Leman Earns Big Ten Honors
November 6, 2006 | Football
Nov. 6, 2006
 LB J Leman  |
|
Leman racked up a career-high 19 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, including an eight-yard sack, while forcing a fumble to spearhead an Illinois defense that limited top-ranked Ohio State to only 3.2 yards per offensive play. The junior linebacker's 19-tackles, which included eight solo stops, are the most by a Big Ten player this season. After trailing 17-0 at halftime, the Illini defense allowed 29 yards, four first downs and no points in the second half of play. The Illini outgained Ohio State 233-224, the first time for such an accomplishment against OSU this year.
Leman leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally with 11.7 tackles per game and has produced double-digits in defensive stops in eight of 10 contests. He collects the first weekly accolade of his career and the first by an Illini defensive player since Derrick Strong was honored on Nov. 11, 2002.
