KANSAS CITY — Illinois All-American Devon Witherspoon was selected No. 5 overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night. Witherspoon is the 21st first-round pick in Illinois history, the seventh top-10 pick, and the highest-drafted defensive back in program history.

Witherspoon joins an elite group of Illini to be drafted in the top 5. Only 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) were selected higher than Witherspoon at No. 5.

Witherspoon departed Champaign as one of the most decorated players in Illinois history. He was the 21st Consensus All-American in program history and the Illini's first Thorpe Award finalist, as one of the top three defensive backs in college football. Witherspoon allowed only 3.3 yards against per attempt, according to ESPN, and went the entire season without allowing a touchdown pass in coverage. 

Witherspoon is the seventh first-round pick during the 13-year head coaching career of Bret Bielema. Witherspoon blossomed at Illinois under Bielema and the Illinois staff. After being a relative unknown during his first two seasons in Champaign, Witherspoon turned into an All-Big Ten performer as a junior in 2021 before becoming one of the best players in the nation in 2022. He is the second-highest drafted player for Bielema, behind only Wisconsin's Joe Thomas, who went No. 3 overall in 2007.

Witherspoon is Illinois' first first-round pick in over a decade. Whitney Mercilus (No. 26 overall, Houston) and A.J. Jenkins (No. 30 overall, San Francisco) were Illinois' last first-round picks in 2012. Illinois' last first-round defensive back was Vontae Davis at No. 25 overall by Miami in 2009.

Witherspoon is just the second Fighting Illini drafted by Seattle, joining Rich Grimmett, who was selected by the Seahawks in the ninth round of the 1978 NFL Draft. 

Highest Drafted Illini in History

Illinois' All-Time Draft History

Bielema's First-Round Picks

DB Devon Witherspoon / Illinois / Seattle Seahawks / 5th pick / 2023
C Frank Ragnow / Arkansas / Detroit Lions / 20th pick / 2018
C Travis Frederick / Wisconsin / Dallas Cowboys / 31st pick / 2013
G Kevin Zeitler / Wisconsin / Cincinnati Bengals / 27th pick / 2012
DE JJ Watt / Wisconsin / Houston Texans / 11th pick / 2011
OL Gabe Carimi / Wisconsin / Chicago Bears / 29th pick / 2011
OT Joe Thomas / Wisconsin / Cleveland Browns / 3rd pick / 2007

Witherspoon's 2022 Highlights

• One of three finalists for the Thorpe Award
• First Thorpe Award finalist in Illinois history
• One of 20 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award
• Consensus All-American, the 21st in Illinois history
• First ever defensive back to be named a Consensus All-American in Illinois history
• Big Ten's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year
• Walter Camp All-American first team
• AFCA All-American first team
• FWAA All-American first team
• AP All-American first team
• Phil Steele All-American first team
• CBS All-American first team
• PFF All-American first team
• USA Today All-American second team
• Senior Bowl All-American
• All-Big Ten first team (coaches and media)
• No. 26 player in the nation in 2022 according to PFF's College 101
• Senior Bowl invite
• Illinois' Dick Butkus Defensive MVP
• Started all 12 regular season games at cornerback
• Sat out the ReliaQuest Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft
• 40 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, three interceptions, and 14 pass breakups on the season
• Did not allow a touchdown all season
• No. 1 coverage grade in the nation (92.5), according to PFF
• No. 2 graded cornerback in the nation and No. 1 in Power-5 (92.0), according to PFF
• No. 2 NFL passer rating against in the nation and No. 1 in Power-5 (25.0), according to PFF
• No. 6 graded defender in the nation and No. 2 in Power-5 (92.5), according to PFF
• Second in the nation in forced incompletions (18) and fourth in the nation in forced incompletion percentage (28.6), according to PFF
• Third-lowest reception percentage in the nation (34.9), according to PFF
• Allowed only 16 receptions on 54 targets as the primary defender on the season, according to ESPN
• Allowed just 3.3 yards against per attempt, according to ESPN
• Eighth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in passes defended (17)
• Eighth in the Big Ten in interceptions (3)
• Allowed fewer than 35 receiving yards in 11 of 12 games this season while matching up with opponent's No. 1 receivers
• Played the second-most man coverage snaps in the nation (560), according to PFF