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 Draft Scout College Football Player News: Illinois
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  2022 ALL-BIG TEN FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM (COACHES): DL Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois,...Newton had one of the best seasons by a defensive tackle in Illinois history to earn All-Big Ten first team honors. He leads the nation in QB hits (19) and ranks sixth in QB pressures (55), according to PFF. Newton leads the Illini in sacks (5.5) and is tied for second in the Big Ten in TFLs (13.0) with his teammate Keith Randolph. Newton becomes the first Illini defensive tackle to earn first-team honors since Mel Agee in 1990. He is the fifth Illini defensive tackle in the last 50 years to earn All-Big Ten first-team honors, joining Agee (1989, 1990), Guy Teafatiller (1985), Mark Butkus (1983), and Don Thorp (1983). - Illinois Football

rJr/2024 DT Johnny Newton, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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  2022 ALL-BIG TEN FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM (COACHES): DB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois,...Witherspoon is Illinois' first All-Big Ten first-team cornerback since Vontae Davis in 2008. He is the fourth Illini corner in the last 50 years to earn All-Big Ten first-team honors, joining Davis (2007, 2008), Eugene Wilson (2001), and Henry Jones (1989). Witherspoon is sixth in the nation in passes defended (17) and allowed fewer than 35 receiving yards in 11 of 12 games this season. - Illinois Football

Sr/2023 CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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  2022 ALL-BIG TEN FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM (COACHES): DB Sydney Brown, Illinois,...Brown tied for the national lead in interceptions with six, the seventh-most in program history and tied for the most by an Illini since Mike Gow had seven in 1973. He was also second on the team in tackles with 59 and had 3.5 TFLs, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. Brown gives Illinois All-Big Ten first team safeties in back-to-back years after Kerby Joseph was a first-team selection in 2021. He is the sixth Illini safety in the last 50 years to earn All-Big Ten first-team honors, joining Joseph (2021), Marlon Primous (1989), Glenn Cobb (1988), Craig Swope (1983), and Gow (1973). - Illinois Football

rSr/2023 SS Sydney Brown, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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  2022 BIG TEN TATUM-WOODSON DEFENSIVE BACK OF THE YEAR: Devon Witherspoon, Illinois,...Witherspoon was named the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year and one of three finalists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award on Tuesday, solidifying himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the nation and one of the best in Illinois history. He leads in the nation in reception percentage against (33.8) and forced incompletions (16), according to PFF. Witherspoon is sixth in the nation in passes defended (17) and allowed fewer than 35 receiving yards in 11 of 12 games this season. Witherspoon is Illinois' first All-Big Ten first-team cornerback since Vontae Davis in 2008. He is the fourth Illini corner in the last 50 years to earn All-Big Ten first-team honors, joining Davis (2007, 2008), Eugene Wilson (2001), and Henry Jones (1989). - Illinois Football

Sr/2023 CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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  NOV 28 BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sydney Brown, Illinois, DB - Sr. - London, Ontario - St. Stephens Episcopal (Fla.),...Scored two defensive touchdowns (one interception and one fumble), added a second interception and had six tackles (four solos) in Illinois' 41-3 win at Northwestern on Nov. 26...First player in the nation with both a fumble return for a touchdown and an interception return for a touchdown since Kendall Adams for Kansas State in 2017...First player in the nation with two interceptions, one interception return for a touchdown, and one fumble return for a score in the same game since SMU's Kenneth Acker accomplished the feat in 2012...Earns the second Defensive Player of the Week accolade of his career and his first of the season...Last Illinois Defensive Player of the Week: Isaiah Gay (Nov. 22, 2021). - Big Ten Football

rSr/2023 SS Sydney Brown, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
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  NOV 27 WALTER CAMP NATIONAL FBS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: SYDNEY BROWN, ILLINOIS, Senior, Defensive Back, London, Ontario/St. Stephens Episcopal (Fla.),...Sydney Brown recorded 10 tackles (4 solo) and had two interceptions and one fumble recovery as Illinois defeated Northwestern, 41-3. Brown also became the first FBS player to return an interception (38 yards) and fumble recovery (53 yards) for a touchdown in a single game. With the win, Illinois improved to 8-4, 5-3 in the Big Ten. Notes: Sydney Brown is the third Illinois player to earn Walter Camp National Player of Week honors since 2004, joining former Fighting Illini running back Mikel LeShoure (Nov. 21, 2010) and linebacker Jake Hansen (Oct. 20, 2019). - The Walter Camp Football Foundation

rSr/2023 SS Sydney Brown, Illinois
News Source: The Walter Camp Football Foundation
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  Safety Sydney Brown returned a touchdown and an interception for scores and Illinois snapped a three-game losing streak with a 41-3 rout of Northwestern on Saturday. Brown raced 53 yards for a touchdown after Northwestern quarterback Cole Freeman fumbled, then sprinted in for a 39-yard score off an interception, both in the third quarter. Illinois (8-4 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) entered with a chance to win the Big Ten West and advance to the conference championship for the first time. However, Purdue defeated Indiana 30-16 to win the division title and will play Michigan at Indianapolis next Saturday. Brown's twin brother, running back Chase Brown, punched in a 1-yard touchdown and finished with 61 yards on 19 carries. He entered leading the nation in yards rushing with 1,582 yards but fell short of Mikel Leshoure's single-season school record of 1,697 in 2010.

