Dec. 18, 2001

Two Villanova University football standouts have earned All-American honors from The Sports Network. Senior running back Brian Westbrook was named a first team All-American for the third time in his career, while senior offensive tackle Eamonn Allen earned second team All-American distinction. This marks the sixth time in the last seven years that the Villanova football program has had an All-American.

Westbrook becomes the first player in the history of Villanova football to earn All-American acclaim in three different seasons. In 1998, Westbrook received All-American recognition as both a running back and a return specialist, while in 2000 he was honored as an all-purpose player and a return specialist. This season, Westbrook joins Eastern Washington's Jesse Chapman as a first team All-American running back.

In 11 games in 2001, Westbrook led all of NCAA I-AA in both All-purpose yards with 2,823 and scoring with 176 points (29 TDs). The 5-9, 205 pound Ft. Washington, Maryland native rushed 249 times for 1,603 yards and 22 scores, caught 59 passes for 658 yards and six touchdowns, returned 17 kickoffs for 440 yards and a score, in addition to returning 12 punts for 90 yards. In Villanova's season finale at William & Mary, Westbrook set the NCAA All-Divisions career all-purpose yards record with 9,512 yards in 44 regular season games.

A three-year starter, Allen anchored the Villanova offensive line that helped the high-powered Villanova offense average 36.5 points per game, including 174.9 rushing yards per contest. A native of Granada, California, the 6-5, 285 pound Allen started all 11 games in 2001 at offensive tackle.

Allen and Westbrook are two of 16 Atlantic 10 players named to the Sports Network All-American teams. The 16 players represent the most honorees by any conference in the country.