Northern Illinois University sophomore wide receiver/kick returner Trayvon Rudolph (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee HS) and junior linebacker Nick Rattin (Palatine, Ill./Palatine HS) each collected their second preseason award recognitions of 2022 Thursday.

Rudolph was named to the preseason watch list for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in major college football, while Rattin is on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football’s premiere award for community service.

Rudolph adds the Hornung Award recognition after being included on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List last week. The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver.

As a sophomore, Rudolph was an All-MAC selection as both a receiver and kick returner. He led NIU with 1,462 all-purpose yards for an average of 104.4 per game and scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and on a kickoff return. As a receiver, Rudolph led NIU with 51 catches for 892 yards and seven touchdowns, including a pair of 75-yard scores. As a returner, he averaged 25.1 yards per kick return to lead the MAC and scored on a 100-yard kickoff return against Bowling Green. He also totaled 113 rushing yards on eight carries to average 14.1 yards per rush and scored on a 75-yard run at Buffalo. He is one of six MAC players on the 52-man Hornung Award preseason watch list.

Already a nominee for the 2022 Allstate Good Works Team, Rattin’s record of community service also put him on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. The trophy honors college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society and inspire greater service in the world.

Rattin has worked with Team Impact for the past two years and has been involved in various volunteer events with the team and on his own, including youth camps and trash pick-up efforts. He helped set up a Habitat for Humanity build for the entire team last month.  Rattin was awarded with a Cure Bowl Community Service Soldier Medallion at last December’s Cure Bowl in Orlando for his community service efforts

The junior linebacker led the Huskies in 2021 with seven tackles for loss while playing in all 14 games and was third on the squad in total tackles with 73. Rattin made a career-high 11 tackles against Wyoming and totaled six tackles and a sack in NIU’s win over Kent State in the Mid-American Conference championship game. He was named to the Academic All-MAC Team for the second straight year.

Seven Huskies have now earned recognition on a watch list or been nominated for nine different awards. In addition to the dual honors for Rattin and Rudolph, safety C.J. Brown (Canton, Mich./Walled Lake Western HS) is on both the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Award Watch Lists. Offensive tackle Nolan Potter (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington HS) was named to the Outland Trophy list while running backs Harrison Waylee (Johnston, Iowa/Urbandale HS) and Antario Brown (Savannah, Ga./Beach HS) were selected to the Doak Walker Award watch list.

NIU opens preseason practice on Monday, August 1 with the season opener versus Eastern Illinois set for Thursday, September 1 at Huskie Stadium. Tickets for the upcoming NIU football and volleyball seasons are on sale now. Season tickets offer the best value, with football tickets priced as low as $15 per ticket with the Huskie Plan. Mini-Plans are also available, with an All-Saturday plan for the three Saturday home games for $90 and an All-Weekday plan for the season opener and two MACtion matchups against Central Michigan (Nov. 2) and Miami (Nov. 16) for $78. To purchase season tickets or mini-plans anytime, CLICK HERE or call 815-753-PACK (7225) Monday through Friday.