There have been 17 Wheaton football players to sign professional football contracts since 1979.
The former Wheaton players that have signed professional a contract consists of: Rick Benware (WR); Keith Bishop (QB); Kermit Ellison (DB); Brad Emerson; Jeff Frazier (DT); Scott Hall (QB); Pete Ittersagen (CB); Dave McCarrell (QB); Bart Moseman (WR); Thane Ritchie (TE); Doug Rothschild (DE); Jesse Peterson (OL); Andy Studebaker (DL/LB); Steve Thonn (WR); Chad Thorson (LB); Bob Unruh (PK) and Mike Yamamoto (DB). This group has 15 All-American selections and has established more than 25 Wheaton school records.
| Rick Benware (WR): Chicago (NFL ‘87) |
| Keith Bishop (QB): Minnesota (NFL ‘87) |
| Kermit Ellison (DB): Memphis (Canadian Football League, ‘95) |
| Brad Emerson (OT): Tampa Bay (NFL ‘85) |
| Jeff Frazier (DT): Albany (Arena, ‘92) |
| Scott Hall (QB): Denver (NFL ‘79) |
| Pete Ittersagen (CB): Jacksonville (NFL’ 09); Indianapolis (NFL’ 10); Tennessee (NFL’ 10-11) |
| Dave McCarrell (QB): Chicago (NFL ‘83) |
| Bart Moseman (WR): Houston (NFL ‘93) |
| Thane Ritchie (TE): Pittsburgh (NFL ‘89); Chicago (NFL ‘90) |
| Doug Rothschild (DE): Chicago (NFL ‘87); Cincinnati (NFL ‘88) |
| Jesse Peterson (OL): New Orleans (Arena '14); Cleveland (Arena '15) |
| Tyler Sigler (DB): Arizona (NFL '19); Toronto (CFL '20) |
| Andy Studebaker (DL/LB): Philadelphia (NFL ’08); Kansas City (NFL ’08-12); Indianapolis (NFL '13-15) |
| Steve Thonn (WR): Arizona (USFL, ‘84); Albany (Arena, ‘86-93) |
| Chad Thorson (LB): N.Y. Giants (NFL, ‘90-91); Birmingham (WFL, ‘91); Indianapolis (NFL, ‘92) |
| Bob Unruh (PK): Green Bay (NFL ‘79) |
| Mike Yamamoto (DB): Arizona (Arena, ‘92) |
ANDY STUDEBAKER AND PETE ITTERSAGEN
Two of Wheaton's professional signings have occurred recently: Andy Studebaker and Pete Ittersagen. On April 27, 2008 the Philadelphia Eagles selected Wheaton defensive end Andy Studebaker with the 37th pick of the sixth round in the 2008 NFL Draft. With his selection, Studebaker became the first player from Wheaton taken in the NFL draft during the draft’s modern era and the first Wheaton player drafted since the 1960’s.
Following a strong 2008 training camp with the Eagles, Studebaker was signed to Philadelphia’s practice squad where he trained and learned the Eagles’ system. On November 17, 2008, Studebaker was signed off the Eagles’ practice squad by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played in Kansas City’s final six games of the year, making five total tackles.
After a strong off-season with the Chiefs, Studebaker entered Kansas City’s 2009 training camp and made it with the team for the entire season at outside linebacker. Studebaker had a strong first full season in the NFL with 28 total tackles and two interceptions. He had his breakout game when he made his first NFL start on November, 22. Early in the third quarter of Kansas City’s win against the Steelers, Studebaker recorded his first professional interception. Later in the third quarter, he intercepted another Ben Roethlisberger pass and returned it 94 yards to Steelers’ eight-yard line, setting up a field goal for the Chiefs. He also made five total tackles in the game, with four solo stops and he assisted on a quarterback sack.
Studebaker earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Health Science from Wheaton in May 2008. In four seasons as a defensive end for the Thunder, Studebaker tallied 111 total tackles, with 50-1/2 tackles for lost yardage (-292 yards), including 30 quarterback sacks. As a junior in 2006, Studebaker was selected as the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) 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 he led the CCIW with 17-1/2 (-142 yards) quarterback sacks and was also the league leader in tackles for lost yardage with 25-1/2 (-161 yards). 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.
Following the conclusion of the 2009 NFL Draft, Wheaton cornerback Pete Ittersagen was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars on April 26, 2009.
He had a strong 2009 training camp as a defensive back and particularly on special teams. However he was released late in the camp by the team.
In Spring of 2010 Ittersagen signed a contract to play of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. However, he later left Toronto when he signed a contract in May of that year to join the Indianapolis Colts during their “Organized Team Activities” (OTA’s). Following his stint with the Colts he joined the Tennessee Titans and spent the majority of the 2010 training camp with the Titans, appearing in two preseason games. In September of 2010 he was signed to join the Titans' practice squad.
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 was a standout at both cornerback and return specialist. His 60 career passes defended, is fifth all-time in Division III history. 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.
