CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois All-American defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton was named a finalist for the prestigious Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club announced Wednesday. Newton is one of five finalists and the only defensive tackle up for the award, which honors the best defensive player in college football.

Created in 1993, the award was established to complement the Heisman Trophy, which at the time had never been presented to a defensive player. This year's winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.

Newton has totaled 42 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, and three blocked kicks from the defensive tackle position this season. He is the national leader in QB pressures among interior defenders with 39, according to PFF, 16 more pressures than any other Big Ten interior defender.

Newton has been one of the most durable defensive tackles in the nation, as he leads all Power-5 defensive tackles in snaps played with 611 (61.1 per game). Newton has played 58 more snaps than any other Power-5 interior defensive lineman and 94 more than any Big Ten defensive tackle.

Newton's two biggest games have come against two of Illinois' best opponents. He had seven pressures against Wisconsin, the fourth-most by any defensive tackle in the nation this season, and six pressures against #7 Penn State in Illinois' Big Ten opener. 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 94.3 grade against Wisconsin was the highest by a Big Ten defender since 2019.

On special teams, Newton is tied for the national lead with three blocked kicks, along with Pitt LB Rasheem Biles. All three of Newton's blocks have come in Big Ten games: a field-goal attempt vs. Penn State (9/16/23), an extra point at Purdue (9/30/23), and another extra point vs. Indiana (11/11/23).

Newton is Illinois' second-ever Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists, following DE Whitney Mercilus in 2011. Newton and the Illini are back in action on Saturday at Iowa with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.

2023 Bronko Nagurski Finalists
Jer'Zahn Newton, Illinois, DT
Cooper DeJean, Iowa, CB
Malaki Starks, Georgia, S
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, S
Payton Wilson, NC State, LB

Illinois Finalists - National College Football Awards Association
2023 Nagurski - Jer'Zhan Newton, DT
2022 Thorpe - Devon Witherspoon, CB
2022 Doak - Chase Brown, RB
2013 Wuerffel - Nathan Scheelhaase, QB
2011 Nagurski - Whitney Mercilus, DE
2007 Wuerffel - J Leman, LB
2007 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year - Ron Zook, HC
2001 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year - Ron Turner, HC
1995 Butkus - Kevin Hardy, LB (winner)
1995 Bednarik - Simeon Rice, LB
1995 Bednarik - Kevin Hardy, LB
1994 Butkus - Dana Howard, LB (winner)
1994 FWAA Defensive Player of the Year - Dana Howard, LB
1990 Butkus - Darrick Brownlow, LB
1989 Outland - Moe Gardner, DT
1989 O'Brien - Jeff George, QB
1985 O'Brien - Jack Trudeau, QB
1984 O'Brien - Jack Trudeau, QB
1982 O'Brien - Tony Eason, QB
1965 Heisman - Jim Grabowski, RB
1964 Heisman - Dick Butkus, LB

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Illinois lands at No. 23 in both the AP and Coaches poll.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois baseball program announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.

"I am extremely excited about our 2024 signing class," head coach Dan Hartleb said. "We have four very athletic and competitive baseball student-athletes. This group has excelled against some of the best competition in the country.”

"We have filled some big needs with very quality athletes who have a high ceiling. Our staff did a great job of identifying and securing commitments from this sought-after class. We are looking forward to working with the entire group."


Mitch Dye / RHP
6-3 / 195 / L-R
Springfield, Ill. / Lincoln Land Community College / Sacred Heart-Griffin

• 2023 MWAC All-Conference; 2022 Central State Eight All-Conference and Player of the Year finalist.
• Went 9-3 with a 5.13 ERA (41 ER/72.0 IP) in 17 games, 14 starts in his lone season at Lincoln Land CC... Tossed two complete games.
• Struck out 91 batters in his 72.0 innings of work at Lincoln Land CC.
• Ranked as the No. 148 player in Illinois in the 2022 class.
• Chose Illinois: "It has always been my dream school. It has felt like home since I can remember."
• 2022-23 NJCAA Academic All-American.
• Son of Duane and Lori Dye. Has one sister, Maya.
• Faced off against current Illini pitcher Jake Swartz in high school; Played with current Illini Connor Milton and Logan Tabeling with the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes of the MLB Draft League.
• Was also recruited by Purdue, Indiana State, Coastal Carolina and Campbell.

