University of Illinois junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus announced today that he will forgo his senior season at Illinois to enter the 2012 NFL Draft. Mercilus who has the best name a defensive line man can have, emerged from total obscurity to have a banner year for the Fighting Illini, tying Simeon Rice’s single-season record and leading the nation with 16 sacks. … [Read more...] about Illini Whitney Mercilus Entering the NFL Draft
hendricks award
Illini DE Whitney Mercilus: Best at his Position in the Nation
University of Illinois junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus was named yesterday to the Associated Press All-America first team. That means he's truly "everybody's All-American" and he's been named to 10 different All-America teams. Nine of which were first-team. He also took home the Hendricks Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive end. "There's a lot of … [Read more...] about Illini DE Whitney Mercilus: Best at his Position in the Nation
Illini Defensive End Whitney Mercilus Wins Top National DE Award
Illinois junior Whitney Mercilus has won the 2011 Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Mercilus led the nation in sacks, sacks per game and forced fumbles while ranking sixth nationally in tackles for loss per game. He becomes the first Illini national award winner since Dana Howard (1994) and Kevin Hardy (1995) won the Butkus Award (best linebacker in college football) … [Read more...] about Illini Defensive End Whitney Mercilus Wins Top National DE Award
DE Corey Coreysaurus Wootton leads Northwestern’s Defense
By Paul M. Banks In 2008, Northwestern finished just one win shy of the school record. They found success primarily because of their defense, as the ’Cats set a single-season defensive rushing record, holding their foes to 126.4 yards per game. Ahead of the previous school record from the Wildcats’ mythical 1995 Rose Bowl season. Newly installed defensive coordinator Mike … [Read more...] about DE Corey Coreysaurus Wootton leads Northwestern’s Defense