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Mendenhall And Leman Earn Additional All-American Honors
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Dec. 17, 2007
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University of Illinois senior linebacker J Leman earned first-team All-America honors by ESPN.com and junior running back Rashard Mendenhall was named to the first-team for Pro Football Weekly. It is Leman's ninth honor of the season and the third for Mendenhall. These players are two of the biggest reasons the Fighting Illini are headed to the 2008 Rose Bowl.
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Leman, who is Illinois' leader both on and off the field as a two-year team captain and All-American, was the tackles leader for the second straight year. He ranked among the league's best in the category, finishing third after leading the Big Ten for 16 straight weeks. He averaged 10.3 tackles per game and in double digits for two years. He made a huge impact in Illinois' win at No. 1 Ohio State, where he posted 12 tackles and 2.5 for loss.
The Illini defense was a stingy one this season, limiting its opponents to just over 100 yards rushing per game. The Leman-led group held four teams under 100 yards and only allowed one opposing running back to top the century mark. The team finished regular season ranked 21st in rushing defense.
Mendenhall, the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year and Chicago Tribune's Silver Football Award winner, broke four Illinois records this season on his way to leading the Big Ten's best rushing offense. He set the new mark for single-season rushing, 100-yard rushing games, rushing touchdowns and overall touchdowns.
Although the Illini led the Big Ten in rushing in 2006, the team surpassed all expectations, averaging 266.2 yards per game, thanks in part to the 127 ypg from Mendenhall. The squad averaged 5.7 yards per carry as a team and Mendenhall posted a 6.4 yards-per-carry average. Both numbers rank third in the nation. Mendenhall also aided the Illini in surpassing the 3,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in school history.
