D3football Release | IWU All-Time Selections

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Sophomores Cooper King (Western Springs, Ill.-Lyons Township) and Matt Worthington (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Lake Zurich) represented the Illinois Wesleyan University football team on the D3football.com Week Seven Team of the Week announced Monday night, Oct. 20. It is the first national honor in each of their careers, while they are the first Titans to reel in the recognition under head coach Jared Williamson.

The duo were catalysts in Illinois Wesleyan's, 49-27, win at Millikin, Oct. 18, and are IWU's first team of the week selections since week seven of 2022. Overall, King is the third Titan tight end to earn the accolade. He joins Kevin Graham (2022) and Zack Tencza (2021), while Worthington is the first punter in program history to nab the honor. King and Worthington represent the 16th and 17th team of the week picks in Illinois Wesleyan laurels.

King came up big for the Titans in the rivalry win. The Western Springs, Ill. native hauled in three catches for 50 yards, registering a pair of touchdowns. It marks the first multi-touchdown game of his career, while his three receptions tied a career-high. King is the first IWU tight end to haul in multiple TDs in a game since Oct. 21, 2023 (Kevin Graham at Carthage). 

Worthington, who was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Special Teams Player of the Week a day ago, flipped the field at Millikin. The sophomore punted three times, averaging 50.7 yards per punt. He pinned the Big Blue inside their own 20 once and notched a career-long punt of 71 yards. Worthington's 71-yard boot is second-longest in the CCIW this season and ranks tied for fifth all-time in IWU history. Furthermore, his punt is the longest since Matt Kussmann's 73-yarder against Elmhurst Oct. 25, 2014 and is one of 20 punts of 70-or-more yards across Division III this season.

Illinois Wesleyan now turns its focus to Saturday's clash with North Park University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Tucci Stadium, Oct. 25.