Jer'Zhan Newton

UPDATES: 

Week 12: Newton recorded two sacks to finish the 2023 season with eight quarterback takedowns. He also made three solo tackles in Illinois' 45-43 loss to Northwestern. — JH

Week 11: Playing 69 snaps in Illinois' 15-13 loss to Iowa, Newton had two solo tackles and was in on three assisted tackles. He also pressured Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill on three occasions. — JH

Week 10: Newton logged a season-high 79 snaps in Illinois in the Illini's thrilling 48-45 overtime win against Big Ten foe Indiana. For the third consecutive game the lineman recorded a sack. He also had a separate QB pressure, recovered a fumble and was credited with two solo and two assisted tackles. — JH

Week 9: For the second game in a row, Newton sacked the opposing quarterback one time and was credited with a pressure as Illinois edged Minnesota, 27-26. The DT played 30 snaps total and recorded one assisted tackle. — JH

Week 8: The Illinois' disappointing 25-21 home loss to Wisconsin can in no way be pinned on Newton. The powerful DT was a pass-rushing force, registering a sack and five other pressues on Badgers' QB Tanner Mordecai. He also recorded four other tackles and, for the second week in a row, caused a fumble. He was penalized once. — JH

Week 7: Newton had some issues wrapping up on tackles, as he missed three in Illinois' upset of Maryland. But among the five tackles he was credited for in on, he forced a fumble. He also managed one QB pressure. 

Week 6: The big DT registered a sack, two pressures, and five tackles (four solo) in Illinois' disappointing home loss to Nebraska, 20-7. Newton logged 67 total snaps, the second most he's played this season. — JH

Week 5: A tough day for the Illini (2-3), who were pummeled, 44-19, by host Purdue. Newton, still, made his presence known especially as a pass rusher. Though he didn't record a sack, he did generate four pressures on Boilermakers QB Hudson Card. Newton was in on three tackles. — JH

Week 4: A quiet day for Newton statistically in Illinois' 23-17 win over Florida Atlantic. Newton was in on two tackles and missed another but anchored an Illini defense that held FAU under 100 yards rushing. He had one pressure as a pass rusher. — JH

Week 3: In his team's 30-13 loss to Penn State, Newton logged 74 snaps and was a force as a pass rusher, recording five pressures and batting down two passes. He was also credited with five tackles, though he missed two others. — JH

Week 2: Newton had a performance in the Illini's 34-23 loss to host Kansas that waffled between the spectacular and the unreliable: the DT recorded six total tackles, two sacks, and three other QB hurries — but missed four tackles. — JH

Week 1: Against Toledo, in the Illini's season-opening win, 30-28, Newton was in on six tackles (three solo) and was credited with two quarterback pressures in 31 pass-rush attempts. — JH

Week 0: DNP

HISTORY — from college bio

2023 (jr): Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List…Athlon Preseason All-America first team…Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten first team…No. 1 returning defensive tackle in the nation, according to PFF…No. 11 ranked player in the Big Ten in 247's preseason player rankings

2022 (soph): Walter Camp All-American second team…AP All-American second team…CBS All-American second team…PFF All-American second team…Phil Steele All-American third team…All-Big Ten first team (coaches and media)...Led the nation's No. 1 scoring defense in TFLs (14.0), sacks (5.5), quarterback hurries (11), and fumble recoveries (2)...Tied for the national lead in quarterback hits (19), according to PFF…Led Power-5 interior defensive linemen in pressures (59), seven more than any Power-5 interior defensive lineman, and ranked seventh overall in the nation, according to PFF…Only Big Ten defensive linemen to play 400+ snaps…No. 26 player in the nation in 2022 according to PFF's College 101…No. 9 graded defender in the nation and No. 4 in Power-5 (91.5), according to PFF…No. 4 defensive grade among Power-5 interior defensive linemen and No. 1 in the Big Ten, according to PFF…No. 2 run defense grade among Power-5 interior defensive linemen and No. 1 in the Big Ten, according to PFF…No. 5 pass rush grade among Power-5 interior defensive linemen and No. 1 in the Big Ten, according to PFF…Started all 13 games at defensive tackle…62 tackles, 14.0 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups, 11 quarterback hurries, and two fumble recoveries on the season…Led Illinois in TFLs (14.0), sacks (5.5), quarterback hurries (11), and fumble recoveries (2)...Third on the team in tackles (62)...Ninth in the Big Ten in sacks per game (0.42)...Career-high eight tackles against Chattanooga 9/22/22 and Michigan State 11/5/22…Career-high 3.0 TFLs against Michigan State 11/5/22…Fumble recoveries at Nebraska 10/29/22 and at Michigan 11/19/22…PFF Midseason All-American first team…The Athletic Midseason All-American second team…Bednarik Award Semifinalist…Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List…Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten fourth team 

2021 (redshirt fr): Played in 12 games with 11 starts…All-Big Ten honorable mention (media)...Phil Steele All-Big Ten fourth team…50 tackles, 4.0 TFLs, and 3.0 sacks on the season…Fourth-most snaps played among defensive linemen in the Big Ten (601)...Tied for third on the team with 3.0 sacks…Sixth on the team with 4.0 TFLs…Seventh on the team with 50 tackles…50 tackles led the team among defensive linemen…Six tackles and 1.0 TFL in Illinois' 9OT upset over No. 7 Penn State 10/23/21…1.0 sacks against Maryland 9/17/21…Illinois team defensive MVP against Nebraska 8/28/21

2020 (fr): Played in all eight games and started two at defensive tackles…23 tackles, 1.5 TFL one forced fumble on the season…First career forced fumble against Purdue 10/31/20…Highest rated true freshman defender (85.8) by PFF after his first career forced fumble and two tackles against Purdue 10/31/20…The 18th true freshman to start a game on the defensive line in Illinois history…Made Illinois debut at Wisconsin 10/23/20 

High school: Played for head coach Chris Harvey at Clearwater Central Catholic in Clearwater, FL…Three-star recruit by 247, ESPN, and Rivals…National rankings: #821 (247), #1024 (247 Composite)...Defensive tackle ranks: #42 (247), #56 (247 Composite)...Defensive end ranks: #86 (ESPN)...Florida ranks: #94 (247), #125 (ESPN), #134 (247 Composite)...2019 MaxPreps All-American…244 tackles, 24.0 sacks, 45.0 TFLs, five forced fumbles in his high school career…104 tackles, 16.0 sacks, 29.5 TFLs, three forced fumbles as a senior...Also played running back in high school…Also played basketball in high school

PERSONAL

Born Aug. 31, 2002…Son of Jervon Newton and Jovita Rich…Four brothers, Jervon, Jerquan, Jerjuan, Jershaun…Brothers, Jervon and Jerquan, played football at West Florida…Brother, Jerjuan, plays football at Toledo…Cousin, Pro Wells, played football at TCU…Plans to design and build cars following his playing career…Majoring in general studies…Academic All-Big Ten (2021-22)...Made high school honor roll…Offers included Boston College, Cincinnati, Colorado State, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas State, Kentucky, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina, Rutgers, Syracuse, UCF, USF, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia