Spence Collects Another Freshman All-America Honor
January 10, 2011 | Football
Jan. 10, 2011
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Illinois redshirt freshman defensive tackle Akeem Spence was named to the 10th annual Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America Team, announced Monday morning during the association's annual awards breakfast.
Spence collected 45 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack while starting all 13 games alongside All-American defensive tackle Corey Liuget. Spence and Liuget combined to form one of the nation's most productive defensive tackle duos as the pair totaled 108 tackles, 16.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks while playing an overwhelming majority of all defensive snaps. Spence helped the Illini defense make drastic improvements from 2009 to 2010 and led the team to a 38-14 Texas Bowl victory over Baylor on Dec. 29, the school's first bowl win since 1999.
It marks the fourth Freshman All-America honor for Spence this season and his third first team accolade. He was a first team Frosh All-American by Rivals.com and Phil Steele, and a second team honoree by collegefootballnews.com.
Complete FWAA Freshman All-America Team
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Illinois Postseason Honors (as of 1/10/11)
OT Jeff Allen

• Second-team All-Big Ten (media)

• Honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches)
LB Nate Bussey

• Honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches & media)
PK Derek Dimke

• Second-team All-Big Ten (coaches)

• Honorable mention All-Big Ten (media)
FS Trulon Henry

• Honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches & media)
RB Mikel Leshoure

• Texas Bowl MVP
• Second-team All-American by Associated Press

• Third-team All-American by Rivals.com and Phil Steele
• Honorable mention All-American by SI.com
and Pro Football Weekly

• First-team All-Big Ten (coaches & media)
DT Corey Liuget

• Fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele

• Honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Weekly

• Second-team All-Big Ten (coaches & media)
C Graham Pocic

• Honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches & media)
P Anthony Santella

• First-team All-Big Ten (coaches)

• Second-team All-Big Ten (media)
QB Nathan Scheelhaase
• Fourth-team Freshman All-American by Phil Steele
• Honorable mention Freshman All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com
DT Akeem Spence

• First-team Freshman All-American by the FWAA, Rivals.com, Phil Steele
• Second-team Freshman All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com
LB Martez Wilson

• First-team All-Big Ten (media)

• Second-team All-Big Ten (coaches)
SS Tavon Wilson

• Honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches & media)
