Football | January 6

DeKALB, Ill. – Three student-athletes on the Northern Illinois University football team earned Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators the organization announced today.

Defensive tackle Mark Hensley (Labadie, Mo./Washington), offensive lineman Evan Malcore (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) and long snapper Ross Pedro (Schaumburg, Ill./ Southern Illinois) all represent NIU on the 2025 CSC Academic All-District Football Team.

Malcore, who earned All-MAC Third Team this season, will advance to the national ballot as a candidate for Academic All-America honors. It is Malcore's second straight Academic All-District recognition.

Hensley started all 12 games at defensive tackle this past season, finishing with 32 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. Pedro played in all 12 games, snapping on 61 punts, 21 PATs and 14 field goals.

Malcore started 32 consecutive games at tackle and helped the Huskies rush for 187.1 yards per game in 2025, third in the Mid-American Conference.

To qualify, student-athletes must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and compete in 90 percent of games played or start in at least 66 percent of games.

DT Mark Hensley, Redshirt Sophomore, Biological Sciences, 3.829
OL Evan Malcore, Redshirt Junior, Accountancy, 3.886
LS Ross Pedro, Redshirt Senior, Master of Business Administration, 3.750