Coming out of high school in St. Petersburg, FL, Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton was a three-star recruit. He held offers from various Power 5 programs including Florida, Florida State, Iowa, Kansas State, and Maryland before committing to Illinois. Newton has three older brothers and one younger brother. Two of his older brothers played college football at West Florida, while another currently plays at Toledo. Additionally, his cousin (Pro Wells) played at TCU.
In his time at Illinois, Newton earned All-Big Ten academic honors twice. In 2022, he was named to the AP All-American second team. Then he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, and First-Team All-Big Ten for the 2023 season. Newton has started all but one game for the Illini since his red-shirt freshman season in 2021.
According to PFF, Newton has accumulated 124 pressures, 16 sacks, and 100 stops in 44 games for the Illini. In 2022, he generated 59 pressures and four sacks on 423 pass rush snaps. Among 224 FBS defensive tackles to play at least 400 snaps, Newton had the fifth-best overall PFF grade, the second-best run defense grade, and the ninth-best pass rush grade. Last season, his PFF grades were among the likes of current NFL rookies Kobie Turner and Calijah Kancey.
In 2023, he followed that up with 44 pressures and eight sacks on 399 pass-rush snaps. Among 190 FBS defensive tackles to play at least 400 snaps, Newton had the fifth-best overall PFF grade, the 31st-best run defense grade, and the eighth-best pass rush grade. This season, he led all FBS defensive tackles in snaps played.
HERE’S JOHNNY! Overall, Johnny Newton is a heck of a football player. We won't know his measurements until the NFL Combine comes around, but with how easily Newton disengages from blockers, I expect him to measure above average for arm length. He consistently combines a quick first step with instant arm extension and excellent hand placement to win the first significant contact on pass rush reps. But the first step is not his go-to move. In fact, I get the feeling that he prefers to read and react off the line of scrimmage. This is something that takes a high degree of skill, processing, and athleticism to pull off.
Newton uses a variety of rips, swims, swipes, hesitations, and lateral steps to live in the opponent's backfield. His hands are active in the passing lane when he doesn’t get home. This season, he recorded two batted passes, and I noticed a few more on tape that may not have fully qualified. Additionally, Newton led the country with an Illini record four blocked kicks this season.
The thing with Johnny is, you could feasibly block him if you can get your hands latched cleanly. The trouble is that nobody can seem to grab him cleanly. His hand technique and athleticism should take him far as a pass rusher. On run defense, he is more limited. He likely needs to play in a one-gap scheme at the next level. That would allow him to focus on winning one gap rather than having to worry about what is happening in the backfield while also fighting off a blocker who is likely stronger than him.
For the Chicago Bears, Newton would be an incredible fit at three-technique. If the Bears return next season with the same defensive scheme, Newton was tailor-made for it. Lovie Smith recruited Newton to Illinois to wreak havoc from that all-important three-technique position. The Bears also covet pass-rushing ability from the three technique in Matt Eberflus’ scheme.
But will the scheme be the same? And will the Bears be willing to use a top-10 pick at this position after drafting Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens just last year? I could see a world where it happens. Dexter is versatile enough to play either defensive tackle spot, and Pickens is better suited as a rotational player anyway. But my gut says the Bears look toward the offensive side of the ball with their own pick.
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