When head coach Bret Bielema called junior defensive linemen Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. into his office, the pair did not know what the impromptu meeting was going to be about. Both players thought they would just be reviewing film or checking in on summer progress, but Bielema had bigger news to share.

They – alongside junior wide receiver Isaiah Williams – had been chosen to represent Illinois at Big Ten Football Media Days in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

"This means the world," Randolph said. "I've been here for four years now, going into my fifth, and it's always been a goal of mine, a dream of mine to represent this great university and this football team at Media Day. When he told us, I smiled from ear to ear. It's something that I'll never forget, something that I will be able to tell people 30 years down the line. I saw the older guys do it when I was younger, and just being in this position now, it means everything."

Randolph enters the 2023 campaign following the most productive season of his career. Named to Athlon and Phil Steele's respective preseason All-Big Ten first teams, he heads into this campaign with increased expectations after tallying a career-high 12 starts, 53 tackles, and 4.5 sacks one year ago.

Arriving on campus in 2019, Randolph never expected to be in this position four years later. He remains humble and honored to represent the Orange and Blue at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday after serving as a key piece of the Illini's top-ranked defensive unit last season. 

"If you had told me four or five years ago, 'Hey Keith, you'll be representing the University of Illinois football team at Big Ten Media Day,' I would've probably laughed in your face," Randolph said. "Being in this position along with two guys I'm going with – two leaders, two All-Big Ten guys, future All-American guys, just to be in that group, there's no words to describe it."

As the other half of the "Law Firm," Newton is "honored" to attend Media Days for the first time, especially after putting up career-best numbers last season. Starting all 13 games, Newton led the Illini in tackles for loss (14.0), sacks (5.5), quarterback hurries (11), and fumble recoveries (2). His 19 quarterback hits ranked joint-best in the country, while he led Power-5 interior defensive linemen in pressures (59), per Pro Football Focus.

Earning PFF's best run defense, pass rush, and overall defensive grades among Big Ten interior defensive lineman last season, Newton earned consensus All-Big Ten first-team honors and secured AP All-American second-team status for the first time in his career.

Newton admits he was not expecting to be one of the team's representatives because he is not the most talkative person, but he is really appreciative of and excited for the opportunity to showcase what Illinois football is all about.

"I think it's really important to me that Coach picked me. I take this as a big deal because he has trust in me, and the other guys see us as leaders," Newton sad. "Last year, I stepped up in a big way on the field, so being able to represent the team off the field has always been a big thing to me. I'm always a leader off the field. I lead by example on the field, but I feel like this is a big step for me being the leader on the team."

Ranked the top returning defensive tackle in the country by PFF, Newton has already received preseason All-Big Ten first-team honors by both Athlon and Phil Steele, both of which also included him in their preseason All-America lists. Named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, Newton looks forward to his first trip to Lucas Oil Stadium as he looks to bring the Illini back to the venue for the conference championship game in December.

"We're a team that wants to win, wants to compete at a high level, hopefully for the Big Ten championship and farther than that," Newton said. "The time is now for our program. We have a lot of good recruits coming to our school, a lot of recruits still committing to our school, so I feel like we have all the pieces to the puzzle."

After a strong debut season at wide receiver in 2021, Williams established himself as the Illini's most consistent receiving option in 2022, leading the team with career-high marks in receptions (82), receiving yards (715), and receiving touchdowns (5). Named a team captain for ther first time in his career prior to the campaign, he ranked among the top 10 in the Big Ten in receptions per game, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receiving yards per game before earning all-conference honors following the season.

Williams attended Media Days last season and now knows what to expect, but he calls it "a special feeling" to know that his coaches and teammates view him as a leader. Now entering the fifth season of his college career, Williams says the trials and tribulations have paid off as he gears up to head to Indianapolis.

"It was great to know the hard work, all those tough moments, tough times that I went through as a freshman, sophomore, they paid off," Williams said. "I just stayed the course, and now seeing how all those things paid off, it was just a special feeling being picked. Knowing that I got picked with two other guys who were All-Big Ten, great leaders on his team, being picked with those guys was a great honor, and I am excited about it."

One of the shiftiest players in the country, Williams ranked second in the country in yards after the catch in 2022, and he heads into the 2023 campaign with preseason All-Big Ten first-team honors from Athlon and Phil Steele.

Chosen as Illinois' AFCA Good Works Team nominee, Williams knows the bar has been raised following an 8-5 season that culminated in a bowl berth for the first time since 2019. Spearheading a team motivated to build on last year's success, he is eager to demonstrate the famILLy culture at Media Days.

"I would love to talk about the progress we have made and the legacy and tradition that last year's team started and the teams before that started," Williams said. "This is a new team. It's not the same team as last year. We just carried on that tradition and are taking it to new levels. The standard now is not the same standard as last year; it's even higher. We're ready and excited to live up to this new standard that we have built within this culture and just sustain that throughout the season."

The Illini will be participating in the first of two days of the event, alongside Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, and Rutgers. Bielema will take the stage on Wednesday at 10 a.m. CT, with his 15-minute press conference scheduled to air on Big Ten Network. The three Illinois student-athletes will be live at the on-site studio desk from 2:30-2:45 p.m. CT, and Bielema will immediately follow from 2:45-3:00 p.m. CT on BTN.

While Williams prepares for his second trip to Indianapolis for Media Days, he will be a full participant in the event after being included as a late addition last year. Newton and Randolph will make their Media Days debuts on Wednesday, representing the Orange and Blue under the bright lights and on a big stage.

"This time, I'm going in there with more confidence, and I kind of know what to expect," Williams said. "Both of them guys, Johnny and Keith, they're both confident guys. Very smart, intelligent, so I feel like they'll be just fine. They haven't really asked me any questions or anything. They just want to be in that moment and take it when it all comes in.

"I really haven't given them any tips yet, but I'm pretty sure when that moment comes, those guys will show up just like they do on the field every Saturday."