2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 15
Jershaun Newton
- Position:
- QB
- Class:
- Redshirt Freshman
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 215
- Major:
- Recreation, Sport, & Tourism
- Hometown:
- St. Petersburg, Fla.
- High School:
- Clearwater Central Catholic
2025 Freshman
- Did not play in a game and redshirted the season
High School
- Four-star recruit by Rivals
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and On3
- Position ranks: #4 (Rivals), #45 (On3), #68 (247Sports), #83 (ESPN)
- State of Florida ranks: #42 (Rivals), #90 (247Sports), #161 (ESPN), #184 (On3)
- Played for head coach Christopher Harvey at Clearwater Central Catholic
- Two-time Clearwater Central Catholic Team MVP
- Also competed in basketball and track in high school
- Offers included Florida State, Indiana, Louisville, Miami, Mississippi State, NC State, Ole Miss, Pitt, South Carolina, UCF, and West Virginia
Personal
- Born October 22, 2006
- Son of Jervon Newton and Jovita Rich
- Nickname: Shauny
- Four brothers, Jervon, Jerquan, Jerjuan, and Jer’Zhan
- Brother, Jer’Zhan Newton, was an All-American defensive tackle and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Illinois before being drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft
- Brother, Jerjuan Newton, was a wide receiver at Toledo, where he was a three-time All-MAC selection and totaled 2,843 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns
- Majoring in recreation, sport, & tourism
- Chose Illinois because of the “great staff and players. I felt at home with the coaches and players.”
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
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Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
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Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
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