The Fighting Illini defense has two big voids to fill before the 2024 season.
On Tuesday, Illinois defensive tackles Jer’Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph, also known as the Law Firm, announced their intentions to enter the 2024 NFL d=Draft.
The decision was only a formality for Johnny Newton; he is among the best defensive players in the country, is a shoo-in to be a first-round pick, and has a great chance to go in the top-10 of the draft. The 6-foot-2, 280-pound fifth-year senior has 47 tackles and 5.5 sacks this season, and last year led the country in TFLs with 14.