FWAA Northern Illinois News
2024 Freshman Focus: Week 11
This is the the Week 11 installment of the Football Writers Association of America's weekly Freshman Focus for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2024 FWAA Freshman All-America Team.
NIU's O'Malley is Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week
NIU defensive tackle Devonte O’Malley registered a pair of sacks and forced a fumble that aided in the Huskies’ dramatic 16-14 win at No. 5 Notre Dame last Saturday. For helping contain the Irish at home, O’Malley earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 7, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
NIU is Cheez-It National Team of the Week
The NIU Huskies knocked off a team ranked in the top five of the polls for the first time in school history Saturday, toppling fifth-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend with a final-minute field goal, 16-14. The Huskies outgained the Irish, didn’t commit a turnover and made decisive plays on defense and special teams to earn the upset and become the Cheez-It National Team of the Week for games the weekend of Sept. 7, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.
NIU IS FWAA NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK
Huskies use defense to shock Huskers in Lincoln