And the award goes to…

After the annual NIU football banquet Sunday, the question was answered.

Sophomore running back Garrett Wolfe got to walk up and shake coach Joe Novak’s hand after being named the offensive player of the year.

“What a great day,” Novak said. “The first couple years at our banquet, we really didn’t have much to celebrate. Now we do.”

Wolfe became the third sophomore to receive a MVP award since 1977. After being named the back-up at the start of the season, Wolfe led the Huskies in rushing, scoring, total offense, and all-purpose yardage.

One of the 2004 quad captains, senior Brian Atkinson, led the team with 110 tackles and was the third NIU player to be named First Team All-MAC twice. Atkinson was named the defensive MVP.

Others receiving awards were receiver Dan Sheldon, who won the Fran Cahill Memorial Award for wide receivers, and tight end Brad Cieslak, who received the Jawan Jackson Memorial Award for the best achievement by a former walk-on.