Advertisement

Illinois Football: Two Illini defensive stalwarts declare for the 2023 NFL Draft

Zain Bando
Zain Bando

Writing Illini

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 10: Devon Witherspoon #31 of the Illinois Fighting Illini attempts to interception a pass in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Two Illinois football superstars will not see the field in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Just minutes before the Illini basketball team was set to take the floor at State Farm Center, Devon Witherspoon and Sydney Brown, two of the catalysts of the Illini football defense, announced their decisions to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft.

The news means that neither Brown nor Witherspoon will play in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State on January 2. At press time, the odds favor Illinois by one point.

Brown posted a heartfelt message to Twitter, thanking the players, coaches, and fans alike for five years with the program.


Witherspoon, the 12th Consensus All-American from the Illini since 1950 and 21st in program history, echoed similar feelings. Witherspoon was originally a recruit with no stars to his name just three seasons ago.

How did these two Illinois football superstars go out on top?

In their last game in the Orange and Blue, Witherspoon and Brown turned Ryan Field into a suburban Illini home game, as a 41-3 victory against Northwestern saw the defense create six turnovers.

Among those six turnovers, Brown was able to take two of the turnovers into the end zone for scores. Witherspoon also joined the turnover party with a 57-yard interception that opened the floodgates early.

Both men have left their mark on the program and look toward future success on Sundays.

Zain Bando

Zain Bando

Zain Bando is an alumnus of not one but two Big Ten institutions. He attended Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a focus on journalism and Sports Media. His heart, however, still lies with the Orange and Blue (I-L-L), where he was a member of the Orange Krush and Block I student sections during undergrad. Bando was part of the FanSided Network as a contributor from May 2019 to October 2023. He has vast experience covering Illinois, Northwestern, Combat Sports and one-off feature-style stories. All opinions are his own. You can email him at zainbando99@gmail.com. He is open to any feedback.