Dec. 8, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior linebacker Adam Kadela (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) and junior wide receiver Eric Peterman (Sherman, Ill./Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin) earned co-Most Valuable Player honors at Saturday's Northwestern Gridiron Network Football Banquet. The event was held in front of 350 fans at Trienens Hall in the Nicolet Football Center.
Kadela, one of four team captains, led the Wildcats in tackles (10.4 per game) and ranked second among all Big Ten players and 21st nationally in tackles per game. He closed his career with a personal-high 17 tackles at Illinois. Named one of 11 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team honorees in 2007, Kadela closed his career with 296 tackles. He was named the Wildcats' defensive player of the game three times this season. Kadela was a consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten selection.
Peterman was Northwestern's leading receiver with 66 receptions, the seventh-highest single-season total in Wildcat history. He also led Northwestern in receiving yardage (744 yards) and was second in all-purpose yardage (72.4 ypg). A second-team All-Big Ten selection by Rivals.com, he totaled a career-high 141 receiving yards and a TD in NU's road win at Michigan State and a career-best 12 receptions against Minnesota. Peterman, who was named an ESPN The Magazine first-team academic all-district selection, also was a key special teams performer.
Redshirt sophomore Kurt Mattes (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) and redshirt freshman Stephen Simmons (St. Louis, Mo./SLUH) were the recipients of the NGN Newcomer of the Year awards. Mattes won the Offensive Newcomer of the Year award after starting all 12 games at right tackle and helping NU lead the Big Ten in total offense. He was named the team's offensive player of the game three times--once individually (vs. Ohio State) and the other as a unit (vs. Michigan State and Ohio State). Simmons won the Special Teams Newcomer of the Year award. He led Northwestern in kickoff returns, averaging a team-best 26.8 ypr. He returned one of his kicks 99 yards for a touchdown vs. Ohio State.
Other awards that were handed out included: the Rashidi Wheeler Award (given to a player that best represents the spirit and enthusiasm of Wheeler): senior receiver Kim Thompson (Inkster, Mich./Detroit Country Day) and senior running back Brandon Roberson (Pearland, Texas/Pearland) were co-recipients; the George W. Ballantine Award (given for enthusiasm and leadership): senior guard Adam Crum (Anchor Point, Alaska/Homer); the Thomas Airth Spirit Award: senior offensive tackle Dylan Thiry (Louisville, Ky./Trinity); the Carnig Minasian Citizenship Award: senior wide receiver Tonjua "T.J." Jones (Southfield, Mich./Southfield-Lathrop); the Randy Walker Wildcat Warrior Awards (for work ethic, toughness and attitude of a warrior): senior safety Ben Rothrauff (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) and junior receiver Eric Peterman; and the Marcel Price Award (given to a player who best exemplifies the enthusiasm and dedication to the Wildcat program and is symbolic of Price's desire): senior linebacker Chris Malleo (Wall Township, N.J./Wall Township/The Hun School of Princeton).
Co-captains Trevor Rees (Pearland, Texas/Pearland), T.J. Jones, Eric Peterman and Adam Kadela were also recognized and honored.
Northwestern won six games and finished 6-6 overall, 3-5 in the Big Ten. Despite gaining bowl eligibility, there were no available bowl slots for the Big Ten's two 6-6 teams (Iowa and NU) due to the league having 10 of its 11 schools win six or more games. Northwestern won six or more games for the fourth time in the last five years.