers, Cannon and Cort, and one sister, Phylicity
  • Chose Illinois because, “The atmosphere and the famILLy feel.”
  • Majoring in kinesiology
  • Plans to coach football following his playing career

Statistics

Season:
2025

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 76

    2022Freshman

    OL
    6'4" 290 lbs
    76
  • 76

    2023Redshirt Freshman

    OL
    6'4" 290 lbs
    76
  • 41

    2024Sophomore

    TE
    6'4" 290 lbs
    41
  • 51

    2025Junior

    OLB
    6'4" 250 lbs
    51