Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera
Five Wildcats Earn All-Big Ten Honors on Defense/Special Teams
11/29/2016 5:15:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo was voted 2016 First-Team All-Big Ten by the media, the Big Ten announced on Monday. The senior was one of five Wildcats to earn all-conference honors on defense and special teams, a list that was unveiled Tuesday evening on Big Ten Network.
Odenigbo earned first-team honors from the media and a second-team plaudit from the Conference's coaches after leading the league with 10 sacks in the regular season. He picked up his 10th sack of the season in the 'Cats' 42-21 win over Illinois to help Chicago's Big Ten Team become bowl eligible for the 13th time in program history. The Centerville, Ohio, native's season was highlighted by back-to-back multi-sack games in which he set a Northwestern single-game record with four sacks at Iowa before recording two more sacks in a victory at Michigan State. Odenigbo ranks second in program history with 23.5 career sacks.
Junior linebacker Anthony Walker, Jr., and safety Godwin Igwebuike were named to the second team by the league's coaches and third team by the media. Junior kick returner Solomon Vault was a third-team selection by the media as a return specialist and sophomore cornerback Montre Hartage received an honorable mention plaudit from the media.
Igwebuike led all Big Ten defensive backs and ranked 10th in the country in the regular season with 101 tackles. He had at least eight tackles in eight games, including three double-digit performances and a career-high 15 tackles versus Nebraska. The Pickerington, Ohio, native ranks seventh in the country with 6.3 solo tackles per game.
Walker enters the bowl game two tackles shy of recording back-to-back 100-tackle seasons as he ranks 11th in the league with 98 tackles through 12 games. Hampered by an injury sustained during training camp, Walker has been dominant over the final eight games of the season averaging 9.4 tackles per game. He had at least eight tackles in seven games this season, including double-digit performances at Iowa, versus Indiana and at Purdue. The Miami, Florida, native has 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries and one interception.
Vault earned Third-Team All-Big honors as a return specialist for the second-straight season. The Gaithersburg, Maryland, native ranked third in the Big Ten and seventh in the country with a 25.3 kick return average and scored his fifth career kick return touchdown with a 95-yard score in the Wildcats' win at Michigan State.
A first-year starter, Hartage led the Wildcats with five interceptions and nine pass breakups. He was fifth on the team with 56 tackles, including 46 solo stops.
In addition, senior defensive lineman C.J. Robbins was named Northwestern's Sportsmanship Award nominee. The 14 student-athletes selected are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
The All-Big Ten offense will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
Northwestern wrapped up the regular season with a 42-21 win at Ryan Field on Saturday to improve to 6-6 on the year, and await a bowl destination that will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 4.
Odenigbo earned first-team honors from the media and a second-team plaudit from the Conference's coaches after leading the league with 10 sacks in the regular season. He picked up his 10th sack of the season in the 'Cats' 42-21 win over Illinois to help Chicago's Big Ten Team become bowl eligible for the 13th time in program history. The Centerville, Ohio, native's season was highlighted by back-to-back multi-sack games in which he set a Northwestern single-game record with four sacks at Iowa before recording two more sacks in a victory at Michigan State. Odenigbo ranks second in program history with 23.5 career sacks.
Junior linebacker Anthony Walker, Jr., and safety Godwin Igwebuike were named to the second team by the league's coaches and third team by the media. Junior kick returner Solomon Vault was a third-team selection by the media as a return specialist and sophomore cornerback Montre Hartage received an honorable mention plaudit from the media.
Igwebuike led all Big Ten defensive backs and ranked 10th in the country in the regular season with 101 tackles. He had at least eight tackles in eight games, including three double-digit performances and a career-high 15 tackles versus Nebraska. The Pickerington, Ohio, native ranks seventh in the country with 6.3 solo tackles per game.
Walker enters the bowl game two tackles shy of recording back-to-back 100-tackle seasons as he ranks 11th in the league with 98 tackles through 12 games. Hampered by an injury sustained during training camp, Walker has been dominant over the final eight games of the season averaging 9.4 tackles per game. He had at least eight tackles in seven games this season, including double-digit performances at Iowa, versus Indiana and at Purdue. The Miami, Florida, native has 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries and one interception.
Vault earned Third-Team All-Big honors as a return specialist for the second-straight season. The Gaithersburg, Maryland, native ranked third in the Big Ten and seventh in the country with a 25.3 kick return average and scored his fifth career kick return touchdown with a 95-yard score in the Wildcats' win at Michigan State.
A first-year starter, Hartage led the Wildcats with five interceptions and nine pass breakups. He was fifth on the team with 56 tackles, including 46 solo stops.
In addition, senior defensive lineman C.J. Robbins was named Northwestern's Sportsmanship Award nominee. The 14 student-athletes selected are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
The All-Big Ten offense will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
Northwestern wrapped up the regular season with a 42-21 win at Ryan Field on Saturday to improve to 6-6 on the year, and await a bowl destination that will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 4.
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