For the fourth consecutive year an NIU player was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year.

On Monday Huskies senior kicker Steve Azar was named for the second time in his career. Azar shared the honor with Ohio punter Dave Zastudil in 2001.

Last year Dan Sheldon led the nation in punt return yards in winning the award, while Justin McCareins won it in 2000 for NIU.

Azar set the MAC career record for points by a kicker with 370 and is second for career scoring in the MAC by any position.

The Colorado Springs native was 21-of-26 on field goals. He led the MAC in scoring with 104 points and an 8.7 points per game average for NIU.

Wide reciever P.J. Fleck was also honored Monday, as he was named to the 2003 College Sports Information Directors of America Second Team Academic All-America University Division. Fleck, who has a 3.43 GPA, was also named to the All-MAC first team on Sunday.

Central Michigan running back Jerry Seymour ran for 1,117 yards and was named the MAC Freshman of the Year.