Illinois' Randolph, Newton on Bednarik Award Watch List
The Chuck Bednarik Award named Illinois defensive linemen Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. to its 2023 preseason watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday.
The Chuck Bednarik Award named Illinois defensive linemen Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. to its 2023 preseason watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday.
The Bednarik Award
The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football. The award was launched in 1995, and it is named in honor of Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik, a two-time Super Bowl champion and the last player in NFL history to play full-time on both sides of the ball (center and linebacker). The Bednarik Award is voted on by NCAA head college football coaches, members of the Maxwell Football Club, and sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country.- Bednarik Award website
- Last three winners: Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama, 2022), Jordan Davis (Georgia, 2021), Zaven Collins (Tulsa, 2020)
Notes
- Newton is one of five players included in the 2023 watch list who was a Bednarik Award semifinalist in 2022
- Illinois is one of 10 schools with multiple players listed (Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, NC State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Tulane)
- Illinois is one of four Big Ten teams with multiple players listed (Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State)
Jer'Zhan Newton | Bednarik Award
- 2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
- 2023 Big Ten Preseason honors
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-America first team
- 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-America second team
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten first team
- 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten first team
- 2023 Pro Football Focus Preseason All-Big Ten first team
- No. 1 returning defensive tackle in the nation in 2023, according to PFF
- No. 11 ranked player in the Big Ten in 247Sports' 2023 preseason player rankings
- 2022 Walter Camp All-America second team
- 2022 AP All-America second team
- 2022 CBS All-America second team
- 2022 PFF All-America second team
- 2022 Phil Steele All-America third team
- 2022 All-Big Ten first team (coaches and media)
- 2022 Academic All-Big Ten
- 2022 Bednarik Award semifinalist
- Led the nation's No. 1 scoring defense in TFLs (14.0), sacks (5.5), quarterback hurries (11), and fumble recoveries (2) in 2022
- Tied for the national lead in quarterback hits (19) in 2022, 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 in 2022, according to PFF
- Only Big Ten defensive linemen to play 400+ snaps in 2022
- 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) in 2022, according to PFF
- No. 4 defensive grade among Power-5 interior defensive linemen and No. 1 in the Big Ten in 2022, according to PFF
- No. 2 run defense grade among Power-5 interior defensive linemen and No. 1 in the Big Ten in 2022, according to PFF
- No. 5 pass rush grade among Power-5 interior defensive linemen and No. 1 in the Big Ten in 2022, according to PFF
- Started all 13 games at defensive tackle in 2022
- 62 tackles, 14.0 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups, 11 quarterback hurries, and two fumble recoveries in 2022
- Ninth in the Big Ten in sacks per game (0.42) in 2022
- PFF Midseason All-American first team in 2022
- The Athletic Midseason All-American second team in 2022
- Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List in 2022
Keith Randolph Jr. | Bednarik Award
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-America third team
- 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-America fourth team
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten first team
- 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten first team
- No. 24 ranked player in the Big Ten in 247's 2023 preseason player rankings
- 2022 All-Big Ten third team (coaches and media)
- 2022 PFF All-Big Ten first team
- Illinois' 2022 Howard Griffith Impact Player Award winner
- Played in all 13 games with 12 starts at defensive tackle in 2022
- 53 tackles, 13.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, five quarterback hurries, and one blocked kick in 2022
- No. 8 tackling grade in the nation among interior defensive linemen (76.7) in 2022, according to PFF
- Fifth on the team in tackles (53) in 2022
Illini On Watch Lists (As of Aug. 14)
- Isaiah Adams (Outland)
- Reggie Love III (Doak Walker)
- Josh McCray (Doak Walker)
- Jer'Zhan Newton (Bednarik, Nagurski, Walter Camp)
- Keith Randolph Jr. (Bednarik, Nagurski, Outland)
- Tip Reiman (Mackey)
- Isaiah Williams (Maxwell, Wuerffel)
