Four Illini were selected during the 2023 NFL Draft, six other marks

KANSAS CITY Four former Illini were selected Thursday through Saturday during the 2023 NFL Draft. Devon Witherspoon (Seattle) was the first Illini to come off the board at No. 5 overall, followed by the second round Jartavius ​​Martin (Washington), third baseman Sydney Brown(Philadelphia) and fifth Chase Brown (Cincinnati).

2023 NFL Draft Picks – Illinois

Devon WitherspoonDB, Seattle (1st, 5th)
Jartavius ​​MartinDB, Washington (2nd, 47)
Sydney BrownDB, Philadelphia (3rd, 66)
Chase BrownRB, Cincinnati (5th, 163)

Draft notes

Illinois was the only team in the country to have three defensive backs off the board in the first three rounds, as Witherspoon, Martin and Sydney Brown everything went in the first two days.
Illinois has had three defensive backs selected for the first time in NFL-AFL merger program history.
Illinois had two defensive backs selected in the top 50 for the first time since the NFL-AFL merger.
Illinois had two top-50 picks for the first time since AJ Jenkins and Whitney Mercilus went in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Illinois’ four picks in the first five rounds tied the program record set in 2003 and 2012.
Devon Witherspoon was the highest defensive game in Illinois history.
Devon Witherspoon was the sixth Fighting Illini in history to be picked in the top-5, joining Jeff George (No. 1, 1990), Kevin Hardy (No. 2, 1996), Simeon Rice (No. 3, 1996), Dick Butkus (No. 3, 1965) and Joe Rutgens (No. 3, 1961).
Chase and Sydney became the ninth pair of twins selected in the same NFL draft and just the third to be selected in the first five rounds. The Browns joined Ronde and Tiki Barber (1997) and Mike and Mark Bell (1979) as the only twins selected in the first five rounds of the same NFL draft.
Illinois head coach Bret Bielemahe has 51 NFL draft picks during his head coaching career, which ranks among the top 10 in the nation among active head coaches.
Witherspoon was Bielema’s seventh No. 1 pick and the second-best pick of Bielema’s head coaching career.
Chase Brown is the 11th defender to play under the head coach Bret Bielema to make it to the NFL.

Post-Draft Signings – Illinois

DT Calvin AveryMinnesota (UDFA)
POUNDS Isaac DarkangeloDetroit (UDFA)
QB Tommy DeVitoNew York Giants (UDFA)
OL Alex PalczewskiDenver (UDFA)
OL Alex PihlstromNew Orleans (UDFA)
DB Kendall SmithWashington (UDFA)
DT Jamal WoodsIndianpolis (Mini Camp Invite)