Illinois broke the seal on its 2026 recruiting class on Sunday, getting a commitment from a Florida quarterback.

Michael Clayton, from Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida, pledged to Bret Bielema and the Illini. Clayton is considered by 247Sports as the No. 28 quarterback in the 2026 class and the No. 66 player in Florida.

He chose the Illini from a list of finalists that included Auburn, Louisville, Missouri, Nebraska, Ole Miss, and South Carolina.

With less than a month to go before Early Signing Day, Illinois’ most immediate recruiting priority is its 2025 class, which currently features 17 players and is ranked No. 53 nationally. That class is led by Chicago-area edge rusher Cameron Brooks.

Now, though, the Illini have gained their first commitment for 2026. Below, you can take a look at Clayton’s highlights from Hudl:

Illinois currently sits at 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten. After missing a bowl game in Bielema’s third season, the Illini are postseason-bound for the third time in six year. And with three games to go, a possible 9-win season, the program’s first since 2007, isn’t out of the question.

The Illini return to the field on Nov. 16 after an open week, as they host Michigan State at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.