Illinois Football Star in Top-15 of 2024 Mock Draft

Illinois Football Star in Top-15 of 2024 Mock Draft.

Illinois Football had an eventful weekend at the 2023 NFL Draft. The Illini had four players from their programs hear their names called. The Seattle Seahawks drafted Devon Witherspoon with the fifth overall pick. Quan Martin, Sydney Brown and Chase Brown were also draft picks. Though it may seem that Illinois lost a lot, there are plenty of other players on this current roster that are have that same NFL draft potential. A good team in college athletics is usually made by players who could have been drafted, however chose to stay in College for an extra year.

Illinois has quite a few of those. Notably, the Law Firm chose to return for one more year in Champaign. Ironically, a tweet came out for a “way too early” 2024 mock draft.

PFF’s 2024 1st Round Mock Draft: Picks 11-20♨️ pic.twitter.com/YbkISGnmub

— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 2, 2023

Illinois has one of the best defensive lines in College Football

Johnny Newton is one of those players. Newton could likely have been a late round draft pick this year, however decided to return to Champaign. Newton has the chance to cement himself as a premier defensive lineman in the country. Ironically, the tweet above has him going to the Seattle Seahawks. Newton would team up with Devon Witherspoon.

In the 2022 season, Newton put up some impressive numbers. He landed on the first team all-Big Ten, while also being selected to a second or third team all-American team by practically every news outlet. Newton put up a sturdy 61 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries. 

The Law Firm dominates.

Newton and Randolph both have a chance to cement themselves into the early rounds of the NFL Draft. They both put up impressive numbers and could have been late draft picks, however bet on themselves. Both are wonderful personalities to have around their team and their NIL potential is through the roof.

The loss of Calvin Avery will be touch to replace, as his impressive season allowed the Law Firm to do what they do. Illinois is still active in the transfer portal for help, however will be heavily relying on Te’Rah Edwards, Denzel Daxon and Sed McConnell to replicate the success that Avery had. Hopefully the lack of proven production at the nose tackle spot this year does not hinder the Law Firm, however I do expect Newton and Randolph to be one of the best one-two punches in college football.