April 21, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The 67th Annual NFL Draft is now complete. Three Northwestern players were drafted, and as of Monday, six players had signed free-agent contracts.
On Sunday afternoon, linebacker Kevin Bentley (North Hills, Calif./Montclair Prep) was selected as the third pick in the fourth round (101st overall) by the Cleveland Browns. Later, wide receiver/punt returner Sam Simmons (Kansas City, Kan./F.L. Schlagle) was picked 35th in the fifth round (170th overall) by the Miami Dolphins.
Six other Wildcats have signed free-agent deals: running back Damien Anderson (Wilmington, Ill./Wilmington) signed with Arizona, quarterback Zak Kustok (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) signed with Miami, offensive lineman Leon Brockmeier (Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln) signed with Pittsburgh, offensive lineman Mike Souza (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Punahou) signed with Indianapolis, offensive lineman Lance Clelland (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh) signed with the New York Jets, and defensive lineman Salem Simon (Cleveland, Ohio/Benedictine) signed with Baltimore.
On Saturday, Napoleon Harris became the Wildcats' seventh first-round draft pick in school history when he was chosen by the Oakland Raiders as the 23rd pick overall.
Bentley, who was the MVP at last year's Blue-Gray Game on Christmas Day, was a three-time All-Big Ten selection for the Wildcats. He earned second-team honors in 1999 and 2001, and honorable mention status in 2000. He led the Wildcats in tackles (147) in 2001, and ranked third in the Big Ten (13.3 per game) and ninth nationally.
Simmons etched his name in the NU record books in both receptions and punt returns. He ranks eighth all-time in receptions (105) and sixth in receiving yardage (1,698), and second all-time in punt return average (12.8). He returned two punts for touchdowns during his collegiate career. In 2001, Simmons led the Wildcats in receiving yardage (807) and had 50 receptions, second most on the squad.