The Lombardi Award named Illinois defensive linemen Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. to its 2023 preseason watch list, the Rotary Club of Houston announced on Tuesday.
The Lombardi Award
The Lombardi Award is presented annually to the most outstanding lineman – offensive or defensive – in college football who "exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability." It was established in 1970, and it is voted on by a 23-person award committee.
- Lombardi Award website
- Last three winners: Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama, 2022), Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan, 2021), Zaven Collins (Tulsa, 2020)
Notes
- Illinois is one of 15 schools with multiple players included on the 80-man list (Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, TCU, UCLA, USC, and Washington)
- Illinois is one of five Big Ten teams with multiple players listed (Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State)
- 2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
- 2023 Big Ten Preseason honors
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-America first team
- 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-America second team
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten first team
- 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten first team
- 2023 Pro Football Focus Preseason All-Big Ten first team
- No. 1 returning defensive tackle in the nation in 2023, according to PFF
- No. 11 ranked player in the Big Ten in 247Sports' 2023 preseason player rankings
- 2022 Walter Camp All-America second team
- 2022 AP All-America second team
- 2022 CBS All-America second team
- 2022 PFF All-America second team
- 2022 Phil Steele All-America third team
- 2022 All-Big Ten first team (coaches and media)
- 2022 Academic All-Big Ten
- 2022 Bednarik Award semifinalist
- Led the nation's No. 1 scoring defense in TFLs (14.0), sacks (5.5), quarterback hurries (11), and fumble recoveries (2) in 2022
- Tied for the national lead in quarterback hits (19) in 2022, according to PFF
- Led Power-5 interior defensive linemen in pressures (59), seven more than any Power-5 interior defensive lineman, and ranked seventh overall in the nation in 2022, according to PFF
- Only Big Ten defensive linemen to play 400+ snaps in 2022
- No. 26 player in the nation in 2022, according to PFF's College 101
- No. 9 graded defender in the nation and No. 4 in Power-5 (91.5) in 2022, according to PFF
- No. 4 defensive grade among Power-5 interior defensive linemen and No. 1 in the Big Ten in 2022, according to PFF
- No. 2 run defense grade among Power-5 interior defensive linemen and No. 1 in the Big Ten in 2022, according to PFF
- No. 5 pass rush grade among Power-5 interior defensive linemen and No. 1 in the Big Ten in 2022, according to PFF
- Started all 13 games at defensive tackle in 2022
- 62 tackles, 14.0 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups, 11 quarterback hurries, and two fumble recoveries in 2022
- Ninth in the Big Ten in sacks per game (0.42) in 2022
- PFF Midseason All-American first team in 2022
- The Athletic Midseason All-American second team in 2022
- Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List in 2022
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-America third team
- 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-America fourth team
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten first team
- 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten first team
- No. 24 ranked player in the Big Ten in 247's 2023 preseason player rankings
- 2022 All-Big Ten third team (coaches and media)
- 2022 PFF All-Big Ten first team
- Illinois' 2022 Howard Griffith Impact Player Award winner
- Played in all 13 games with 12 starts at defensive tackle in 2022
- 53 tackles, 13.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, five quarterback hurries, and one blocked kick in 2022
- No. 8 tackling grade in the nation among interior defensive linemen (76.7) in 2022, according to PFF
- Fifth on the team in tackles (53) in 2022
Illini On Watch Lists (As of Aug. 15)
