Illinois Football: 5 observations from the Illini win over Minnesota

3. I am going to tell my kids one day about Jer’Zhan Newton

Illinois should have won the Wisconsin game a couple of weeks ago. If it wasn’t for the refs kicking Jer’Zhan Newton out of the game, Illinois would be on a three-game winning streak right now.

With that ejection against the Badgers, Newton had to miss the first half of the Minnesota contest. His absence in the first 30 minutes of action was noticeable.

The Golden Gophers were able to sit back in the pocket and fling the ball around. There was no pressure getting to Athan Kaliakmanis, and the below-average quarterback feasted on the Illinois defensive backs.

In the first half, Minnesota’s offense had 191 yards of offense. They were 9-of-11 for 130 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and they had 61 yards rushing with an average of 3.6 yards per carry.

When Newton entered the game in the second half, everything changed. Illinois instantly started to get pressure on Kaliakmanis, and he was way more inaccurate. Minnesota couldn’t get the ball moving, and this forced them to punt five times in the second half compared to zero punts in the first half.

In the second half, Kaliakmanis was 2-of-11 for 37 yards and one touchdown. The Minnesota running backs had 18 carries for 32 yards as well.

Newton isn’t just a difference-maker. He literally makes everyone around him better. With him on the field, Illinois’ defensive backs have an easier time because passes are more off-target. The Illini can actually stop the run as well.

I can sit here and say, I have never seen an Illinois player on defense have this big of an impact on the team in my lifetime. Without him on the field, we are a completely different defensive unit. One day, I am going to tell my kids and grandkids about Jer’Zhan Newton, and that is pretty cool. He is an all-time great and future College Football Hall of Famer.