Wheaton, Ill. – On Sunday evening the NFL’s
Jacksonville Jaguars signed Wheaton College graduate
Pete Ittersagen to a free agent contract, following the 2009 NFL Draft. Ittersagen is the 15th Wheaton College football player to sign a professional contract, including 12 NFL contracts.
Ittersagen’s contract with Jacksonville comes one year after the selection of his former Wheaton teammate
Andy Studebaker who was the 203rd pick of the 2008 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Studebaker is currently a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ittersagen, a three-time All-American for the Thunder, graduated from Wheaton in December of 2008 with a degree in Business and Economics. A three-time All-American, Ittersagen has been a standout at both cornerback and return specialist. His 60 career passes defended, is fifth all-time in Division III history in the category. Ittersagen’s five career punt returns for a touchdown established a new school record and his nine career touchdown returns (five punt, three interception and one kick) also set a Wheaton College record. He is the program’s all-time leader in punt return yardage with 65 punts returns for 1,075 yards (16.5 YPR). The four-time All-Conference selection at cornerback recorded 252 career tackles, with 189 solo stops.
Ittersagen noted on Sunday evening, “It is a blessing to see all of the hard work that I have put in pay off. However, I still have hard work ahead of me.” He added, “I have had some wonderful opportunities at Wheaton and it is great that things have turned out like this.”
In 2008 Ittersagen concluded his brilliant Wheaton career as a unanimous Division III All-American with selection to the Associated Press’ “Little All-American Team”, as a First Team honoree. He was also recognized as a First Team Division III All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for the second consecutive year and was named a First Team All-American at cornerback and a Second Team pick as a kick returner by D3football.com. He was named the North Region “Defensive Player of the Year” by D3football.com. He returned 25 punts for a school record 464 yards this season, averaging 18.6 yards per return, with two returned for a touchdown. He finished the season ranked second in Division III in yards per punt return. Ittersagen helped lead Wheaton to its first-ever NCAA Division III Playoff Semifinal appearance with three touchdown returns in the team’s four postseason games.