Dec. 1, 2004
2004 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Football Teams (University Division)
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's Jeff Backes (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Luis Castillo (Garfield, N.J./Garfield) were named ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-Americans today. The teams were selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
To be nominated for the award, a 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 has reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his institution. Backes carries a 3.80 GPA in psychology (pre-medicine) and Castillo has a 3.53 GPA in economics.
It is the third time in school history that Northwestern has been bestowed with multiple first-team Academic All-Americans.
Backes, who earned second-team Academic All-America honors as a sophomore a year ago, started eight of 11 games played at cornerback and was a valuable return specialist for the Wildcats. Defensively, he finished with 45 tackles (37 solos), nine pass deflections and an interception. His interception came late in regulation of Northwestern's overtime victory versus then-No. 6 Ohio State.
Slowed midway through the season with a sprained ankle, Backes returned kickoffs in the season's first half and averaged 30.3 yards per kick return, an average that ranked among the nation's best. He returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown vs. Minnesota. When regular punt returner Mark Philmore went down with a knee injury vs. Purdue, Backes assumed those duties and finished with a 12.8 yards per return average, which included a 73-yard return for a touchdown against Illinois. Backes ranks first on NU's career kickoff return average list with a 26.5 yards per return average.
Castillo, who earned Academic All-America honors for the first time after receiving Academic All-District recognition the past two years, was a consensus second-team All-Big Ten selection at defensive tackle this year. Considered one of the nation's top NFL defensive line prospects, Castillo finished the season with 75 tackles (fourth on NU's season list) and a team-best 8.5 tackles for loss.
He concluded his career with 251 tackles and 19.5 tackles for loss. Castillo, who started 34 career games at Northwestern, played the entire season with an injured left elbow. He notched a career-best 11 tackles and 2.5 TFL's vs. Indiana earlier this year.
"Jeff and Luis are outstanding individuals and tremendous student-athletes," said Northwestern Head Coach Randy Walker. "They have excelled at the highest level, both academically and athletically. They have great futures in front of them. This is one of the most significant, if not the most significant, honor they will receive during their collegiate career."