Northern Illinois University seniors J.J. Lippe (Milwaukee, Wis./Whitefish Bay HS), Devonte O’Malley (Midlothian, Ill./Bremen HS) and Nate Valcarcel (Greenfield, Wis./Whitnall HS) led a pack of eight Huskies as first team selections to the 2024 All Mid-American Conference squad announced Thursday by the league office.

In all, three NIU offensive linemen and five defenders earned recognition on one of three teams selected by MAC head coaches with senior offensive linemen John Champe (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East HS) and Logan Zschernitz (Spencer, Wis./Spencer HS), along with junior defensive end Roy Williams (Crestwood, Ill./Alan B. Shepard HS), on the All-MAC second team while defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard (Milwaukee, Wis./Greenfield HS) and cornerback JaVaughn Byrd (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King HS) earned third team recognition.

“Anytime a young man gets honored on the all-conference team, that’s a big deal,” said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. “We are certainly excited about the eight guys that were selected. They are great representatives of our program, and they all had excellent seasons.”

Lippe, a six-year Huskie with 46 starts on the offensive line, received All-MAC honors from the league coaches for the first time in his career.  He started every game in 2024 as the Huskies finished the regular season ranked second in the MAC in total offense (383.42 yards/game) and in rushing offense (207.33 yards/game).

He was joined on the All-MAC team by fellow senior offensive linemen Champe and Zschernitz. Champe, a three-year starter at guard who led all NIU offensive players with 56 games played during his five seasons in DeKalb, claimed All-MAC honors from the league for the first time, while Zschernitz, a sixth-year senior who moved from guard to center in 2024, was named to the squad for the third time. He was recognized on the All-MAC third team in 2021 and 2022.

“We build our team inside-out with an emphasis on O-line and D-line,” Hammock said. “So to have three offensive linemen on the All-MAC team is near and dear to my heart.  J.J. had a phenomenal year, I’m glad he was recognized this year as a senior. He has been a very versatile player for us, playing multiple positions. Logan and Champe, those guys have been program guys since they got here and have been excellent players for us for a long time.”

NIU led the MAC in total defense, sacks, third down conversion percentage and passing defense while holding opponents to less than 18 points per game in a historically great season.  The front and back lines of the Huskie defense were led by a pair of seniors in first team selections O’Malley and Valcarcel.

O’Malley ranked third in the MAC and in the Top 25 in the country with 8.0 sacks from his defensive tackle position while recording 37 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss.  Valcarcel held down the back end from his safety spot with 50 tackles and two sacks; his eight pass breakups and two interceptions led NIU.

“Devonte played his best football as a senior,” Hammock said. “To have eight sacks as an interior defensive lineman is very, very impressive. Not only did he have the sacks, he was disruptive all year. He’s a guy that always has a smile on his face, plays extremely hard and loves the game. I’m glad he was recognized for his contributions.

“Nate has really grown in the program. He’s been a playmaker for us over the last three years and has been very consistent. This year, he raised his game and played very well, very physical and is deserving of being a first team all-conference player.”

Juniors Williams and Gill-Howard joined the six seniors to earn All-MAC status as the Huskie defensive line matched the offensive line in number of honorees.  A defensive end, Williams’ 6.5 sacks were second on the team behind O’Malley; Gill-Howard led all defensive linemen in tackles from his defensive tackle spot with 51 and ranked second on the team with eight tackles for loss.

“Skyler was very disruptive, a phenomenal leader, a great person and this gives him a lot of momentum going into his senior year,” Hammock said. “For Roy to be recognized speaks volumes about him. He doesn’t say much but he plays with a very physical mentality. He’s another guy that will be back next year.”

Byrd, a senior with 39 tackles, 25 solo, is on the All-MAC team for the second straight season. The four-year starter at cornerback drew the opposing team’s top receiver all season and played more than 800 snaps over the course of the season.

“JaVaughn Byrd was a guy that we put on the team’s best receiver, and he handled it very, very well,” Hammock said. “He was very consistent all year and is a guy that we relied heavily upon to take away the opponents’ number one target. Byrd and Nate are the reason we have one of the top defensive pass units in the country so very happy to see both of them recognized.”

The 2024 Huskies wrapped up the regular season with a 24-16 win over Central Michigan on November 30 and await the postseason bowl destination after finishing 7-5 overall, 4-4 in MAC play. Bowl announcements are expected on Sunday, December 8.

NIU is currently accepting deposits for 2025 Huskie Football season tickets. Returning and new fans can now claim their seats in Huskie Stadium for all six 2025 home games for just $75 for West Side reserved seats. Deposits for premium seats and areas on the West Side, including benchback, chairback, Sky Club, Sky Box and Coaches’ Club are $150.

For more information and to make a deposit for 2025 NIU Football season, questions regarding 2025 season tickets, deposits, premium seating and more, contact the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).