Tommy DeVito threw for 136 yards on 12-for-18 passing and ran for a touchdown, and Reggie Love III scored on 2-yard touchdown run to get the Illinois offense rolling. Caleb Griffin kicked a pair of field goals as the Illini finished with eight or more wins for the first time since the 2007 Rose Bowl team finished 9-4. The Illini have a winning conference record for the first time since 2007 when they went 6-2. The Illini handed Northwestern its 11th straight loss following a season-opening win over Nebraska in Dublin, Ireland. The Wildcats, 1-8 in the Big Ten, managed only Adam Stage's field goal. The Illini bounced back after a tough 19-17 loss at Michigan last week. Jake Moody made a 35-yard field goal for the Wolverines in that one with nine seconds left, handing Illinois its third straight loss after winning six straight. Illinois led 17-0 at the half on Love's 2-yard TD punch-in, Griffin's 23-yard field goal and De Vito's 1-yard keeper with 1:25 left. - Illinois/AP College Football

rSr/2023 SS Sydney Brown, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
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  Illinois' Tommy DeVito had the best completion rate of the season in a game matching FBS opponents, completing 20 of 22 against Nebraska. His 90.9% accuracy also was tops among quarterbacks who have ever visited Lincoln and had a minimum of 20 attempts. DeVito broke his previous career high of 78.1% on 25-of-32 passing against Minnesota on Oct. 15. - AP College Football

rSr/2023 QB Tommy DeVito, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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  Chase Brown rushed for 149 yards and scored on consecutive series in the second quarter, helping No. 17 Illinois beat Nebraska 26-9 on Saturday. The Illini (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) beat the Cornhuskers for the third year in a row. They won a sixth straight game for the first time since 2011 and secured their first winning regular-season record since 2007. Nebraska (3-5, 2-3) lost quarterback Casey Thompson to an injury in the second quarter. It committed four turnovers and lost its 20th straight against a Top 25 opponent. Illinois' Tommy DeVito was 20 of 22 for 179 yards and two touchdowns. His 91% completion rate was a Memorial Stadium record for visiting quarterbacks with at least 20 attempts. The Illini's top-ranked defense held Nebraska to 29 yards on 20 plays in the second half and 248 for the game, the fewest by the Huskers since they finished with the same number against Michigan State in 2018.

Brown, the national rushing leader, extended his school-record streak of games with at least 100 yards to nine. He scored on a 1-yard run and a 12-yard pass in the second quarter to put Illinois up 20-9 at half. His short TD run came two plays after his twin brother Sydney Brown intercepted Thompson's tipped pass and returned it 37 yards to the Nebraska 11. The Huskers then went three-and-out, and DeVito finished an 11-play, 72-yard drive with his pass to Brown with 23 seconds left in the half. Brown also made a key downfield block to give Isaiah Williams a clear path to the end zone on a 46-yard catch-and-run on Illinois' opening possession. Williams' unforced error in the second half put Nebraska in position to cut into the lead. Williams caught a pass in open field and, untouched, dropped the ball at his 23 for the Illini's first lost fumble in five games. The Huskers gave the ball right back when Sydney Brown picked off his second pass on Chubba Purdy's ill-advised throw into the middle of the field, and they never advanced past their own 26 on their final four possessions. - Illinois/AP College Football

Sr/2023 RB Chase Brown, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
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  After switching schools for a third time by coming to Louisville, defensive back Nicario Harper has entered the transfer portal, he announced Thursday. Harper was brought to the Cardinals' team in March to be a hybrid player, seeing time at the linebacker, safety and nickelback positions. He played in five games and totaled seven tackles, four of which came in a 35-31 loss to Florida State on Sept. 16. "A lot of people just think I'm just a physical guy, but I want to show also I can cover," he said in August. "I can move around. I can blitz. I can play up top. I can play in a box. I can do everything. That's the kind of player I feel like I am, so I want to I'm glad I got the opportunity to show that this season." Harper transferred from Jacksonville State where he recorded 54 tackles and two interceptions over two seasons. He was an Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honoree, AP All-American first team choice and a Buck Buchannon Award Finalist. The Georgia native started his college career at the University of Southern Mississippi and appeared in nine games as a true freshman in 2018. - Courier Journal

rSr/2024 FS Nicario Harper, Illinois
News Source: Courier Journal
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  It has been an eventful stretch for Chase Brown. The Illinois star became the season's first 1,000-yard rusher in the Football Bowl Subdivision on Oct. 15 and only the third player in program history to reach the milestone in back-to-back years. He was named an Associated Press midseason All-American on Tuesday and the next day the Illini unveiled a "Chasing History" webpage to promote his candidacy for postseason honors. The fifth-year running back is the undisputed headliner of a resurgent Illinois team that, at No. 18, has its highest ranking since 2011 and is first in the Big Ten West. "I wanted this season to be something to remember," Brown said. "Right now we're just over halfway, and I'm not just happy with the wins. Personally, I think we can push this way further than where it is right now. I'm so excited to see where it can end up." Brown managed to rush for 1,005 yards last season despite missing two games because of injury, and he has prioritized taking care of his body with the Illini (6-1, 3-1) relying on him more this year.