Luke Landrus / C
6-2 / 185 / R-R
St. Joseph, Ill. / St. Joseph-Ogden

• 2023 Illini Prairie Conference First-Team All-Conference and team MVP; 2022 second-team all-conference.
• Slashed .352/.418/.555/.972 his junior year in 2023 with 30 HR and 35 RBI to go along with 41 runs scored and 20 stolen bases.
• Earned a News-Gazette Player of the Week honor his junior season.
• 2023 WWBA First Team All-Tournament for the Cincinnati Reds scout team.
• Ranked as the No. 4 catcher in the state, according to Perfect Game, and also the No. 13 overall player in Illinois; Earned a No. 442 national ranking from Perfect Game as well as the No. 51-ranked catcher in the country.
• Chose Illinois: "I loved the coaching staff at Illinois and the way they treated me on my visit. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be an Illini. U of I is only 20 minutes away from my home, so the short distance is great."
• Son of Derrick and Vanesa Landrus. Has one brother, Cade.
• Dad played basketball at Eastern Illinois for four years (1991-95); Mom received her Master's and PhD from Illinois.
• Also earned two letters in basketball.
• Was teammates with current Illini student-manager Coby Miller at St. Joseph-Ogden.
• Was also recruited by EIU, Western Illinois, Western Kentucky, Creighton, Cincinnati, Northern Illinois and SEMO.

Brayden Mazzacano / OF // LHP
6-2 / 175 / L-L
Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg

• 2022 all-area selection; 2021 Mid Suburban League All-Conference selection.
• Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 2 outfielder and No. 19 player in Illinois; earned a No. 500 national rank and was also ranked as the No. 108 outfielder by Perfect Game.
• Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 8 player in the state and the No. 2 outfielder; also earned a No. 287 national rank and No. 37 outfielder from Prep Baseball Report.
• Chose Illinois: "To stay close to my family and friends."
• Works at Bo Dome in Bensenville, Ill., teaching kids to play baseball.
• Was also recruited by Iowa and UIC.
• Son of Anthony and Corinne Mazzacano. Has two sisters, Mckell and Morghan.

Luke Weber / RHP
6-0 / 180 / R-R
Highland Park, Ill. / Highland Park

• Two-time Central Suburban League Pitcher of the Year (2023, '22); 2023 all-area; two-time all-conference (2023, '22).
• 2023 Perfect Game Underclass All-American; 2023 Perfect Game Central All-Region First Team.
• 2022 Prep Baseball Report Futures Game participant.
• Posted a 1.09 ERA in 2023 with 72 strikeouts in 49.2 innings of work; Had a 2.10 ERA in 2022 with 50 strikeouts in 48.1 innings.
• Ranked as the No. 23 player in the state and the No. 8 right-hander in Illinois by Perfect Game; Earned a No. 500 national rank and is the No. 239 right-hander in the country, according to Perfect Game.
• Ranked as the No. 19 player in the state and the No. 6 right-hander in Illinois, according to Prep Baseball Report.
• Son of John and Amy Weber. Has one sister, Rachel.
• Chose Illinois: "Chose Illinois because of the coaching staff, academic and athletic reputation and it felt like home."

Final

Michigan 24 Penn State 15

Maryland 13 Nebraska 10

Texas Tech 16 Kansas 13

In progress

Iowa 6 Rutgers 0 last in the 3Q

Purdue 35 Minnesota 20. 4:40 3Q

Northwestern 24 Wisconsin 3 late in 3Q

Florida State and Miami tied at 13. 6:00 3Q

Utah 28 Washington 27. 8 min 3Q

Tonight

No. 9 Ole Miss @ No. 2 Georgia

Michigan St @ No. 1 Ohio State

Xavier @ No. 2 Purdue.

Michigan @ St. John’s

Rider @ Nebraska

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois quarterback John Paddock has been named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Paddock is the second Illini to win the award in as many weeks, following wide receiver Isaiah Williams earning the honor last week.

