Northern Illinois University freshman running back Telly Johnson Jr. and sophomore wide receiver/kick returner Cam Thompson earned Mid-American Conference Co-Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Week honors, respectively, as the MAC announced its weekly award winners Friday.

Playing in just his second game, Johnson, a true freshman from Augusta, Ga. (Hephzibah HS), was called on early in the game at WMU when starter Antario Brown went down with an injury.  The freshman proceeded to carry the ball 23 times for 141 yards to power the NIU rushing attack in its 42-28 win over Western Michigan Wednesday night. Johnson’s total yards were the most by a Huskie in a game this season and included touchdown runs of six and 26 yards, the first of his collegiate career. Johnson scored the first and last touchdowns of the game for NIU and did not lose a yard while averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Thompson made a huge momentum-turning play in the third quarter with his 91-yard kickoff return touchdown, the first for the Huskies since the 2021 game versus Bowling Green. Thompson’s return came just after Western Michigan had tied the game 21-21 with a drive on the opening possession of the second half. From the nine-yard line, the sophomore from Boardman, Ohio (Boardman HS) used the openings created by his blockers upfield to slant across the field, broke one tackle and outran all WMU defenders to the end zone, giving the Huskies a 28-21 lead from which they never looked back.

Johnson and Thompson are the sixth and seventh different Huskies to earn MAC Player of the Week honors this season. Quarterback Ethan Hampton earned the honor after the Western Illinois game; NIU swept the awards following its win over Notre Dame with Antario Brown (offensive), Devonte O’Malley (defensive) and Cade Haberman (special teams) claiming the recognition; Skyler Gill-Howard was named defensive player of the week following his performance in NIU’s win at Bowling Green.

The Huskies return to Huskie Stadium for the first time in 25 days next Wednesday, November 13 when NIU takes on Akron with an opportunity to earn bowl eligibility for the third time in the last four seasons. The Dawgs After Dark “Blackout” Game kicks off at 6 p.m. and will air on CBS Sports Network. Tickets are on sale now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) with reduced rates available for remaining #MACtion games.