Nov. 28, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois defensive end Larry English (Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy), selected as the 2007 Vern Smith Leadership Award winner (league MVP) by Mid-American Conference coaches, headed a list of three Huskies on the 2007 All-MAC teams released Tuesday by the MAC Office.

In addition to English's selection to the All-Mid-American Conference first team, sophomore tailback Justin Anderson (Chicago, Ill./Steinmetz HS) was a second team honoree while offensive tackle Jon Brost (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) made the league's third team. All three of NIU's 2007 honorees are underclassmen as English and Brost are juniors.

Like the Vern Smith Award, the All-MAC teams are voted on by the league's coaches, while members of the MAC News Media Association choose the Player and Coach of the Year Awards.

English, who led the Mid-American Conference in sacks with 10.5 and tallied 17 tackles for loss and 67 tackles on the season, was on the field for all but 22 defensive plays during the Huskies' injury-plagued 2007 campaign. His selection marked his second straight first team all-league nod and the sixth straight year that a Huskie defensive end has earned first team all-league notice dating back to 2002.

"Obviously, Larry English had a great season for us," said NIU Head Coach Joe Novak, who announced his retirement Monday. "As the season went on he just played better and better. It was amazing that he was able to sustain such a high level of play throughout every game and with all the plays he was on the field. He obviously had the respect of his teammates to be elected team captain as a junior."

Anderson stepped into the starting tailback role in the season's third game after Montell Clanton went down with a knee injury and by the end of the year, had added his name to the list of Huskie 1,000-yard rushers as he gained 1,245 yards on 274 carries and scored eight TDs while also catching a school-record (by a running back) 45 passes for 263 yards and three scores. He posted four straight 150-plus yard rushing days and finished the year with seven 100-yard games despite being knocked out of NIU's last game in the first quarter.

"Along with [wide receiver] Matt Simon, Justin carried us on offense," Novak said. "For a player that, coming into the year, was behind Montell, he was impressive, both carrying the ball and catching it. He had an extremely productive year and has two great years ahead of him."

As a junior, Brost entered the season as the most-experienced starter on the Huskie offensive line, which developed into the strength of the NIU offense after entering the year as a question mark. Also an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V selection, Brost did not allow a sack until the seventh game of the season while playing every offensive snap for the Huskies in 2007. He and his linemates paved the way for Anderson to post the ninth straight 1,000-yard rushing season by a Huskie running back.

"Jon Brost took a step up this year," Novak said. "After an off year last year, he came back in great fashion and really bolstered an offensive line that we were extremely concerned about going into the year. He was a leader of that group and it's nice to see him get recognized."

To see the complete 2007 All-Mid-American Conference Football Team listing, click here or go to www.mac-sports.com.

-- NIU --