2007: Returned a kickoff for 12 yards against Western Illinois ... Played in the season opener against Missouri but did not record any statistics.
2006: Played in eight games, primarily on special teams ... Logged five snaps at running back ... Had two carries for five yards in the season opener against Eastern Illinois ... Also recorded two special teams tackles ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2005: Played in 10 games on special teams and five at linebacker ... Had nine tackles for the season, including a career-best four against Michigan State when he played 16 snaps vs. the Spartans ... Forced a fumble against San Jose State ... Moved from tailback to linebacker during 2005 spring practices ... Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
2004: Redshirted ... Named the team's Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year.
High School: Averaged 7.7 yards per carry as a senior at Niles West, rushing for 1,158 yards on 151 attempts for 14 touchdowns ... PrepStar All-Region selection ... SuperPrep All-Region ... Also caught 10 passes for 189 yards and recorded 38 tackles and two interceptions ... Finished his career with over 3,600 all-purpose yards ... Named a Champaign News-Gazette All-State special mention ... Two-time Pioneer Press All-Area selection ... Scored 15 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,250 yards as a junior ... Earned Central Suburban League Offensive MVP as a junior ... Learner Press Player of the Year in 2003 ... Named to the Prep Football Report All-Area team ... Earned 10 letters in football, basketball and track ... Two-time state qualifier in track ...High school football coach was Mark Egofske.
Personal: Born Jan. 22, 1986 ... Son of Walter and Sybil Mendenhall ... Earned academic All-Conference honors with a 3.2 GPA in high school ... Honor roll student ...Younger brother, Rashard, was also a member of the Fighting Illini team ... Lists Ray Lewis as his favorite athlete ... Would like to pursue a career as a high school teacher and coach after graduation ... Majoring in sociology.
Career Highs:
Tackles: 4 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05 Solos: 2 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05 Forced Fumbles: 1 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05
Walter Mendenhall's Game-By-Game Statistics:
2007
Rushing
Receiving
Passing
Kick Ret
Punt Ret
all
Date
Opponent
no.
yds
td
lg
no.
yds
td
lg
c-a-i
yds
td
lg
no.
yds
td
lg
no.
yds
td
lg
purp
Sep 01, 2007
vs Missouri
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Sep 08, 2007
WESTERN ILLINOIS
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
1
12
0
10
0
0
0
0
12
Sep 15, 2007
at Syracuse
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Sep 22, 2007
at Indiana
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Sep 29, 2007
PENN STATE
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Oct 06, 2007
WISCONSIN
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Oct. 13,2007
at Iowa
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Oct 20, 2007
MICHIGAN
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Oct 27, 2007
BALL STATE
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Nov 03, 2007
at Minnesota
4
57
0
30
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
57
Nov 10, 2007
at Ohio State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Nov 17, 2007
NORTHWESTERN
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
1
6
0
6
0
0
0
0
6
Jan 1, 2008
vs USC
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Totals
4
57
0
30
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
2
18
0
10
0
0
0
0
75
Games played: 13
Avg per rush: 14.2
Kick ret avg: 9.0
All purpose avg/game: 5.8
Total offense avg/gm: 4.4
2007
Tackles
Sacks
Fumble
Int
pass
blkd
PAT
PAT
Date
Opponent
solo
ast
total
tfl
yds
no.
yds
ff
fr
yds
no.
yds
qbh
brup
kick
kicks
rush
rcv
saf
pts
Sep 01, 2007
vs Missouri
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Sep 08, 2007
WESTERN ILLINOIS
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Sep 15, 2007
at Syracuse
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Sep 22, 2007
at Indiana
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Sep 29, 2007
PENN STATE
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Oct 06, 2007
WISCONSIN
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Oct. 13,2007
at Iowa
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Oct 20, 2007
MICHIGAN
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Oct 27, 2007
BALL STATE
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Nov 03, 2007
at Minnesota
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Nov 10, 2007
at Ohio State
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Nov 17, 2007
NORTHWESTERN
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Jan 1, 2008
vs USC
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
Totals
0
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0
0
0
0
0
2006
Rushing
Receiving
Passing
Kick Ret
Punt Ret
all
Date
Opponent
no.
yds
td
lg
no.
yds
td
lg
c-a-i
yds
td
lg
no.
yds
td
lg
no.
yds
td
lg
purp
Sep 02, 2006
EASTERN ILLINOIS
2
5
0
6
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
Sep 09, 2006
at RUTGERS
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Sep 16, 2006
SYRACUSE
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Sep 23, 2006
IOWA
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Sep 30, 2006
at Michigan State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Oct 07, 2006
INDIANA
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Oct 14, 2006
OHIO
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Oct 21, 2006
at Penn State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Totals
2
5
0
6
0
0
0
0
0-0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
Games played: 8
Avg per rush: 2.5
All purpose avg/game: 0.6
Total offense avg/gm: 0.6
