Northern Illinois University Athletics

A two-time Mid-American Conference Most Valuable Player and the highest NFL Draft choice in NIU football history, Larry English was one of the most imposing defensive players in the history of Huskie football. A native of Aurora, Ill., English still holds the NIU records for career sacks (31.5) and tackles for loss (63). 

As a redshirt freshman in 2005, English started nine games and totaled 78 tackles, the most by a Huskie defensive lineman that season. The following season, English earned the first of his three First Team All-MAC honors with a dominating season that included a then school-record tying 12 sacks. He totaled 51 tackles during his sophomore campaign, including 16 tackles for loss, while earning sophomore All-America honors from College Football News.

In 2007, English posted 10.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss while becoming the first defensive player to win the MAC's Vern Smith Leadership Award as the league's most valuable player since 1982. English, who earned national player of the week honors following a five-sack performance against Idaho, garnered All-America honors from Phil Steele and was also named to the Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Ted Hendricks Award watch lists. 

English concluded his spectacular Huskie career with eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss as a senior in 2008 while collecting the Vern Smith Leadership Award for the second consecutive season, becoming the first defensive player to win the award twice. English was named an All-American by Phil Steele and Pro Football Weekly and became just the fifth player in NIU history to participate in the Senior Bowl. 

Following the conclusion of his remarkable NIU career, English was selected 16th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2009 NFL Draft. He went on to play five seasons in San Diego (2009-13) and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014), recording 103 tackles and 12 sacks in 64 career games.