Jan. 9, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill.--Northwestern offensive linemen Jeff Roehl (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) and Austin King (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian) will represent the Wildcats in three college all-star games this winter. Roehl is participating in Saturday's East-West Shrine Game (1 p.m. CST, ESPN) and the Jan. 25 Rotary Gridiron Classic (1 p.m. CST, ESPN2). King will play in the Feb. 1 Hula Bowl Maui All-Star Game (8 p.m. CST, ESPN2).
Roehl started all 12 games this season, playing both guard and tackle. Ranked the nation's No. 12 guard by The Sporting News this past summer, the second-team All-Big Ten selection played a key role in helping NU's young offense mature throughout the season. In the final eight games versus Big Ten competition, the Wildcats averaged nearly 400 yards per game (399.6 ypg) and ranked fifth in the league total offense. A Verizon second-team academic all-district pick, Roehl started all 35 career games at Northwestern after attending Notre Dame his freshman year.
King picked up honorable mention All-Big Ten kudos for a third straight year from the coaches, and a second time from the media. He was the anchor of the Wildcats' offensive line and totaled more "championship" performances than any other NU senior. Like Roehl, King played a key role in the maturation of Northwestern's young offense, which finished the year with a 538-yard performance against Illinois. King was named a Verizon first-team academic all-district selection earlier this month.