O'Donnell Named Associated Press First-Team All-American
December 11, 2007 | Football
Dec. 11, 2007
 Senior OL Martin O'Donnell (64)  |
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University of Illinois offensive lineman Martin O'Donnell has been named a 2007 Associated Press first-team All-American, as announced by the AP this afternoon. Linebacker J Leman earned second-team honors on the same list.
O'Donnell, a senior four-year starter at left guard, led the Illini's rushing offense to a top-5 national ranking and broke numerous school records in the process. He is the first Illinois player to earn first-team honors by the AP since Kevin Hardy in 1995 and the first offensive lineman since Dick Butkus in 1963.
"This is a great honor," O'Donnell said. "I think this more of a tribute to the offensive line as a whole. This year, we really came together as a group and improved each week. It all starts with the coaches. The coaches are a huge part of that, especially Coach Wolford. This is a really great way to show the offense that we have been recognized for all the hard work we have put in over the season."
The Illinois offensive line is responsible for over 3,000 yards rushing for the first time in school history. O'Donnell and his group paved the way for eight 200-yard rushing games and for running back Rashard Mendenhall to break the school's single-season rushing record. Averaging 266.2 yards per game, the Illini led the Big Ten in rushing and ranked fifth in the nation. The team's 5.7 yards per carry ranked third in nation and first in the conference. The offensive line also decreased its sacks allowed from 30 in 2006 to only 11 in 2007. That number ranked fifth in the NCAA.
Leman earned his ninth All-America honor with his naming to the second-team list. Leman led the Illinois defense for the past two years in tackles, posting 124 in 2007. He also led the Big Ten in the same category for 16 of the last 19 weeks, dating back to last season. This season the Illini defense, led by Leman, ranked 21st in the nation in rushing defense and held five teams under 100 yards rushing.
