Twenty members of the Northern Illinois University football team were named to the 2025 Academic All Mid-American Conference team the league announced on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The Academic All-MAC distinction honors student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding dedication in the classroom and on the field.

NIU was one of four teams in the MAC to have at least 20 honorees this season.

Nine of the 20 selections have previously qualified for Academic All-MAC in previous seasons, including Ivan Davis and Pierce Oppong each earning their fourth selections while Evan Malcore earned his third.

NIU has had at least 20 student-athletes earn Academic All-MAC honors in each of the last five seasons.

To qualify, student-athletes must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests during the season. First-year students and transfers in their first year are not eligible for the award.

TE Devon Akers, Redshirt Freshman, Business Administration, 3.304
TE Jake Appleget, Redshirt Junior, Leadership and Management, 3.382
OL Abiathar Curry, Redshirt Junior, Organizational and Corporate Communications, 3.89 (2024)
DE Ivan Davis, Redshirt Senior, Kinesiology, 3.4 (2021, 2022, 2024)
DT Mark Hensley, Redshirt Sophomore, Biological Sciences, 3.832 (2024)
OL Landon Hron, Redshirt Sophomore, Kinesiology, 3.218
DE Lance Ingold, Redshirt Freshman, Psychology, 3.912
DT Reggie Jean, Redshirt Junior, Business Administration, 3.337
OL Ross Liegel, Redshirt Freshman, Leadership and Management, 3.245
WR Justin Lynch, Redshirt Senior, Kinesiology, 3.415 (2024)
LB Filip Maciorowski, Redshirt Sophomore, Marketing, 3.24 (2024)
OL Lane Mahnesmith, Redshirt Freshman, Business Administration, 3.813
OL Evan Malcore, Redshirt Junior, Accountancy, 3.842 (2023, 2024)
DB Ty Myles, Redshirt Senior, Sport Management, 3.6 (2024)
TE/DE Pierce Oppong, Redshirt Senior, Mechanical Engineering, 3.866 (2021, 2022, 2024)
RB Elijah Porter, Redshirt Freshman, Computer Science, 3.92
LB Marc Pretto, Redshirt Junior, Sport Management, 3.222
TE Joe Stein, Redshirt Freshman, Kinesiology, 3.327
P Danny Vuckovic, Redshirt Freshman, Accountancy and Finance, 3.583
OL Jacob Welch, Redshirt Sophomore, History, 3.428 (2024)

(Previous year earned Academic All-MAC)