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
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