May 17, 2012
2012 Phil Steele Preseason Honors
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -
University of Illinois junior linebacker Jonathan Brown was named to Phil Steele's preseason All-America fourth team on Thursday, and seven Illini were named to Steele's preseason All-Big Ten squads. Brown was a first-team preseason All-Big Ten pick, center Graham Pocic, defensive end Michael Buchanan and defensive tackle Akeem Spence were second-team selections, cornerback Terry Hawthorne was named to the third team, and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase and guard Hugh Thornton earned fourth-team honors.
Brown was a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and an honorable mention pick by the coaches in 2011 after he ranked sixth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in tackles for loss per game in 2011 with 1.63 (19.5 total). He led the Big Ten in TFLs (14.5) in conference games and ranked second in tackles (11.9 per game), pacing the Illini with 108 stops. Pocic started all 13 games at center in 2011, giving him 26 consecutive starts at the position, while Buchanan was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2011 after recording 64 tackles, 13.5 TFLs and 7.5 sacks.
Spence won the Northwest Florida All Sports Association Collegiate Award after starting all 13 games in 2011 and posting 69 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. He also was on the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy watch lists. Hawthorne was the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Defensive MVP after scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a 39-yard interception return. He also tied for the Big Ten lead in passes defended (0.85 per game) and had 60 tackles, 5.0 TFLs and a team-high three interceptions on the way to being named an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection.
Scheelhaase was the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Offensive MVP after rushing for 110 yards and throwing for 139 more with one touchdown in Illinois' 20-14 win over UCLA. He served as a team captain and was named the team's Outstanding Offensive Back at the annual postseason banquet. Thornton played in 11 games in 2011, starting at weak-side guard in 10 contests.
Led by new head coach Tim Beckman, the Illini are coming off bowl victories in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history. The 2012 schedule includes seven home games, including four in the month of September. Western Michigan (Sept. 1), Charleston Southern (Sept. 15), Louisiana Tech (Sept. 22), Penn State (Sept. 29), Indiana (Oct. 27), Minnesota (Nov. 10) and Purdue (Nov. 17) will all make visits to Memorial Stadium in 2012.
