Northwestern University Athletics
Walker, Jr., and Odenigbo Selected in 2017 NFL Draft
4/29/2017 4:13:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Dreams came true for Northwestern junior linebacker Anthony Walker, Jr., and senior defensive end Ifeadi Odenigo Saturday afternoon when they were selected in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Walker was selected with the 161st pick overall in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts, while Odenigbo was picked by the Minnesota Vikings with the 201st pick overall in the seventh round.
Walker earned All-American honors from the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated while being named a consensus First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 as a junior before earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors as a junior. He finished his Northwestern career with 278 tackles, including 39.5 half for loss, 7.5 sacks, four interceptions, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
The Miami, Florida, native was named to the Walter Camp, Bednarik, Nagurski and Butkus Award watch lists prior to his junior campaign. A team captain in his final season with the 'Cats, Walker capped his career with seven tackles and a forced fumble in a 31-24 win over No. 23 Pittsburgh in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
Odenigbo finished his career second in program history with 23.5 career sacks, earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors as a senior after leading the league with 10 sacks. He recorded a NU single-game record with four sacks at Iowa and became the first player in program history with two ore more sacks in back-to-back games with a pair in a win at Michigan State.
Senior wide receiver Austin Carr signed an undrafted free agent contract with the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots shortly after the conclusion of the draft. Carr had a breakout senior season for the Wildcats, becoming the program's first Richter-Howard Big Ten Receiver of the Year and Biletnikoff Finalist. A consensus First-Team All-Big Ten selection and Third-Team Sports Illustrated All-American, Carr set a NU single-seaosn record with 1,247 receiving yards and tied the school record with 12 touchdown receptions. He finished tied for second in program history with 90 catches in his senior campaign, ranking 16th in the country in receptions per game (.69), 17th in touchdowns, 18th in receiving yards and 20th in receiving yards per game (95.9).
A former walk on and finalist for the 2016 Burlsworth Trophy, Carr caught a touchdown in a NU-record six-straight games and had six different games with 100-plus yards receiving. He hauled a career-high 158 yards receiving against Ohio State and caught a career-high 12 passes versus Wisconsin.
Linebacker Joe Jones signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Jones Appeared in all 13 games and made five starts in his senior season, finishing with a career-high 46 tackles. He finished his NU career with 70 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, and was a key contributor on special teams.
Walker was selected with the 161st pick overall in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts, while Odenigbo was picked by the Minnesota Vikings with the 201st pick overall in the seventh round.
Indy Bound!
— #B1GCats Football (@NUFBFamily) April 29, 2017
The @Colts have selected @__AWalkJr in the 2017 #NFLDraft.#B1GCats pic.twitter.com/wQ5gaPBZgS
Walker earned All-American honors from the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated while being named a consensus First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 as a junior before earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors as a junior. He finished his Northwestern career with 278 tackles, including 39.5 half for loss, 7.5 sacks, four interceptions, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
The Miami, Florida, native was named to the Walter Camp, Bednarik, Nagurski and Butkus Award watch lists prior to his junior campaign. A team captain in his final season with the 'Cats, Walker capped his career with seven tackles and a forced fumble in a 31-24 win over No. 23 Pittsburgh in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
The @Colts are getting an absolute playmaker at linebacker in @__AWalkJr. #B1GCats | #NFLDraft https://t.co/VSxMmuQGAR
— #B1GCats Football (@NUFBFamily) April 29, 2017
Odenigbo finished his career second in program history with 23.5 career sacks, earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors as a senior after leading the league with 10 sacks. He recorded a NU single-game record with four sacks at Iowa and became the first player in program history with two ore more sacks in back-to-back games with a pair in a win at Michigan State.
We know he looks good in purple. ??@IfeadiOdenigbo has been selected by the @Vikings in the 7th round of the #NFLDraft. #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/h29RyNIgbS
— #B1GCats Football (@NUFBFamily) April 29, 2017
Senior wide receiver Austin Carr signed an undrafted free agent contract with the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots shortly after the conclusion of the draft. Carr had a breakout senior season for the Wildcats, becoming the program's first Richter-Howard Big Ten Receiver of the Year and Biletnikoff Finalist. A consensus First-Team All-Big Ten selection and Third-Team Sports Illustrated All-American, Carr set a NU single-seaosn record with 1,247 receiving yards and tied the school record with 12 touchdown receptions. He finished tied for second in program history with 90 catches in his senior campaign, ranking 16th in the country in receptions per game (.69), 17th in touchdowns, 18th in receiving yards and 20th in receiving yards per game (95.9).
A former walk on and finalist for the 2016 Burlsworth Trophy, Carr caught a touchdown in a NU-record six-straight games and had six different games with 100-plus yards receiving. He hauled a career-high 158 yards receiving against Ohio State and caught a career-high 12 passes versus Wisconsin.
The Big Ten Receiver of the Year @ayeseeme has signed with the @Patriots. #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/v0VHqveQDT
— #B1GCats Football (@NUFBFamily) April 30, 2017
Linebacker Joe Jones signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Jones Appeared in all 13 games and made five starts in his senior season, finishing with a career-high 46 tackles. He finished his NU career with 70 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, and was a key contributor on special teams.
How 'bout them @dallascowboys! @FamilyMan_Joe42 is on his way to Dallas. #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/XyQwsENKxS
— #B1GCats Football (@NUFBFamily) April 29, 2017
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