Northwestern University Athletics
Freshman Team Awards Continue To Roll In For 'Cats
12/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 16, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Cornerback Jordan Mabin (Northfield Center, Ohio/Nordonia), defensive end Vince Browne (Lisbon, Ohio/David Anderson) and center Ben Burkett (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) have combined to earned national All-Freshman team awards from Sporting News, Rivals.com and Phil Steele while picking up Big Ten All-Freshman accolades from ESPN.com.
Mabin is a Sporting News All-Freshman first-team honoree, a member of the Phil Steele All-Freshman first team and a Rivals.com Freshman All-America second-team award winner. Mabin appeared in all 12 games this year for the Wildcats, starting the final 10. He compiled 49 tackles (2.0 for loss) while leading the team with three interceptions. He also broke up an additional five pass attempts, forced two fumbles and recovered another.
Mabin was honored as the Northwestern Gridiron Network's Defensive Newcomer of the Year at the NGN football banquet Saturday, Dec. 13.
Browne picked up second-team honors from Sporting News and Rivals.com after appearing in nine games before an injury in the first quarter at Minnesota. Browne made 22 tackles including 7.0 for loss. He recorded four sacks, forced two fumbles and made an interception. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following NU's 16-8 win over Ohio.
Mabin and Browne are Northwestern's first Sporting News All-Freshman honorees since Tyrell Sutton was named the national Offensive Freshman of the Year by the magazine in 2005. Kevin Mims and Brendan Smith were honorable mention selections in 2005, as well.
Burkett is a Phil Steele third-team All-Freshman selection. The Toledo, Ohio, native started all 12 games this season at the center position, helping Northwestern surrender the second fewest sacks in the Big Ten. He was named the NGN Offensive Newcomer of the Year this season.
For the complete list of 2008 Sporting News All-Freshman honorees, click here.
Read the Rivals.com release here and the Phil Steele release here 
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All three freshman Wildcats were named to Adam Rittenberg's ESPN.com Big Ten All-Freshman team. Find that team here.
