JN #95

Jer'Zhan Newton

Defensive Tackle · Illinois

The Big Ten's 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, now anchoring Washington's interior defensive line as a second-round pick.

Jer'Zhan Newton was one of the most disruptive interior defenders in college football before Washington drafted him 36th overall in 2024. After overcoming foot surgeries to debut as a rookie, he has developed into a consistent pass-rushing presence up front for the Commanders.

★ Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2023)

★ Consensus All-American (2023)

★ Second-round pick (36th overall) by Washington in the 2024 NFL Draft

★ Illinois' career sack record co-holder among defensive tackles (18 sacks)

Path to the league

Newton starred at Clearwater Central Catholic High School in Florida before flipping his commitment from Maryland to Illinois. Over four seasons with the Fighting Illini, he racked up 18 career sacks, tying Moe Gardner for the most ever by an Illinois defensive tackle, and led Power-5 defensive tackles in quarterback pressures in back-to-back seasons. Washington selected him in the second round (36th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, the third-highest drafted defensive tackle in Illinois history.

Career highlights

Newton's breakout 2023 season at Illinois earned him consensus All-American honors and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award, making him just the fourth Illini to win that honor. That year he posted 52 tackles and 7.5 sacks while establishing himself as one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the country.

2025 season recap

After recovering from foot surgeries, Newton played all 16 games as a rookie in 2024, recording 44 tackles and 2.0 sacks. He built on that in 2025, appearing in 17 games with 38 tackles and 5.0 sacks, showing improved pass-rush production in his second NFL season.