The Big Ten Conference is rolling out its All-Conference teams and post-season awards over the next two days. Defensive awards were announced on Tuesday.

Illinois defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton was selected as the Nagurski-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Newton is the fourth Illini in history to earn the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award, joining Dana Howard (1993, 1994), Darrick Brownlow (1990), and Moe Gardner (1990).

Newton led Power-5 defensive tackles in quarterback pressures for the second straight season in 2023, according to PFF. His 44 pressures this season

For the season, Newton totaled 52 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and four blocked kicks.

In his four-year Illinois career, Newton had 188 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, and 18.0 sacks, which tied College Football Hall of Famer Moe Gardner for the most sacks by an Illinois defensive tackle in program history.

The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award is named in honor of Minnesota's Bronko Nagurski and Michigan's Charles Woodson.

Another Illinois defensive lineman, Keith Randolph, was named All-Big Ten third team by the media and honorable mention by the coaches.

DL Keith Randolph Jr., All-Big Ten Third Team (media) and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches)Randolph totaled 49 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 10 games to earn All-Big Ten honors for the third time in his career. Randolph's 4.9 tackles per game ranked in the top five in the nation among defensive tackles. Randolph was a third-team pick by the media and earned honorable mention status from the league's coaches.

DB Xavier Scott, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)Scott led the Big Ten in pass breakups (11) and tied for the conference lead in passes defended (14). His 10 passes defended during Big Ten games ranked second in the league.

LB Dylan Rosiek, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)Rosiek led the Big Ten and tied for third in the nation in forced fumbles with four, tied for the fourth-most in Illinois single-season history. Rosiek's 82 tackles led the team and ranked 14th in the Big Ten.

OLB Seth Coleman, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)Coleman tied for second in the Big Ten in sacks during conference games (6.0) and ranked seventh in TFLs during Big Ten games (8.0). His 6.0 sacks during road games tied for the most by a Power-5 player during the regular season.

K Caleb Griffin, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)Griffin was the first kicker in Illinois history to have two game-winning field goals (final minute) in a single season. He hit game-winners against Maryland and Toledo, while going 14-for-19 (73.7%) on field goals. He was 13-for-15 on field goals inside of 50 yards.

P Hugh Robertson, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (media)Robertson averaged 42.7 yards per punt, a 2.7-yard improvement from last season. He landed 17 punts inside the 20-yard line and had just three touchbacks.

RS Isaiah Williams, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)Williams averaged 11.6 yards per punt return, tied for the second-best average in the Big Ten. Williams' offensive Big Ten honors will be announced Wednesday.