The Law Firm is turning pro. Let’s appreciate them while they’re here…

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.

He is a consensus top-3 DT in the draft class, with most putting him at No. 1. He had great games against elite OLs like Wisconsin and Penn State, and has blocked 4 field goals this season. He could easily make back-to-back years of Illini defensive players going top-10, after the Seattle Seahawks picked Devon Witherspoon fifth overall in 2023, and Spoon is on pace to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. The only…