By Paul M. Banks
Hopefully, for the sake of Corey Wootton, the Chicago Bears, and the Northwestern Wildcats, this pick turns out more like Alex Brown than Michael Haynes. The Bears have had a very mixed bag lately when it comes to drafting defensive ends.
But it became official Saturday morning during the NFL Draft, the “Coreysaurus” is staying in the Chi, trading in his purple and white for blue and orange.
For an in-depth profile/interview of Wootton click here
“I think the Bears got an absolute steal in the 4th round, had he been healthy for all of 2009, he would have been a 1st round pick. They got a high character guy with a high motor and a tremendous work ethic, a leader with an attitude that will do anything for that organization, for the program, the city…you can’t coach 6-7, 280,” Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald said.
The Bears nabbed a tall, long-armed defensive end with ability to shed blocks vs. both the run and pass, but saw his stock drop due to serious medical concerns. Nevertheless coach Fitz believes he’ll approach this season with a chip on his shoulder, and that it will benefit all involved, as he stays in town.
“I’m fired up! I called Corey and said it’s kind of a neat deal, you get a chance to stay in your apartment, and if you’re smart the same one you could afford with your stipend…I’m a huge Bears fan as you guys know,” Fitzgerald said.
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern University defensive end Corey Wootton (Rutherford, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) was selected in the fourth round of the National Football League Draft by the Chicago Bears Saturday morning. He was the 11th pick of the fourth round and the 109th pick overall.
Wootton, who started a program-record 49 games for the Wildcats, joins former Northwestern players Brett Basanez, Nick Roach and Eric Peterman on the Bears’ current team roster.
“I’m thrilled for Corey,” said NU head coach Pat Fitzgerald. “We obviously have a close relationship with the Bears, and he is joining a terrific organization with some outstanding coaches. Corey’s best football days are still ahead of him.”
Wootton closed his illustrious career with 156 tackles, 38 TFL’s (19.5 of those are sacks), 12 pass deflections and four interceptions. In two of his four seasons (2006 and 2008), he recorded a statistic in every major defensive category — tackles, TFL’s, sacks, pass deflections, interceptions, forced fumbles, recovered fumbles, QB hurries and blocked kicks. Wootton finished third on NU’s all-time sacks list and fourth on its career TFL list.
Prior to the start of the 2009 season, Wootton was honored as a Playboy Preseason All-American. The 6-foot-7, 270-pound defensive end battled back from a major knee injury in the 2008 Valero Alamo Bowl to play in all 13 games in 2010, despite being slowed with a high ankle sprain he suffered against Purdue on Oct. 3. Wootton earned All-Big Ten honors three times during his career (first-team selection in 2008, and honorable mention in 2006 and 2009).