In his first start at Illinois, Paddock went 24-for-36 passing for 507 yards and four touchdowns against Indiana in one of the greatest passing performances in Illinois history. He set the Illini's Memorial Stadium record for passing yards, had the second-most passing yards in Illinois history, and won the game with a walk-off 21-yard touchdown pass to Williams to beat Indiana in overtime.

"If I got the opportunity in a full game, I was just going to let it rip," said Paddock, who has been Illinois' backup quarterback, to Big Ten Network. "Hold nothing back. I'm a sixth year, I'm a walk-on, I was just like, 'Let's go. I've got nothing to lose. Let's just have fun with it.'"

Illinois' last two games have featured incredible performances from Paddock, a fourth-generation Illini football player. After starter Luke Altmyer left the game at Minnesota with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter, Paddock has gone 27-for-39 passing for 592 yards and five touchdown passes - including two game-winning touchdown passes - in Illinois' wins against Minnesota and Indiana. Paddock is following in the footsteps of his great grandfather, grandfather, and uncle, who have all worn the Orange and Blue.

Illinois is back in action on Saturday at Iowa. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award for the second consecutive year, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the best defensive player in college football.

Newton has totaled 42 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, and three blocked kicks from the defensive tackle position this season. He is the national leader in QB pressures among interior defenders with 39, according to PFF, 16 more pressures than any other Big Ten interior defender.

Newton has been one of the most durable defensive tackles in the nation, as he leads all Power-5 defensive tackles in snaps played with 611 (61.1 per game). Newton has played 58 more snaps than any other Power-5 interior defensive lineman and 94 more than any Big Ten defensive tackle.

Newton's two biggest games have come against two of Illinois' best opponents. He had seven pressures against Wisconsin, the fourth-most by any defensive tackle in the nation this season, and six pressures against #7 Penn State in Illinois' Big Ten opener. 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 94.3 grade against Wisconsin was the highest by a Big Ten defender since 2019.

On special teams, Newton is tied for the national lead with three blocked kicks, along with Pitt LB Rasheem Biles. All three of Newton's blocks have come in Big Ten games: a field-goal attempt vs. Penn State (9/16/23), an extra point at Purdue (9/30/23), and another extra point vs. Indiana (11/11/23).

Newton and the Illini are back in action on Saturday at Iowa. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.

RB Kaden Feagin left the Indiana game with what appeared to be an injured shoulder. He hasn't been fully functional yet. His availability versus Iowa is to be determined.

QB Luke Altmyer is still going through concussion protocol. He has to pass a test on Tuesday to be cleared for contact for the rest of the week and the upcoming game against Iowa.

OL Zy Crisler rolled his ankle against Indiana but reentered the game and is expected to play this week.

Pat Bryant didn't the game against Indiana. He likely won't practice on Tuesday, but is expected back in practice on Wednesday and should be available versus Iowa.

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How are Bryant and Feagin? Need both players down the stretch.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Coming off of two straight game-winning receptions, Illinois wide receiver Isaiah Williams was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, the award's committee announced Monday. The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes college football's outstanding receiver at any position.

Williams is having one of the best seasons by a wide receiver in Illini history. He leads the Big Ten in receptions with 68 and ranks second in both receiving yards (893) and first-down receptions (39), putting himself in contention for All-Big Ten and All-America honors.

Williams has broken his career high in receiving yards in each of the last two games, while also tying his career high in touchdowns with back-to-back two-touchdown games. He had a career-best 131 receiving yards at Minnesota (11/4/23), then shattered that mark with 200 receiving yards in the overtime win against Indiana (11/11/23).

Williams is the only player in the nation with two game-winning touchdowns in the final minute or overtime, and he has done it in back-to-back games. He caught the game-winner with 50 seconds left to win at Minnesota, then had a walk-off winner to beat Indiana last week.

Williams continues to climb Illinois' all-time ranks. He is up to No. 2 in Illinois history in career receptions with 200, trailing only College Football Hall of Famer David Williams' 262 receptions (1983-85). Williams is up to 2,142 career receiving yards, eighth all-time in Illinois history.