Dec. 3, 2008

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois senior defensive end Larry English (Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy), the 2008 Vern Smith Award winner and Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, leads a group of seven Huskies named to the All-MAC football teams Wednesday. The teams were selected by the league's head football coaches.

In addition to English's third consecutive selection to the All-MAC first team, the coaches named kicker Mike Salerno (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg HS) to the second team all-conference squad. Northern Illinois offensive linemen Eddie Adamski (Kildeer, Ill./Carmel HS), Jason Onyebuagu (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central HS) and Jon Brost (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS), along with linebacker Tim McCarthy (Neenah, Wisc./Neenah HS) and defensive end Brandon Bice (McCook, Ill./Lyons Township HS) were tabbed as third team All-MAC honorees.

English became just the second NIU player to be named first team All-MAC three times, joining standout running back Garrett Wolfe in that category. Brost, a senior offensive tackle, was a third team selection for the second straight year, while McCarthy earned honorable mention honors in 2006. Juniors Salerno, Adamski, Onyebuagu and Bice all made their debut on the league's post-season awards list in 2008.

A year ago, three NIU players off of the Huskies' 2-10 squad were honored and Northern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill feels that the team's improvement to 6-6 overall, 5-3 in the league, directly contributed to the seven 2008 selections.

"When it comes to all-conference, the teams at the top get more recognition," Kill said. "We are in the top four or five teams in the conference and as the team does better, our opponents are noticing and our kids are getting recognized which is great. I think the players we had selected are certainly deserving and the coaches in the league felt the same."

English, who will finish his career as the Huskies' career leader in sacks and tackles for loss, and ranks in the Mid-American Conference all-time top 10 in those categories, has eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss in 2008 to lead NIU. He was named the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week following his performances at Tennessee and Kent State in 2008, despite playing much of the season with a thumb injury that required surgery during the year. (For more on English, click here to go to separate release.)

In his first season as NIU's kicker after transferring from Winona State, Salerno made 17-of-23 field goals - including two game-winners - and all 33 of his PAT attempts to lead the Huskies with 84 points. Those totals ranked sixth on the Northern Illinois single season charts and also put him in the top 10 all-time at the school. He also led the Mid-American Conference in kickoffs, booting 16 into the end zone for touchbacks while no other kicker in the league had more than 10.

The trio of Adamski, Onyebuagu and Brost provided consistency, as well as a high level of excellence, on the Huskie offense in 2008 as Northern Illinois used four different quarterbacks, had five backs rush for more than 200 yards each and regularly rotated wide receivers. The Huskies averaged 172.8 rushing yards per game to rank third in the MAC and did not allow a sack in six of NIU's 12 games.

McCarthy finished the year with one of his best performances as he made a season-high 12 tackles versus Navy to total 56 on the season with six tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble. In 39 career games, the middle linebacker made 284 tackles with 17 tackles for loss and eight pass break-ups.

Bice provided a complement to English on the other side of the line and ranked second among Huskie defensive linemen with 10 tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks in 2008. He also contributed three pass break-ups to tie for second on the squad.

As a unit, the Huskie defense improved from the number 11 total defense in the MAC a year ago to number one in 2008. Northern Illinois currently ranks 20th in the nation in total defense.

To see the complete 2008 All-MAC teams, click here or go to www.mac-sports.com.

-- NIU --