DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University defensive end Sutton Smith and left tackle Max Scharping were named to the Nagurski and Outland Trophy Watch Lists, respectively, on Tuesday.
 
Created in 1993 by the Football Writers Association of America, the Bronco Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and is presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Awarded to the top interior lineman on offense or defense, in college football, the Outland Trophy is presented by the FWAA.
 
This is the second watch list appearance for Smith the preseason and the first for Scharping. In addition to the Outland Trophy Watch List, Scharping is a nominee for the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Smith was named to the Bednarik Award Watch List, while NIU center Luke Shively was named to the Rimington Trophy Award Watch List last week.
 
A native of St. Charles, Mo., Smith became just the second player in school history, and the first since LeShon Johnson in 1993, to be named a consensus All-American last season. He collected first-team All-America honors from Walter Camp and the FWAA, and second team accolades from the Associated Press, AFCA and Sporting News.
 
Smith led the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in tackles for loss with 29.5 and broke the school record for sacks in a single season with 14, which tied for the FBA lead a year ago. The 2018 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Smith also forced and recovered three fumbles, returning two for scores.
 
A three-year starter on the offensive line, Scharping moved from right to left tackle last season. The Green Bay, Wis. Native anchored a Huskie offensive line that led the FBS in fewest sacks allowed. He allowed just five total quarterback pressures on 425 pass blocking snaps in 2017 to rank among the best in the country. A FWAA Freshman All-American in 2015, Scharping also earned CoSIDA Academic All-AmericaÒ honors as a junior.
 
The Huskies kick off the 2018 campaign at Iowa Saturday, Sept. 1 and will welcome Utah the following weekend to Huskie Stadium. Season ticket packages start as low as $55 in 2018 with the Huskie Stadium Family Pack (four tickets for $220), while a general admission ticket on the East Side is only $60. Mini-plans were introduced last week. Fans can pick two Saturday games and one midweek MACtion game for $70. Single game tickets for all five 2018 NIU home football games are on sale NOW online at NIUHuskies.com or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225).
 
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