CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton has been named to the Associated Press Midseason All-America First Team, it was announced Wednesday. Newton is one of two Big Ten defenders to make the first team, along with Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean.
Newton has been one of the top interior defenders in the nation to date. He is third in the nation in QB pressures among interior defenders with 25 entering Week 8 vs. Wisconsin, according to PFF, including eight more QB pressures than any other Big Ten interior defender. Newton also ranks second in the nation in PFF's defensive stops statistic with 21, and he is tied for the national lead in blocked kicks with two.
Newton was an AP All-American second team selection last season.
The Illini and Newton are back in action Saturday against Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m. CT at Memorial Stadium.
Quarterback — Michael Penix Jr., sixth-year, Washington.
Running backs — Jonathon Brooks, third-year, Texas; Audric Estime, third-year, Notre Dame.
Tackles — Joe Alt, third-year, Notre Dame; Taliese Fuaga, third-year, Oregon State.
Guards — Cooper Beebe, fifth-year, Kansas State; Zak Zinter, fourth-year, Michigan.
Center — Jackson Powers-Johnson, third-year, Oregon.
Tight end — Brock Bowers, third-year, Georgia.
Wide receivers — Malik Nabers, third-year, LSU; Luther Burden III, second-year, Missouri; Rome Odunze, fourth-year, Washington.
All-purpose player — Ashton Jeanty, second-year, Boise State.
Kicker — Will Reichard, fifth-year, Alabama.
DEFENSE
Edge rushers — Laiatu Latu, fifth-year, UCLA; Dallas Turner, third-year, Alabama.
Interior linemen — Howard Cross III, fifth-year, Notre Dame; Jer;Zhan Newton, fourth-year, Illinois.
Linebackers — Payton Wilson, sixth-year, North Carolina State; Jason Henderson, third-year, Old Dominion; Edgerrin Cooper, third-year, Texas A&M.
Cornerbacks — Kool-aid McKinstry, third-year, Alabama; Kris Abrams-Draine, fourth-year, Missouri.
Safeties — Malaki Starks, second-year, Georgia; Jaylin Simpson, fifth-year, Auburn.
Defensive back — Cooper DeJean, third-year, Iowa.
Punter — Tory Taylor, fourth-year, Iowa
Newton has been one of the top interior defenders in the nation to date. He is third in the nation in QB pressures among interior defenders with 25 entering Week 8 vs. Wisconsin, according to PFF, including eight more QB pressures than any other Big Ten interior defender. Newton also ranks second in the nation in PFF's defensive stops statistic with 21, and he is tied for the national lead in blocked kicks with two.
Newton was an AP All-American second team selection last season.
The Illini and Newton are back in action Saturday against Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m. CT at Memorial Stadium.
AP All-America First Team
OFFENSEQuarterback — Michael Penix Jr., sixth-year, Washington.
Running backs — Jonathon Brooks, third-year, Texas; Audric Estime, third-year, Notre Dame.
Tackles — Joe Alt, third-year, Notre Dame; Taliese Fuaga, third-year, Oregon State.
Guards — Cooper Beebe, fifth-year, Kansas State; Zak Zinter, fourth-year, Michigan.
Center — Jackson Powers-Johnson, third-year, Oregon.
Tight end — Brock Bowers, third-year, Georgia.
Wide receivers — Malik Nabers, third-year, LSU; Luther Burden III, second-year, Missouri; Rome Odunze, fourth-year, Washington.
All-purpose player — Ashton Jeanty, second-year, Boise State.
Kicker — Will Reichard, fifth-year, Alabama.
DEFENSE
Edge rushers — Laiatu Latu, fifth-year, UCLA; Dallas Turner, third-year, Alabama.
Interior linemen — Howard Cross III, fifth-year, Notre Dame; Jer;Zhan Newton, fourth-year, Illinois.
Linebackers — Payton Wilson, sixth-year, North Carolina State; Jason Henderson, third-year, Old Dominion; Edgerrin Cooper, third-year, Texas A&M.
Cornerbacks — Kool-aid McKinstry, third-year, Alabama; Kris Abrams-Draine, fourth-year, Missouri.
Safeties — Malaki Starks, second-year, Georgia; Jaylin Simpson, fifth-year, Auburn.
Defensive back — Cooper DeJean, third-year, Iowa.
Punter — Tory Taylor, fourth-year, Iowa
