Nabal Jefferson
NIU defensive lineman Nabal Jefferson (Chicago, Ill./Marist) was named the Mid-American Conference’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week, the league announced Wednesday.
The award is voted on by a select group of faculty athletic representatives from the conference’s member institutions.
Jefferson played a huge role on defense last week in NIU’s 23-20 Marathon MAC Championship win over the Ohio Bobcats.
The junior’s six tackles tied a career-high, while his tackle for loss in the first quarter stopped Ohio’s drive inside the Huskie 15-yard line and limited the Bobcats to a field goal. Jefferson has a career-high 41 tackles so far in 2011.
This was the first time Jefferson, who boasts a 3.91 GPA, received the honor in his career.
The accountancy major joins Kristin Hoffman (Oct. 28) and Ryan Neir (Nov. 30) as Northern Illinois athletes who have won the honor this season.
The Huskies (10-3) wrap up their 2011 season Sunday, Jan. 8, when they play the Red Wolves of Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. and can be seen nationally on ESPN.
For more information on NIU football and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