He's carrying the ball an average of 10 times more per game, and he set a national single-game high with 41 attempts for 180 yards in a 26-14 win over Minnesota on Oct. 15. He also caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Tommy DeVito in that game. Illinois visits Nebraska this week, and backup running back Josh McCray, injured in the season opener, could be available to take some of the load off Brown. Brown's 1,059 yards rushing and his per-game averages of 27.4 carries and 29.6 scrimmage touches lead the nation. "He's a workhorse man," Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said. "Their scheme matches what he does really well, especially their counter game and their power game. He's a special back. He's got speed, twitch, quickness, power. He's got it all." - AP College Football

Sr/2023 RB Chase Brown, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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  OCT 17 BIG TEN CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chase Brown, Illinois, RB - Jr. - London, Ontario - St. Stephens Episcopal (Fla.),...Rushed for 180 yards against Minnesota, adding to his national leading total of 1,059 and becoming the first running back in the country to reach 1,000 yards rushing this season...Tallied 233 all-purpose yards against the Gophers, pushing his NCAA-leading total to 1,166 yards...Becomes the first Illini back to open a season with eight-straight 100-yard games, moving past Howard Griffith, Rashard Mendenhall, Pierre Thomas, Juice Williams, Mikel Leshoure, and Josh Ferguson to jump from 12th to sixth on the Illinois all-time rushing list...Earns his fourth career Offensive Player of the Week award...Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week: Chase Brown (Aug. 29, 2022). - Big Ten Football

Sr/2023 RB Chase Brown, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
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  Chase Brown rushed for 180 yards on a career-high 41 carries and caught a 40-yard touchdown pass, Minnesota was limited to its fewest yards in five years, and No. 24 Illinois won its fifth straight game with a 26-14 victory Saturday. The Illini (6-1, 3-1) became bowl eligible for the first time since 2019 and will end the day tied for first in the Big Ten West. Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 127 yards, his nation-leading 14th straight 100-yard game and the bulk of the Gophers' 180 total yards. It was the fewest yards against Illinois by a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent since at least 2000.

Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan, held to just 21 yards on 4-for-12 passing, left early in the fourth quarter after taking a hit to the head. Athan Kaliakmanis entered for the Gophers (4-2, 1-2) and was intercepted twice. Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito, back from an ankle injury that forced him out of last week's game at Iowa in the first half, ran for a 5-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to put the Illini up 20-14. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown. Brown went over 1,000 yards rushing for a second straight year with his eighth straight 100-yard game. He now has 13 100-yard games, second most at Illinois behind Robert Holcombe's 16 from 1994-97. Brown got wide open on a wheel route for his 40-yard touchdown to finish Illinois' nine-play, 75-yard drive to open the game. Fabrizio Pinton tacked on a 31-yard field goal to give the Illini a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. - Illinois/AP College Football

Sr/2023 RB Chase Brown, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
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  OCT 10 BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK AND CO-FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Fabrizio Pinton, Illinois, K/P - Fr. - Houston, Texas - The Woodlands,...Recorded all nine points on a perfect 3-for-3 field goals in Illinois' 9-6 victory over Iowa on Saturday...Kicked his first-career field goal, a 27-yarder, to give the Illini a 3-0 lead at the 9:03 mark of the first quarter...Scored the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter with a 36-yarder that capped a nine-play, 26-yard drive to give the Illini a 9-6 lead with 2:49 remaining in the game...Garners the first Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career...Earns the first Freshman of the Week honor of his career...Last Illinois Special Teams Player of the Week: Blake Hayes (Nov. 8, 2021)...Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Deuce Spann (Aug. 30, 2021). - Big Ten Football

rJr/2026 K Fabrizio Pinton, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
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  OCT 3 MAC WEST DIVISION OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: John Paddock, Ball State, QB, R-Junior, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (Bloomfield Hills),...Paddock led the way offensively after throwing 40-of-58 for 403 yards and three touchdowns. It's the most yards thrown by a Cardinal since Drew Plitt had 439 vs. Fordham on Sept. 7, 2019 and the eighth-most passing yards in program history. Paddock captained what was the third-largest comeback in program history, as the Cardinals came back from trailing 21-0 to win 44-38 in two overtimes vs. NIU. After trailing 24-7 at halftime, Paddock went 23-of-34 for 237 yards and two touchdowns and led the offense to score on six of its eight drives in the second half and overtime to highlight the comeback. Paddock connected with nine different receivers, including seven with multiple catches and four with at least six receptions for 70-plus yards. Through five games, Paddock leads the conference and is ninth in the country with 1,538 passing yards and is second in the league with 11 touchdowns through the air. - MAC Football

rSr/2024 QB John Paddock, Illinois
News Source: MAC Football
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