April 30, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern defensive tackle Barry Cofield (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) was the first Wildcat selected in this year's National Football League Draft.
A second-team All-Big Ten (coaches) honoree in 2005, Cofield was chosen as the 27th pick in the fourth round by the New York Giants. He was the 124th pick overall.
Cofield played in 49 career games with 36 starts. He totaled 197 career tackles and 15.5 career tackles for loss.
Offensive tackle Zach Strief (Milford, Ohio/Milford), a 2005 first-team FWAA All-American, was taken with the second pick in the seventh round by the New Orleans Saints. Linebacker Tim McGarigle (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) also was chosen in the seventh round. The St. Louis Rams took college football's all-time leading tackler.
Quarterback Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator), a first-team All-Big Ten honoree and the 2005 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (media), signed a free-agent contract with the Carolina Panthers Sunday evening. Basanez holds 30 school records.
On Monday, wide receiver Mark Philmore (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg), who ranks fourth in career receptions and fifth in career receiving yardage at NU, signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears.