Dec. 4, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior defensive end Napoleon Harris (Dixmoor, Ill./Thornton) and senior linebacker Kevin Bentley (North Hills, Calif./Montclair Prep) were tabbed second-team All-Big Ten selections Tuesday by the Conference's head coaches.
Harris, who made a successful position switch from linebacker to defensive end this season, led all linemen with 78 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, five breakups, a forced fumble, a blocked kick and 19 quarterback hurries. He closed his career with 334 tackles, the eighth-highest total on Northwestern's all-time list.
Bentley led the Wildcats and ranked third in the Big Ten in tackles (13.3 per game). He finished the season with 147 hits and a team-best 12 tackles for loss. Bentley also led Northwestern with three fumble recoveries. He closes his career with 390 tackles and 34 tackles for loss-marks good enough for fifth place on NU's respective career charts.
Seven additional Wildcats were named to the coaches' honorable mention squad, including senior quarterback and team MVP Zak Kustok (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg). Also on the list were three offensive linemen, senior Mike Souza (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Punahou) and juniors Austin King (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian) and Jeff Roehl (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg). Three other Wildcats, junior receiver Kunle Patrick (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day), senior linebacker Billy Silva (San Diego, Calif./St. Augustine) and senior punter J.J. Standring (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) rounded out NU's honorees.
The media's All-Big Ten team named Harris a second-team honoree while Bentley, Roehl, Souza and Standring garnered honorable mention status.
For a complete listing of the Big Ten teams, go to www.bigten.org.