CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Lombardi Award, the Rotary Club of Houston announced Wednesday. Newton is the only defensive tackle and one of only three Big Ten players among the 12 semifinalists.
Newton has been the most productive and durable defensive tackle in the nation to date. He is tied for the national lead in quarterback pressures among defensive tackles with 31, according to PFF, and he has played more snaps than any other Power-5 defensive tackle with 62.75 per game. Newton leads Big Ten defensive tackles by eight pressures, with the next closest being Ohio State's Michael Hall Jr. (23).
Newton was named to the AP Midseason All-American First Team on Oct. 18 after earning AP All-American Second-Team honors following last season. He is looking to become the second Illini defender to earn consensus All-American honors in as many years, following DB Devon Witherspoon last year. Illinois has not had back-to-back years with consensus All-Americans since linebackers Dana Howard (1994) and Kevin Hardy (1995) from 1994-95.
Newton's two biggest games have come against two of Illinois' best opponents. He had eight pressures against Wisconsin, the most in a game by any defensive tackle in the nation this season, and seven pressures against #7 Penn State in Illinois' Big Ten opener, the second-most by any defensive tackle in a game this season. Newton was the highest-rated Power-5 defensive tackle in the nation during Week 3 vs. Penn State and Week 8 vs. Wisconsin (minimum 30 snaps), according to PFF. His 95.0 grade against Wisconsin was the highest by a Big Ten defender since 2019.
Newton has also contributed on special teams, as he is tied for the national lead with two blocked kicks. Both his blocked kicks have come in Big Ten games: a blocked field goal vs. Penn State (9/16/23) and a blocked extra point at Purdue (9/30/23).
Newton and the Illini are back in action Saturday at Minnesota for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff on Big Ten Network. Newton will have to sit out the first half due to a targeting penalty in the Illini's last game against Wisconsin.
Lombardi Award Semifinalists
OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
OG Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
DE Jonah Elliss, Utah
OL Olu Fashanu, Penn State
OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
ILB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
OG Zak Zinter, Michigan
Newton has been the most productive and durable defensive tackle in the nation to date. He is tied for the national lead in quarterback pressures among defensive tackles with 31, according to PFF, and he has played more snaps than any other Power-5 defensive tackle with 62.75 per game. Newton leads Big Ten defensive tackles by eight pressures, with the next closest being Ohio State's Michael Hall Jr. (23).
Newton was named to the AP Midseason All-American First Team on Oct. 18 after earning AP All-American Second-Team honors following last season. He is looking to become the second Illini defender to earn consensus All-American honors in as many years, following DB Devon Witherspoon last year. Illinois has not had back-to-back years with consensus All-Americans since linebackers Dana Howard (1994) and Kevin Hardy (1995) from 1994-95.
Newton's two biggest games have come against two of Illinois' best opponents. He had eight pressures against Wisconsin, the most in a game by any defensive tackle in the nation this season, and seven pressures against #7 Penn State in Illinois' Big Ten opener, the second-most by any defensive tackle in a game this season. Newton was the highest-rated Power-5 defensive tackle in the nation during Week 3 vs. Penn State and Week 8 vs. Wisconsin (minimum 30 snaps), according to PFF. His 95.0 grade against Wisconsin was the highest by a Big Ten defender since 2019.
Newton has also contributed on special teams, as he is tied for the national lead with two blocked kicks. Both his blocked kicks have come in Big Ten games: a blocked field goal vs. Penn State (9/16/23) and a blocked extra point at Purdue (9/30/23).
Newton and the Illini are back in action Saturday at Minnesota for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff on Big Ten Network. Newton will have to sit out the first half due to a targeting penalty in the Illini's last game against Wisconsin.
Lombardi Award Semifinalists
OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
OG Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
DE Jonah Elliss, Utah
OL Olu Fashanu, Penn State
OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
ILB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
OG Zak Zinter, Michigan
