Illinois DLs Newton, Randolph to go into NFL draft

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterNov 21, 2023, 04:37 PM ET

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• College football press reporter.
• Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
• Graduate of Northwestern University.Illinois defensive take on Jer’Zhan Newton, a

  possible top-10 NFL draft choice, and fellow Illini defensive take on Keith Randolph Jr. are both set to move on to the NFL in 2024. Both Illinois juniors informed reporters Tuesday of their intentions.Newton, ranked No. 23 on Mel Kiper’s Big Board and No. 8 in a current roundtable of ESPN draft experts, said he would not play in a championship game if Illinois(5-6) lands one this winter. Randolph stated he is uncertain on a bowl game.The Illini can become bowl-eligible by beating Northwestern on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Editor’s Picks 2 Related”It

  ‘s truly important for me, attempting to get my teammates one more game to play in,”Newton told press reporters.

  “I know a lot of individuals don’t have professions

  after this, a lot of individuals will not go to the NFL, so just to have people playing one more game together as an unit, seeing my team play, that would be actually big for me.” The 6-foot-2, 295-pound Newton, an AP second-team All-America choice in 2022 and a two-time All-Big Ten selection, has 47 deals with, consisting of 5.5 sacks, as well as team highs in both quarterback rushes( 8) and blocked kicks(3), and a forced fumble and fumble recovery.The Florida native and team captain is a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the country’s leading defensive player.Randolph, likewise a captain who leads FBS defensive tackles in deals with per game( 5.6), is likewise a two-time All-Big

  Ten selection. He appears at No. 9 on Kiper’s list of leading draft-eligible protective ends for the 2024 draft. Randolph is connected for second on the team with 4 quarterback hurries. “This is my final year here,” Randolph told 247 Sports on Tuesday.”It’s psychological. I’ve been here for a long time. I’m a senior. I didn’t move. I have actually been here because Coach [Lovie] Smith. We’ve been through a great deal of ups and downs

  and a lot of adversity. This location is my home, and it will permanently hold a location in my heart.”