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Whitney Mercilus

Houston Texans take Illini Whitney Mercilus, DE slips to #26

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He came out of nowhere to win the Ted Hendricks Award as the best Defensive End in all of college football. He rose from obscurity to become an All-American at Illinois. Now Whitney Mercilus is a member of the Houston Texans, joining fellow Big Ten alum J.J. Watt of the Wisconsin Badgers as the men who will fill the pass-rushing void left by the departed 2006 #1 overall draft … [Read more...] about Houston Texans take Illini Whitney Mercilus, DE slips to #26

Illini Whitney Mercilus Entering the NFL Draft

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University of Illinois junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus announced today that he will forgo his senior season at Illinois to enter the 2012 NFL Draft.  Mercilus who has the best name a defensive line man can have, emerged from total obscurity to have a banner year for the Fighting Illini, tying Simeon Rice’s single-season record and leading the nation with 16 sacks. … [Read more...] about Illini Whitney Mercilus Entering the NFL Draft

Illini DE Whitney Mercilus: Best at his Position in the Nation

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University of Illinois junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus was named yesterday to the Associated Press All-America first team. That means he's truly "everybody's All-American" and he's been named to 10 different All-America teams. Nine of which were first-team. He also took home the Hendricks Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive end. "There's a lot of … [Read more...] about Illini DE Whitney Mercilus: Best at his Position in the Nation

Illini Defensive End Whitney Mercilus Wins Top National DE Award

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Illinois junior Whitney Mercilus has won the 2011 Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Mercilus led the nation in sacks, sacks per game and forced fumbles while ranking sixth nationally in tackles for loss per game. He becomes the first Illini national award winner since Dana Howard (1994) and Kevin Hardy (1995) won the Butkus Award (best linebacker in college football) … [Read more...] about Illini Defensive End Whitney Mercilus Wins Top National DE Award

Hawkeyes Marvin McNutt, Illini Whitney Mercilus on College Football All-Name Team

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With a name like Mercilus, pronounced merciless, you have to be a college football player. And a player at the very aggressive attacking position of defensive end too- that helps. Illinois Fighting Illini junior DE Whitney Mercilus is just that; a man with a name built for his role like former Illini OL Eric Block, or current Buffalo Bills DB Reggie Corner. "I do get a lot … [Read more...] about Hawkeyes Marvin McNutt, Illini Whitney Mercilus on College Football All-Name Team

What we Learned from Fighting Illini Football Spring Game

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A small select group of things are certain in life- death, taxes, and Fighting Illini football seasons ending up much different than what you expected in the preseason. Last year's team wasn't expected to really do much- Yet the finished 7-6 (despite a very difficult schedule) and with a quite decisive bowl victory. Conversely, in '08 and '09, expectations were sky-high … [Read more...] about What we Learned from Fighting Illini Football Spring Game

Fighting Illini Spring Football Game Preview

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Now that Mikel Leshoure left the Illini early for the NFL Draft, (and who can blame him really? He will be one of the first three running backs taken next week) Illinois college football is now headlined by sophomore QB Nathan Scheelhaase. It's his team. And if he continue to makes strides like he did from the season finale to the Texas Bowl, things will be fine. The 15 … [Read more...] about Fighting Illini Spring Football Game Preview