Nov. 14, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Five Northwestern University football players were named to the Verizon District V Academic All-District team, announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Earning first-team honors were senior Austin King (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian), sophomore Dominique Price (Jeffersontown, Ky./DuPont Manual) and junior Jason Wright (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar). These three players are now eligible for the Verizon Academic All-America team, which will be announced Monday, Dec. 2.
Named to the Academic All-District second team were sophomore Luis Castillo (Garfield, N.J./Garfield) and senior Jeff Roehl (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg).
To be nominated, the student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for his career. No athlete is eligible until he reaches sophomore athletic and academic standing at his institution.
A center, King is a two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten selection and a Rimington Award preseason candidate. He also was named to the Football Writers Association of America All-America "Watch List" in August. King has started 42 of 43 career games and is a 2002 team captain. He played an integral role in leading the Big Ten's top regular-season offense in 2000 and 2001. King carries a 3.35 GPA in secondary teaching.
Until a serious ankle injury sidelined him at Penn State, Price was the Wildcats' third-leading tackler (39 solos, 23 assists). A safety, he turned in his best effort of the year against unbeaten Ohio State: 12 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Despite missing nearly three games this year, Price leads the Big Ten in fumbles recovered (three). He also has two forced fumbles. Price has a 3.25 GPA in African-American studies.
A Doak Walker Award candidate, Wright has become one of the nation's top all-purpose runners, averaging 165.9 yards per game, which ranks seventh among all Division I-A players. He is 33rd nationally in rushing (101.4 ypg) and seventh in kickoff return average (28.4 ypr). Wright became the eighth different player in NU history to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for single-season rushing when he totaled a career-high 196 yards against Indiana on Nov. 2. He has 1,115 yards for the season. Wright carries a 3.25 GPA in psychology (pre-medicine).
Castillo leads all NU defensive linemen with 81 tackles. He carries a 3.23 GPA in economics. Roehl is a third-year starting offensive lineman and a two-time All-Big Ten selection. He has a 3.20 GPA in communication studies.