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Four
Illini Gridders on Rivals.com All-America Teams
Nine
Tabbed As Rivals.com All-Big Ten Selections
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[November 30, 2007]
CHAMPAIGN -- Four University of
Illinois football players have been named to Rivals.com's 2007
All-America teams. Senior offensive guard Martin O'Donnell took the
only first-team honor; senior linebacker J Leman was named to the
second team; and kicker Jason Reda and running back Rashard
Mendenhall earned third-team honors.
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 Rivals also released its all-Big Ten team, with all four players
earning first-team honors as well as sophomore cornerback Vontae
Davis, senior safety Kevin Mitchell and freshman Arrelious Benn as
the all-purpose player. Earning second-team accolades were offensive
linemen Xavier Fulton and Ryan McDonald.The offensive line got
the credit they deserve as the Big Ten's leading rushing offense.
With 266.3 yards per game on the ground and a league-best 11 sacks
allowed, the three starters on the line helped Illinois break a
school rushing record with over 3,000 yards on the ground. They
helped pave the way for Mendenhall, who broke school records for
rushing yardage, touchdowns and total touchdowns in a single season.
He also posted seven 100-yard rushing games, which tops the Illini
record books.
[to top of second column]
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Reda also gets recognition for his career-best season, nailing
15-of-16 field goals. Of his 15 made field goals, eight were from
over 45 yards, including three 50-yarders. He also tied the school
career scoring record and set a new season field goal percentage
record. His 87 points scored are second best on the Illini team,
behind Mendenhall.
Defensively, Leman's selection is no surprise and is his second
all-America honor this season. He leads the team in tackles for the
second straight season and helped Illinois to a top-25 rushing
defense record. The names of Mitchell and Davis are all over the
lists of Big Ten leaders in the secondary this season. Both players
rank in the top 10 in interceptions per game and passes defended.
Mitchell leads the team with five picks and Davis is just behind
with four. Mitchell also has 11 PBU and Davis eight.
[Text from file received from
Cassie Arner, associate sports
information director,
University of Illinois]
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