Jon Asamoah to Serve as Honorary Captain vs. Northwestern

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Illinois and NFL offensive lineman Jon Asamoah will serve as the Fighting Illini's honorary captain Saturday against Northwestern. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on FOX. 

Asamoah, a four-year starting offensive guard, was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2009 and part of an offensive line that finished in the top-20 in rushing offense three times in his four seasons. In 2006 and 2007 the Illinois offensive line led the Big Ten in rushing, topped the league in passing in 2008 and finished second in the conference in rushing in 2009. The Park Forest, Illinois, native, also twice earned All-America honors, second-team by The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly.

Academically, Asamoah was named an NFF Scholar-Athlete, earned three Academic All-Big Ten honors, and was named to both the Dean's List and honor roll during his time in Champaign. In 2008, he was named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team. 

Asamoah was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with 68th overall selection (3rd round) of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played in 75 games with 56 starts during four seasons with Kansas City (2010-13) and one season with the Atlanta Falcons (2014).