Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Football: 6 Illini make Pro Football Focus preseason All-Big Ten

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 6, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman Keith Randolph Jr. (88) celebrates a win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman Keith Randolph Jr. (88) celebrates a win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Illinois football
CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 05: Jer’Zhan Newton #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Illinois football is once again loaded with talent, and some of the talented athletes are getting well-deserved preseason recognition.

Last season, the Illini saw Devon Witherspoon break out and have an incredible year. His 2022 campaign earned him the No. 5 pick in the NFL Draft, and he was the 21st consensus All-American in the history of the Illinois football program.

Entering the 2023 season, Illinois has a few players who could follow in the footsteps of Witherspoon and work their way up draft boards. On Monday, Pro Football Focus announced its preseason All-Big Ten teams, and a few of these potential superstars were mentioned.

Here are the Illinois football players who made a Pro Football Focus preseason All-Big Ten team

Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten 1st Team

  • WR Isaiah Williams

On the offensive side of the ball, Illinois got wide receiver Isaiah Williams into the PFF All-Big Ten first team. He is joined by Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr.

After a season where Williams went for 715 yards and five touchdowns on 82 receptions, he is finally getting his shine. In 2022, according to PFF, Williams was the No. 12 ranked wide receiver in the Big Ten. There were a lot of departures ahead of him, though. This helped boost Williams up to the first team.

  • DT Johnny Newton

There was no question that Johnny Newton was going to be on the PFF All-Big Ten first team. He was a consensus All-Big Ten first-team lineman last season, and most outlets had him as a second-team All-American.

Newton is poised for another big year. He finished that great 2022 campaign with 59.0 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 3.0 pass deflections, and 2.0 fumble recoveries. His presence on the Illinois defensive line was noticed by PFF, as they ranked him as the No. 1 interior defensive lineman in the Big Ten last season, and it wasn’t even close.

Home/Illinois Football