CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois All-American defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Outland Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced Wednesday night at the Outland Semifinalist Reception in Omaha, Nebraska. Newton is one of seven semifinalists for the award, which honors college football's best interior lineman.
The Outland Trophy is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Missouri.An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.
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 Outland Trophy semifinalist and the first since All-American defensive tackle Moe Gardner was a finalist in 1989.
Newton and the Illini are back in action on Saturday at Iowa with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.
2023 Outland Trophy Semifinalists
OL Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
DT Jer'Zahn Newton, Illinois
DT T'Vondre Sweat, Texas
OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
G Zak Zinter, Michigan
C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
G Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
The Outland Trophy is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Missouri.An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.
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 Outland Trophy semifinalist and the first since All-American defensive tackle Moe Gardner was a finalist in 1989.
Newton and the Illini are back in action on Saturday at Iowa with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.
2023 Outland Trophy Semifinalists
OL Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
DT Jer'Zahn Newton, Illinois
DT T'Vondre Sweat, Texas
OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
G Zak Zinter, Michigan
C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
G Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
