Corey Wootton life and biography

Corey Wootton is an American football defensive end for the Chicago Bears. He played college football at Northwestern University.

Pro career

Wootton entered the 2010 NFL Draft and was selected 109th overall in the 4th round by the Chicago Bears. He recorded his first sack on December 20, 2010 against the Minnesota Vikings. The sack forced Vikings quarterback Brett Favre to leave the game with a concussion. The concussion sidelined Favre for the remaining two games of the 2010 season.

College:

Started 49-of-53 games played at Northwestern (2005-09), setting the school-record for career starts... Credited with 156 tackles (94 solo), 19.5 sacks and 38.0 TFLs... His 19.5 sacks rank third and 38.0 TFLs rank fourth in school history... Added 4 INTs, 8 PBUs, 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries... Also has blocked four kicks... Honored as all-Big Ten selection his junior and senior seasons... Suffered knee injury during the 2008 Alamo Bowl, but returned to action ahead of schedule in order to start the 2009 season... Earned an invitation to the 2010 Senior Bowl, but elected not to play in the game in order to strengthen his knee.

SENIOR: Team co-captain, played in all 13 games (11 starts), posting 21 tackles (16 solo) to go along with 4.0 sacks... Added 6.0 TFLs, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery... Blocked a kick on special teams... Honorable mention all-Big Ten selection by coaches and media... Made his school-record 49th career start in Outback Bowl vs. Auburn... Playboy Preseason All-American... On 2009 watch lists for the Hendricks Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott Trophy and Lombardi Award.

JUNIOR: Started all 13 games, finishing fourth in the Big Ten with a career-high 10.0 sacks... Credited with 42 tackles (25 solo) and added 10.0 TFLs, which ranked sixth in the conference... Voted first-team all-Big Ten by conference coaches and second-team all-Big Ten by conference media... Recipient of team's Most Valuable Player Award... Earned team's defensive player of the game honors on three occasions (Southern Illinois, Indiana and Michigan)... Collected 3 tackles, including 1.0 sack, as well as his season's first INT prior to suffering a knee injury in the Alamo Bowl vs. Missouri.

SOPHOMORE: Played in all 12 games, making 11 starts at RDE... Ranked second among the Wildcats defensive linemen with 39 tackles (21 solo)... Tallied 7.0 TFLs, which ranked second on the team... Added 1.0 sack, 1 INT, 5 PBUs and blocked a kick on special teams.

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN: Starting all 12 games at LDE... Led the team in sacks (4.5) and TFL's (9.0)... Collected a career-high 51 tackles (31 solo)... Caused and recovered a fumble... Intercepted two passes and blocked a kick... Named to the Scripps Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) freshman All-American team... Named to The Sporting News' freshman all-Big Ten team... Honorable mention all-Big Ten selection (media) ... Wildcats' Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award recipient. FRESHMAN: Earned a medical hardship year for 2005... Played in three of first four games (starting two), before being sidelined the remainder of the year with a neck injury ... Made his first collegiate start vs. Northern Illinois.

Personal

An all-state, all-county and all-league selection in high school at Don Bosco Preparatory H.S. ... Won two state titles as his team went unbeaten both seasons... Played tight end and defensive end, catching 8 passes for 152 yards and totaling 62 tackles, 5 sacks and 1 defensive touchdown his senior season... Was ranked 62nd nationally among offensive tackles and 29th-ranked player overall in New Jersey by Rivals.com coming out of high school... Triple major at Northwestern in communication studies, African American studies and sociology.

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