At the halfway mark of NIU’s 2024 season, the 4-2 Huskies are riding high after a statement win against Bowling Green State University. But picking favorites isn’t easy for one of the deepest teams NIU has fielded under head coach Thomas Hammock.
The defense has been impeccable and is one of the best units in the country. NIU leads the Football Bowl Subdivision in third-down defense and ranks fifth in total defense.
The offense, on the other hand, has struggled to produce at times. Pedestrian quarterback play has hamstrung the Huskies as of late, and injuries to key starters haven’t helped matters. Even so, an elite ground game and robust offensive line make NIU difficult to keep down for long.
As the Huskies enter the tougher half of their schedule, they’ll rely on players like redshirt sophomore left tackle Evan Malcore, redshirt junior defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard and redshirt freshman safety Santana Banner to guide them the rest of the way.
OFFENSIVE MVP: EVAN MALCORE
A lineman choice here might seem surprising, but Malcore has been a mainstay on NIU’s starting offensive line despite being its youngest member. He’s played a team-high 414 snaps this season and hasn’t given up a sack while protecting the blind sides of three different quarterbacks.
DEFENSIVE MVP: SKYLER GILL-HOWARD
There’s no first-name bias here. The D-line has been pivotal in NIU’s defensive success, and Gill-Howard has been especially impactful from his position along the B-gap. Gill-Howard has nearly matched his totals from 2023. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native has 24 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks through the first six games. Gill-Howard also owns the second-highest defensive grade in the Group of Five, according to Pro Football Focus.
TOP FRESHMAN: SANTANA BANNER
Redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Holst or redshirt freshman running back Jaylen Poe were viable options after their recent flashes on the field, but Banner has held his own as a first-year starter in NIU’s deep secondary. The three-star recruit out of Lawrenceville, Georgia, only played in five games on special teams for the Huskies as a true freshman in 2023. This season, he’s played 224 snaps – sixth-most on the team. Banner’s 22 tackles are tied for fifth-most on the team and his two pass breakups are tied for third.
