Jer'Zhan Newton

Illinois · Edge Rusher · 2020-23

SACKS: 18
TFL: 26
TKL: 181

Career totals · 4 seasons with stats

Scouting Report

Newton was a consensus All-American in 2023 and a 2-time first-team all-conference pick (2022 and 2023). Newton was also named Big Ten Conference Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.

From 2020 to 2023, Newton recorded 181 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks.

Newton was the No. 36 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

In 17-0 that career earns a 86 overall, the 2nd-highest edge rusher rating at Illinois since 1990 and No. 15 among all edge rushers of the 2020-2024 era.

Honors & Awards

2022
- First-team all-conference
2023
- Consensus All-American
- Big Ten Conference Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year
- First-team all-conference
2024
- No. 36 overall pick, NFL Draft

Season by Season

Jer'Zhan Newton season-by-season statistics at Illinois
Season	Tkl	TFL	Sacks	PD
2020	23	1.5	1.5	0
2021	50	3.5	3.5	0
2022	56	12.5	5	1
2023	52	8.5	7.5	2
Total	181	26	17.5	3

Seasons with tracked stats at Illinois. Coverage starts in 2006; tackles, sacks and passes defended start in 2016 (shown as – before then).

Fan Verdict

60% of 5 fans who voted call the 86 rating too low.

Too low 60%
Just right 20%
Too high 20%

Vote on player ratings

Illinois Teammates

Full Illinois all-time roster

Top Edge Rushers of the 2020-2024 Era

Best college edge rushers since 1990 Best Big Ten players

Sources: Wikipedia (Jer'Zhan Newton) and its All-America, all-conference, award and program statistical-leader pages; season statistics and NFL Draft data from CollegeFootballData.com. Ratings are 17-0's own estimates, graded within each era. How ratings work.