Jer'Zhan Newton

Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton (jer-ZAHN; born August 31, 2002) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini, where he was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earned consensus All-American honors in 2023. Newton was selected by the Commanders in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Jer'Zhan Newton

Newton in 2024
No. 95 – Washington Commanders
Position:	Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:	(2002-08-31) August 31, 2002 (age 22) St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	295 lb (134 kg)
Career information
High school:	Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater, Florida)
College:	Illinois (2020–2023)
NFL draft:	2024: 2nd round, 36th pick
Career history
Washington Commanders (2024–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Consensus All-American (2023) Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2023) Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year (2023) 2× first-team All-Big Ten (2022, 2023)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Tackles: 44 Sacks: 2 Forced fumbles: 2 Fumble recoveries: 1 Pass deflections: 1 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Newton was born on August 31, 2002, in St. Petersburg, Florida.^[1] He attended and played football at Clearwater Central Catholic High School in Clearwater, Florida, where he recorded 244 tackles and 24 sacks. He originally committed to play college football for the Maryland Terrapins before switching to the Illinois Fighting Illini at the University of Illinois.^[2][3]

College career

See also: Illinois Fighting Illini football statistical leaders

Newton with the Illinois Fighting Illini in 2022

As a true freshman for the Illinois Fighting Illini in 2020, Newton played in all eight games with two starts and had 23 tackles and 1.5 sacks.^[4] In 2021, he started 11 of 12 games, recording 50 tackles and 3.5 sacks.^[5] Newton returned to Illinois in 2022.^[6][7] Newton declared for the 2024 NFL draft following the 2023 season, where he was named a consensus All-American and the Big 10's Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year.^[8][9] He finished his career with 18 sacks, tying Moe Gardner for the most for an Illinois defensive tackle.^[10]

College statistics

Year	Team	GP	Tackles					Fumbles
			Solo	Ast	Cmb	TfL	Sck	FR	FF
2020	Illinois	7	6	17	23	1.5	1.5	–	1
2021	Illinois	12	19	31	50	3.5	3.5	–	–
2022	Illinois	13	29	33	62	14	5.5	2	–
2023	Illinois	12	26	26	52	8.5	7.5	1	1
Career[11]		44	80	107	187	27.5	18	3	2

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span
6 ft 1+5⁄8 in (1.87 m)	304 lb (138 kg)	32+3⁄8 in (0.82 m)	9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m)
All values from NFL Combine[12][13]

Newton was selected by the Washington Commanders in the second round (36th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.^[14] He underwent surgery in May 2024 to fix a Jones fracture in his left foot, which followed the same surgery on his right foot four months prior.^[15] Newton signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $9.75 million, on June 13, 2024.^[16] He was briefly on the non-football injury list prior to the start of training camp.^[17][18] Newton recorded his first career sack and fumble recovery in the Week 8 game against the Chicago Bears.^[19]

Statistics

NFL statistics

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Interceptions				Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	Int	Yds	TD	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2024	WAS	16	11	44	19	25	2	–	–	–	1	1	1	2	–
Career[20]		16	11	44	19	25	2	–	–	–	1	1	1	2	–

Personal life

Newton has four brothers, Jervon, Jerquan, Jerjuan, and Jershaun. Jerjuan ranks within the top ten in career touchdown receptions for the Toledo Rockets.^[10] His cousin Pro Wells played tight end for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL) in the early 2020s.^[21]