Wheaton alumni get time in NFL preseason
Studebaker |
Two Wheaton alums competed in NFL preseason games this weekend
for their respective teams. Cornerback Pete Ittersagen played for
the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night and linebacker Andy
Studebaker competed for the Kansas City Chiefs in Atlanta on
Friday.
Ittersagen, who signed with the Titans recently, played at
cornerback in Tennessee's 20-18 loss at Seattle. Ittersagen was
tied for second among Titan players with four total tackles in the
game, all solo stops.
Studebaker is entering his third season with the Chiefs after being
picked up by Kansas City off the Philadelphia Eagles' practice
squad in 2008. He was credited with three total tackles, including
one solo stop in the Chiefs' 20-10 loss at Atlanta on Friday
night.
A December 2008 graduate of Wheaton, Ittersagen signed as an
undrafted free agent with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars last April
and has also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans
Saints and Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. A three-time All-American
for the Thunder, Ittersagen's 60 career passes defended is fifth in
Division III history in the category and his five career punt
returns for a touchdown established a school record. His nine
career touchdown returns (five punt, three interception and one
kick) also set a Wheaton record. He is the program's all-time
leader in punt return yardage with 65 punts returns for 1,075 yards
(16.5 per return). The four-time all-conference selection at
cornerback recorded 252 career tackles, with 189 solo stops.
Studebaker graduated from Wheaton in May 2008 with a bachelor's
degree in applied health science. In four seasons with the Thunder,
he tallied 111 total tackles, with 50-1/2 tackles for lost yardage
(minus-292 yards), including 30 quarterback sacks. As a junior in
2006 he was selected as the College Conference of Illinois and
Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Year and was tabbed as a First
Team All-American and the North Region Defensive Player of the Year
by D3football.com. He also earned Second Team All-American honors
on the 2006 AP Little All-American team and was a Football Gazette
Division III All-American.
In that junior campaign Studebaker led the CCIW and Division III
with 17-1/2 sacks (minus-142 yards) and was also the league leader
in tackles for lost yardage with 25-1/2 (minus-161). His 17-1/2
sacks tied the school record for sacks in a single season, and were
the most of any player at any NCAA level in 2006.
