CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Fighting Illini defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton was selected Monday as an Associated Press Preseason All-American.
Newton, who is also on preseason watch lists for the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Nagurski Award, and Walter Camp Player of Year Award, is one of two interior lineman listed on the 13-player AP first-team defensive unit.
He is the Illinois program's first AP Preseason All-American, and is also listed on 2023 preseason All-America teams by The Athletic (first team), Athlon (first team), CBS/247 Spors (first team), ESPN (first team), Phil Steele (second team), and Walter Camp (first team).
- Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
- 2023 Big Ten Preseason honors
- AP Preseason All-American first team
- ESPN Preseason All-America first team
- The Athletic Preseason All-America first team
- 2023 Walter Camp Preseason All-America first team
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-America first team
- CBS Sports/247Sports Preseason All-American 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
- 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
- Bednarik Award Semifinalist in 2022
- Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List in 2022
