DeKALB | Saturday may have been the last time NIU running back Garrett Wolfe took the field as a Huskie.

But the senior didn’t need to gain one yard before he was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, MAC’s Offensive MVP by MAC Report Online and the Vern Smith Leadership Award.

For the season, the senior rushed for 1900 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Chicago native leads the country with 158.3 yards per game.

The Vern Smith Leadership Award is given to the most oustanding player in the MAC. Wolfe is the first Huskie to win the award since quarterback Tim Tyrell in 1983.

More awards to go around

Seven NIU football players garnered All-MAC recognition on Monday.

Senior running back Garrett Wolfe, offensive lineman Doug Free, and sophomore defensive end Larry English all recieved first-team All-MAC honors.

Senior safety Dustin Utschig was named to the second-team and sophomore wide reciever Britt Davis, junior kicker Chris Nendick and sophomore linebacker Tim McCarthy recieved Honorable Mention.

Double threat earns award

NIU center James Hughes picked up his first MAC West player of the week this season. The senior averaged 23.5 points and nine rebounds in a pair of games against Duquesne.

For the season, Hughes is averaging a MAC-best in points and rebounding per game at 21.3 and 8.0.

Wrestling with rankings

Four NIU wresters are among the top in the national rankings by Wrestling International Magazine.

Senior Johnny Galloway moved up to No. 10 in the 165-pound weight class. Freshman Duke Burk moved from being non-ranked to the No. 10 in the 184-pound class.

Freshman Joe Cornejo also debuted at No. 13 in the 149-pound class. Junior Pat Castillo rounds out the group as he’s listed as No. 19 in the 125 pound group.

Ben Gross is an NIU sports reporter for the Northern Star.