Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Fisher Named to FWAA Freshman All-America Team
1/8/2018 11:59:00 AM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern redshirt first-year linebacker Paddy Fisher was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team Monday morning.
Fisher started 12 of 13 games for the Wildcats, leading the team and all FBS first-year players with 113 tackles in his debut season. He is the first NU rookie to earn FWAA Freshman All-America Team honors since defensive back Ibraheim Campbell in 2011. In addition to his tackling prowess, Fisher ranked 19th in the country with four forced fumbles.
The Katy, Texas, native was named the Big Ten Network's Big Ten Defensive Freshman of the Year, Second-Team All-Big Ten by the media and Third Team by the coaches last month. He burst on the scene with 18 tackles at Duke before making a season-high 19 tackles, including a FBS-high 14 solo stops, versus No. 16 Michigan State. Fisher was just one of two FBS players to record 18-plus tackles in two games.
Northwestern's defense ranked ninth in the country in rushing defense (107.7) and fourth down percentage (.364), 10th in red zone defense (.732), 20th in scoring defense (20.1), 22nd in team tackles for loss (7.2), 23rd in turnovers gained (25). The Wildcats are one of just nine teams to rank in the top 25 nationally in scoring defense each of the last three seasons.
Chicago's Big Ten Team capped the 2017 season with a 24-23 win over Kentucky in the 20th Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, winning their eighth-straight game to finish 10-3 overall. The victory marked the first time in program history the 'Cats won back-to-back bowl games and marked the third 10 win season in the last six seasons.
Fisher started 12 of 13 games for the Wildcats, leading the team and all FBS first-year players with 113 tackles in his debut season. He is the first NU rookie to earn FWAA Freshman All-America Team honors since defensive back Ibraheim Campbell in 2011. In addition to his tackling prowess, Fisher ranked 19th in the country with four forced fumbles.
The Katy, Texas, native was named the Big Ten Network's Big Ten Defensive Freshman of the Year, Second-Team All-Big Ten by the media and Third Team by the coaches last month. He burst on the scene with 18 tackles at Duke before making a season-high 19 tackles, including a FBS-high 14 solo stops, versus No. 16 Michigan State. Fisher was just one of two FBS players to record 18-plus tackles in two games.
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— NorthWWWWWWWWestern Football (@NUFBFamily) January 8, 2018
Paddy Fisher named to @TheFWAA Freshman All-America Team. #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/yf5fIZ5jXf
Northwestern's defense ranked ninth in the country in rushing defense (107.7) and fourth down percentage (.364), 10th in red zone defense (.732), 20th in scoring defense (20.1), 22nd in team tackles for loss (7.2), 23rd in turnovers gained (25). The Wildcats are one of just nine teams to rank in the top 25 nationally in scoring defense each of the last three seasons.
Chicago's Big Ten Team capped the 2017 season with a 24-23 win over Kentucky in the 20th Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, winning their eighth-straight game to finish 10-3 overall. The victory marked the first time in program history the 'Cats won back-to-back bowl games and marked the third 10 win season in the last six seasons.
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