CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois All-American defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton has been named the Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week and the East-West Shrine Bowl Breakout Defensive Player of the Week, the all-star bowls announced Monday. Newton, a candidate for the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award, had one of the best games of his career against Wisconsin.
Newton led the Big Ten in quarterback pressures with eight during Week 8, while playing defensive tackle. He was the highest-rated defender in the nation in any game this season, according to PFF, and his 95.1 PFF grade was the best single game by any Big Ten defender since 2019.
Newton was consistently in the backfield during his 50 snaps against Wisconsin. He posted a 28.6% pressure rate and 34.5% pass-rush win rate, according to PFF, both exceptional numbers. Newton's eight pressures were the most quarterback pressures by a defensive tackle in any Power-5 game this season.
Newton totaled six tackles (4 solo), 1.0 sack, 1.0 tackle for loss, and one forced fumble against Wisconsin. His forced fumble set up Illinois on the 46-yard line, leading to the Illini's first touchdown of the game.
Newton is having another All-American-caliber season in Champaign after leading Power-5 interior defensive linemen in pressures (59) a year ago on his way to AP All-American second-team honors. He is currently leading all defensive tackles in the nation in pressures (33) and quarterback hurries (24), according to PFF. Last week, he was named to the AP Midseason All-America First Team, and he is also a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, as one of the top 16 defenders in the nation making an impact both on and off the field.
