On the football field, it’s all business and performance for Illini players. In the classroom, it’s about doing the work and staying on top of their studies. Outside of those boundaries, it’s up to the player to decide what their free time will look like.

For junior defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton, the answer is quite obvious. Being a father to his daughter, Jovianne (Jovi), who was born on Nov. 17 during the 2022 season.

During the annual Big Ten football media day in Indianapolis, Newton spoke for about 30 minutes to multiple reporters during his podium time. The Fla. native used much of that time to talk about Jovi.

Oftentimes, athletes – especially student-athletes – are looked at solely as an entertainer, and not often enough do we acknowledge that they are also human beings with normal lives.

Newton’s talk about his daughter Jovi brought a large grin across his face, which lit up the area.

The first mention of his daughter came as he talked about ‘Uncle Keith,’ (referring to teammate and fellow defensive lineman Keith Randolph Jr.) who he expressed doubts as a babysitter for now.

“[He’d] probably have my daughter doing TikTok dances,” Newton joked. “I think Keith, he has some training to go through before he babysits.”

Obviously, the weight of being a student, an athlete and a father on top of that was a big point for Newton, who went in-depth about it.

“It’s been very tiring, but I love every second of it,” Newton said. “I love being with my daughter, even on my worst days, I could just go home and see my daughter and all of that goes out the window.”

Newton added how quick things unfolded when Jovi was born, which happened to be a couple days before the Michigan game last season.

“Fatherhood changed my life overnight,” Newton said. “She was born and I feel like I had to mature literally the next day, and then the game right after she was born was a real eye-opener for me.”

Newton said he had to travel back and forth over those days between Jovi’s birth and the game.

“I had a lot of running [around] to do,” Newton said. “Going from the suburbs of Chicago back to Champaign, then to Ann Arbor and back to Champaign and immediately back to the suburbs.”

Newton emphasized the purpose he has now, after becoming a father.

“I just feel like my life purpose changed, I have a bigger purpose than me,” Newton said. “Now I have to put food on the table for somebody other than me.”

The level of humility Newton shows is beyond mature for a star athlete at a Power Five program, especially after winning awards for his play.

Newton continued to add about the joy that Jovi brings him, as the smile on his face grew while discussing his beloved daughter.

“It means the world to me, seeing her, she’s crawling now as well,” Newton said. “She’s also starting to talk as well.”

The most heartwarming portion of Newton’s talk came as he was talking about coming home to see her.

“I could be as mad as possible, wanting to rip somebody’s head off and I’ll just come home and she’ll crawl over to me and say ‘dada,’” Newton said. “I just can’t help but smile and laugh, because she means the world to me. I’ll do anything for my daughter, and I know she loves me and I love her.”

Before wrapping up his time with the media, Newton had to give his most likely to be allowed to babysit and least likely to babysit Jovi.

“Probably Isaiah Williams or Tip Reiman, those two are really good people,” Newton said.

As for the least likely, it “would be Taz Nicholson, because he might forget he’s babysitting while he’s there,” Newton joked.

But regardless of what the star Illini defensive lineman does on the field or in the classroom, Jer’Zhan Newton will always be able to go home to his daughter, which as he made clear, brightens his day every time.

@arrosen76

[email protected]