Last season, the Huskies’ were relatively healthy and produced seven All-Mid American Conference team selections.

This year, 24 players listed on the two-deep depth chart at one point this season missed multiple games because of injury.

Despite all the injuries, three Huskies’ were named to the All-MAC team.

Voted on by league coaches, league MVP Larry English made the first team, redshirt sophomore tailback Justin Anderson earned second-team honors and junior offensive tackle Jon Brost made the league’s third team.

English led the MAC in sacks with 10.5 and totaled 67 tackles, 17 of which were for a loss. The Aurora native earned a first-team selection for the second season in a row, which marks the sixth-consecutive season the Huskies’ have produced a first-team defensive end.

“It’s definitely a great honor,” English said. “I’m really thankful for it. A lot of credit goes to the coaches. Coach [Mike] Sabock has done a great job this year.”

Recently retired head coach Joe Novak agreed that English deserved the honor.

“Obviously, Larry English had a great season for us,” said Novak. “As the season went on, he just played better and better. It was amazing that he was able to sustain such a high level of play throughout every game and with all the plays he was on the field.”

When Montell Clanton went down in the game against Southern Illinois, Anderson was called upon and didn’t disappoint. The Chicago native racked up 1,245 yards and gave NIU its ninth-consecutive season with a 1,000-yard rusher. Anderson also caught 45 passes for 263 yards, a school-record at the running back position.

“Along with Matt Simon, Justin carried us on offense,” Novak said. “For a player that, coming into the year, was behind Montell, he was impressive, both carrying the ball and catching it. He had an extremely productive year and has two great years ahead of him.”

Coming into the season, the big question mark was the offensive line. However, by the time the season ended, the O-Line proved to be a strong point for the Huskies. Brost, a junior from Maple Grove, Minn., was in on every offensive play this season and didn’t allow a sack until Game 7 against Western Michigan.

“After an off-year last year, [Brost] came back in great fashion and really bolstered an offensive line that we were extremely concerned about going into the year,” Novak said. “He was a leader of that group and it’s nice to see him get recognized.”