Draft Profile: Bio

Jer'Zhan Newton emerged from Clearwater Central Catholic High School with a three-star recruit ranking from both ESPN and 247 Sports. After high school, he took his talents to the University of Illinois, where he began to build a solid foundation for his collegiate football career.

In the 2020 season, as a freshman, Newton made an immediate impact on the field, participating in 8 games and logging 329 snaps. His defensive contributions were quantifiable: 15 tackles, 11 assists, and 13 stops, alongside 6 total pressures that included 5 quarterback hurries and one sack.

Newton's sophomore year saw a significant increase in responsibility and performance. Over 12 games and 611 snaps, he amassed 27 tackles and 17 assists, with an additional 19 stops. His presence in the pass rush became more pronounced, resulting in 15 total pressures, 9 quarterback hurries, 3 quarterback hits, and 3 sacks.

The upward trend continued into his junior year in 2022, where Newton's participation expanded to 666 snaps across 12 games. His defensive stats for this season included 35 tackles, 15 assists, and 34 stops. As a pass rusher, he notched an impressive 54 total pressures, with 32 quarterback hurries, 18 quarterback hits, and 4 sacks. His performance during the year was rewarded with first-team All-American honors, as he recorded 62 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and 3 pass breakups.

From his senior year in high school through his junior year at Illinois, Newton's growth is reflected in his cumulative statistics: 73 tackles and five sacks over his first two seasons, followed by a remarkable junior season that solidified his reputation as a dominant defensive player.