August 3, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - The preseason football publications are starting to weigh in with their prognostication. Where do the Wildcats stack up? We offer you a sampling of what we've found so far...be sure to check back every few days and see if there are new publications up.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Preseason National Rank: 16th
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Preseason National Rank: 12th
Preseason Big Ten Finish: 1st
USA TODAY/ESPN COACHES POLL
Preseason National Rank: 20th
FOOTBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Preseason National Rank: 16th
FOOTBALL NEWS
Preseason National Rank: 13th
First Team All-America
Damien Anderson, RB
STREET & SMITH'S
Preseason National Rank: 24th
Preseason Big Ten Finish: 4th
First Team All-America
Damien Anderson, RB
Postseason Award Candidates
Heisman Trophy - Damien Anderson
Butkus Award (LB) - Kevin Bentley
Honorable Mention All-America
Kevin Bentley, LB
Leon Brockmeier, OL
Napoleon Harris, LB
First Team All-Big Ten
Damien Anderson, RB
Zak Kustok, QB
Jeff Roehl, OL
Top 100 College Freshmen
Tom Derricks, DL
ATHLON SPORTS
Preseason National Rank: 18th
Preseason Big Ten Finish: 3rd
First Team All-America
Damien Anderson, RB
First Team All-Big Ten
Damien Anderson, RB
Leon Brockmeier, OL
Napoleon Harris, LB
Zak Kustok, QB
Jeff Roehl, OL
Sam Simmons, PR
Big Ten Future Stars
Brett Basanez, QB
Tom Derricks, DL
LINDY'S
Preseason National Rank: 15th
Preseason Big Ten Finish: 1st
Bowl Prediction: Orange Bowl vs. Florida State
Postseason Award Candidates
Heisman Trophy - Damien Anderson 1st
Doak Walker Award (RB) - Damien Anderson 1st
Davey O'Brien Award (QB) - Zak Kustok 4th
National Offensive Player of the Year
Damien Anderson, RB
Team Position Breakdowns
Offensive Backfield - NU 2nd nationally
Offensive Lines - NU 3rd nationally
Linebackers - NU 10th nationally
Individual Position Breakdowns
Quarterback - Zak Kustok 8th nationally
Running Back - Damien Anderson 1st nationally
Outside Linebacker - Napoleon Harris 4th nationally
Outside Linebacker - Kevin Bentley 11th nationally
Inside Linebacker - Billy Silva 13th nationally
First Team All-America
Damien Anderson, RB
First Team All-Big Ten
Damien Anderson, RB
Leon Brockmeier, OL
Napoleon Harris, LB
Zak Kustok, QB
Jeff Roehl, OL
Second Team All-Big Ten
Billy Silva, LB
Big Ten Freshmen of Influence
Brett Basanez, QB
Trai Essex, TE
THE SPORTING NEWS
Preseason National Rank: 13th
Preseason Big Ten Finish: 1st
Postseason Award Candidates
Heisman Trophy - Damien Anderson 4th
Team Position Breakdowns
Offensive Line - NU 3rd nationally
Offensive Backfield - NU 5th nationally
Linebacker - NU 10th nationally
Individual Position Breakdowns
Quarterback - Zak Kustok 19th nationally
Running Back - Damien Anderson 1st nationally
Center - Austin King 17th nationally
Offensive Guard - Jeff Roehl 15th nationally
Offensive Tackle - Leon Brockmeier 16th nationally
Outside Linebacker - Napoleon Harris 11th nationally
Outside Linebacker - Kevin Bentley 20th nationally
First Team All-America
Damien Anderson, RB
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
Damien Anderson, RB
First Team All-Big Ten
Damien Anderson, RB
Leon Brockmeier, OT
Jeff Roehl, OG
Second Team All-Big Ten
Napoleon Harris, LB
Zak Kustok, QB
Top Big Ten Newcomers
Tom Derricks, DL
PREVIEW SPORTS
Preseason National Rank: 22nd
Preseason Big Ten Finish: 3rd
First Team All-America
Damien Anderson, RB
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
Damien Anderson, RB
First Team All-Big Ten
Damien Anderson, RB
Leon Brockmeier, OT
Lance Clelland, OG
Zak Kustok, QB
COLLEGEFOOTBALLNEWS.com
Preseason National Rank: 23rd
Preseason Big Ten Finish: t-4th
Bowl Prediction: Sun Bowl vs. Oregon State
Postseason Award Candidates
Heisman Trophy - Damien Anderson 4th
Team Position Breakdowns
Offensive Backfield - NU 4th nationally
Offensive Line - NU 4th nationally
Linebacker - NU 3rd nationally
First Team All-America
Damien Anderson, RB
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
Damien Anderson, RB
First Team All-Big Ten
Damien Anderson, RB
Austin King, C
Jeff Roehl, OG