2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 1
Xavier Scott
- Position:
- DB
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 195
- Major:
- Recreation, Sport, & Tourism
- Hometown:
- Riviera Beach, Fla.
- High School:
- Dwyer
Pronunciation: EX-ay-veer
 2024 Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention |
 Two-Time All-Big Ten |
2026 Senior
- Announced his return to Illinois on Jan. 15, 2026
2025 Senior
- Played and started the first three games of the season
- Redshirted the season
- Injured in Week 3 home game vs. Western Michigan (9/13/25)
- Missed the final 10 games of the season following surgery on Sept. 24
- Athlon Preseason All-America Fourth Team
- Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
- Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List
- No. 139 overall player in college football according to CBS.com's spring rankings
2024 Junior
- Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention
- All-Big Ten First Team (Media)
- All-Big Ten Second Team (Coaches)
- AP All-Big Ten First Team
- Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist as one of the top 15 defensive backs in college football
- Started all 13 games at defensive back
- 49 tackles (43 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, four interceptions, and six pass breakups
- Tied for second in the Big Ten and 15th in the nation in interceptions (4) during the regular season
- Led Big Ten cornerbacks in snaps played (792)
- No. 3-ranked cornerback in the Big Ten by PFF (82.3)
- No. 4-ranked tackling grade among cornerbacks in the Big Ten by PFF (85.1)
- Sixth-career interception (fourth of the season) against Northwestern (11/30/24)
- Third interception of the season (fifth career) against Central Michigan (9/14/24)
- First-career pick six, first-career two-interception game, and one forced fumble vs. #19 Kansas (9/7/24), becoming the first player in the nation to force three turnovers in a game during the 2024 seson
2023 Sophomore
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)
- Played in all 12 games with 11 starts at defensive back
- Led the Big Ten in pass breakups (11) during the regular season
- Tied for first in the Big Ten in passes defended (14) during the regular season
- Second in the Big Ten in passes defended during conference games (10)
- Career-high nine tackles vs. Indiana (11/11/23)
- First career interception at Kansas (9/8/23)
- Led the Illinois secondary with two pass breakups in season-opening win over Toledo (9/2/23)
2022 Freshman
- Played in 11 games as a true freshman with one start at cornerback
- First career start in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State 1/2/23
- 15 tackles, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble on the season
- Career-high six tackles at Michigan 11/19/22 and against Mississippi State 1/2/23
High School
- Played for head coach McKinley Rolle at Dwyer
- Also played basketball in high school
- 2020 6A-7A All-County first team in basketball
Personal
- Born December 19, 2002
- Son of Xavier Scott and Latoya Bush
- Two brothers, Xanai Scott and Derian Williams
- Chose Illinois because, “I saw the brotherhood here. The players and coaches were very welcoming and I saw that they had great intentions for me.”
- Majoring in recreation, sport, and tourism
Thursday, March 05
Thursday, February 12
Thursday, February 05
Wednesday, January 21
