Northwestern University Athletics
Nine Wildcats Named to All-Big Ten Team
11/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2004
2004 All-Big Ten Teams
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Junior linebacker Tim McGarigle (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) leads a list of nine Northwestern players who were named to the All-Big Ten Conference team today. The nine selections are the most for the Wildcats since 2000 when 13 players were recognized.
McGarigle, who leads the Big Ten in tackles and ranks third nationally, was tabbed a first-team honoree by the media and a second-team selection by the coaches. McGarigle, who was named the National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Northwestern's win over Purdue, leads the country in solo tackles.
The Wildcats had three consensus second-team selections: running back Noah Herron (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan), offensive tackle Zach Strief (Milford, Ohio/Milford) and defensive tackle Luis Castillo (Garfield, N.J./Garfield).
Herron has had an outstanding season for the Wildcats, rushing for 117.4 yards per game, the 12th-best average nationally and the second-best average in the Conference. He has rushed for a league-best 14 touchdowns and ranks second in Big Ten scoring (8.2 ppg) and all-purpose yardage (146.1 ypg).
Strief has led Northwestern's offensive line, which has allowed the third-fewest sacks in the Big Ten and helped the Wildcats rank fourth in Big Ten total offense, fourth in rushing offense and fourth in passing offense.
Despite playing with an injured left elbow, Castillo has started and played every game and ranks fourth on Northwestern's tackle list with 74. He has totaled a team-best 8.5 tackles for loss.
Five other players received honorable mention recognition from at least one of the two teams: quarterback Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator), wide receiver Mark Philmore (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg), safety Dominique Price (Louisville, Ky./Jeffersontown), offensive guard Matt Ulrich (Streamwood, Ill./Streamwood) and cornerback Marvin Ward (Landover, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt). Basanez and Ulrich were consensus honorable mention picks.
The Big Ten also announced its Sportsmanship Award recipients: NU's 2004 winner is Luis Castillo.
