Trayvon Rudolph (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) and Cade Haberman (Blair, Neb./Westside) of the Northern Illinois University football team were named to the watch lists of two national college football awards on Thursday.

Rudolph was named to the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, which is annually awarded to the most versatile player in college football by the Louisville Sports Commission. The redshirt-senior wide receiver earned his third All-MAC selection in 2023, getting a spot on the third team. He led the Huskies with 51 receptions and 531 receiving yards last year while also averaging 20 yards per kick return. Rudolph enters the 2024 season tied for 10^th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in career kick return yardage with 1,388 yards.

Haberman was one of over 100 nominees for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list for the 2024 season. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, named for 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, embodies Wuerffel’s commitment to being a humanitarian, while honoring student-athletes who are inspired to serve others and make positive impacts on society through community service. Haberman has contributed over 50 hours of community service to lead the NIU football team. He has been a part of three build days with Habitat for Humanity in Rockford. A history major with an emphasis in political science and public law, Haberman is currently writing a major research paper on the history of the integration of the NIU football program.

An Academic All-MAC selection in 2023, Haberman played in all 13 games last season with 11 tackles as NIU finished the year ranked in the top-30 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total defense and scoring defense. Haberman has also been nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team this summer.

Rudolph and Haberman join running back Antario Brown (Savannah, Ga./Beach) as Huskies named to national watch lists this preseason. Brown was selected to the Maxwell Award watch list on Monday.

The Huskies open the 2024 season at Huskie Stadium on Saturday, August 31 against Western Illinois. Check out all of the ticket options and buy tickets anytime online at NIUHuskies.com/myhuskies. To request more information and connect with a member of the NIU ticket staff,  call the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). Calls received outside of business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm CT) will be returned the next business day.