Ourlads' Profile:
2024 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about JER'ZHAN NEWTON:
Illinois | HT: 6015 | WT: 304 | 40 time: 4.80 | Arm: 3238 | Hand: 0912 | Wing: 7578
Junior entry, three year starter. First team All-Big 10 and first-team All-America in 2022-2023. Was voted the Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year in the Big 10. Has a compact frame with outstanding natural knee and ankle bend. Loose hips allow quick lateral agility. High motor player who has lined up all along the Illini defensive front including zero, one, three, and five techniques. At his best as a three technique where double teams aren’t as much of a factor. Quick at the snap he plays with leverage and power showing a variety of moves to escape blocks. In one-on-one situations he can get under a blocker and stun and separate while gaining ball side leverage along with locating the ball. Has remarkably quick and powerful hands and can easily reload if first pop is stalled. Shows excellent lateral movement in pursuit chasing plays to the perimeter and across the field. Solid one gap defender he can penetrate and disrupt blocking schemes. Relentless pass rusher he shows a bull rush into a move, push pull, and arm under as part of a solid pass rush repertoire. Push pull is an effective counter to discard an overextending blocker. Second effort gets him to a lot of plays. Will often face double teams in the pass rush and has to be accounted for in blocking schemes. Lacks ideal length and it shows at times taking on a block and tackling as he will miss occasionally coming off a block. Struggles with double teams at times and can get locked up and stalemated. Powerful blockers have at times neutralized his ability to work laterally. While he’s been extremely productive, he’s had some quiet periods. He’s what a lot of teams are looking for in a defensive tackle and in the right scheme can be elite.
2023 Stats: 52 T, 8.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 9 QBH, 1 FF, 4 BK. Draft projection: 1st/2nd round