With MAC Championship and GoDaddy.com Bowl victories already under their belt, nine NIU football players added more to their resume by receiving All-MAC Academic honors.

“Obviously to be the conference champs on the field and then to represent the MAC with nine Academic All-MAC players shows the balance we’re trying to have in our program,” said NIU coach Dave Doeren in a press release. “I am very proud of our players to achieve this award.”

Five Huskies placed on the All-MAC Academic first team: punter Ryan Neir, defensive lineman Nabal Jefferson, offensive tackle Keith Otis, guard Joe Pawlak and quarterback Chandler Harnish. Harnish, who is a three-time selectee, maintained a 4.0 GPA in his graduate level business courses.

The four players selected to the honorable mention Academic All-MAC team were defensive lineman Alan Baxter, tight end Adam Kiel, fullback Pat McAvoy and offensive lineman Matt Krempel.

Four Huskies selected to Postseason Games

Four NIU football players earned a chance to play in a postseason game this semester.

Quarterback Chandler Harnish will play in St. Petersburg, Fla. and represent NIU in the 87th annual East-West Shrine game Jan. 21.

Harnish finished his redshirt senior season with 3,216 yards through the air and 1,379 yards on the ground.

Pat Schiller, Trevor Olson and Scott Wedige will head west to Los Angeles, Calif. for and opportunity to display their talents at the 2012 Astroturf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Schiller’s 2011 campaign was one of great defensive prowess, despite coming back from an injury that caused him to sit out much of his junior year. The Huskies’ middle linebacker led the defense with 115 tackles.

Olson and Wedige have been together on the offensive line for most of their careers and received All-American honors this season.

Finally, linebacker Jordan Delegal will represent the Huskies and his home state of Florida in the Battle of Florida in Boca Rotan. Players must be draft eligible and born in Florida, played high school football in Florida or went to college there. Although it is the battle of Florida, colleges from all around the country will be represented.

This game will be broadcast live on Fox College Sports on Jan. 21. Delegal’s coach for this game will be the Florida State head coaching great Bobby Bowden.