DEKALB, Ill. – Three Northern Illinois University student-athletes were named Distinguished Scholar-Athletes by the Mid-American Conference Friday for excelling in the classroom and in competition.
 
Football players Brayden Patton and Kyle Pugh and cross-country standout, Ashley Tutt, earned the honor, which goes to student-athletes who qualify for their respective Academic All-MAC Teams with a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or above, and earn All-MAC accolades in their sport. First-year students, junior college transfers and graduate transfers in their first year of residence were not eligible for the award.
 
Tutt, the 2019 MAC cross country champion, helped lead the Huskies to the team title in 2020. The Huskie senior finished second at this season's event. A native of Channahon, Ill., Tutt earned Distinguished Scholar-Athlete honors for the third time in her career (2018 and 2019) and boasts a 3.81 GPA while pursuing her degree in history.
 
Patton, who started all six of NIU football team's six games this season at center, achieved a 4.0 GPA in NIU's sport management Master's program. Huskie linebacker Kyle Pugh, who is also enrolled sport management Master's program, played in five games and was tied for second on the team in tackles with 36. He carries a 3.8 GPA and, like Patton, is a first-time Distinguished Scholar-Athlete selection.
 
The MAC will announce the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the remaining winter and spring sports sponsored by the Conference.
 
-NIU-