NIU wide receiver P.J. Fleck was the nation’s best college football player last week, according to USAToday.com award.

Fleck won the online award on Tuesday. It is voted on by readers and choices were given to vote on Sunday night. The 5-foot-10-inch senior was one of five nominees.

“It’s a nice award, but totally unexpected,” said Fleck, who credits quarterback Josh Haldi with his success. “Personally I don’t see myself getting something like that. A lot of my catches were on scrambles. Me getting that award can’t go without Josh getting a lot of that credit.”

Fleck stepped up his play in the absence of fellow receiver Dan Sheldon who was lost in the first half with a season-ending elbow injury.

A Sugar Grove native, Fleck had a career-high 14 receptions for an NIU-record 234 yards. He also had a 15-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter which tied the score and sent the game into overtime.

“It will be nice to tell my kids someday, and it really hasn’t sunk in,” Fleck said. “We can’t really look back right now. For teams that look back, they usually end up stubbing their toes. We’re on a mission right now.”