Dec. 11, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - Four Northern Illinois student-athletes were named to the Academic All-MAC football team announced Tuesday by the Mid-American Conference. Selected by the league's faculty athletics representatives, the 30 student-athletes on the squad each carry a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2.

Northern Illinois' Academic All-MAC contingent is led by junior offensive tackle Jon Brost (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS), one of eight repeat selections to the 2007 squad. Brost, who started every game for the Huskies at right tackle, also picked up third team All-Mid-American Conference honors this season. The electrical engineering major, who carries a 3.56 GPA, also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Brost was joined by his NIU teammates sophomore defensive end Brandon Bice (McCook, Ill./Lyons Township HS), junior receiver Matt Simon (Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) and redshirt freshman defensive back Justin Stewart (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township HS) on the 2007 academic squad.

Bice, a biology major with a 3.55 GPA, started 11 games at defensive end for the Huskies in 2007 and made 38 tackles. He was credited with 2.5 tackles for loss and broke up four passes to lead all NIU defensive linemen. He made a season-high eight tackles with two tackles for loss in the Huskies' win over Kent State.

Simon led Northern Illinois in receiving with 52 catches for 969 yards to post the sixth-highest single-season yardage total in NIU history. He caught five touchdown passes, including a season-long 92-yard effort versus Central Michigan, and averaged 80.8 receiving yards per game while compiling a 3.21 GPA in business management in the classroom.

Stewart saw action in 11 games for the Huskies as a redshirt freshman, including against Ball State when he played both safety and running back. In addition to his 3.73 GPA in accountancy, Stewart was selected to participate in KPMG's Future Diversity Leaders Program, which provides him with mentoring and internship opportunities throughout his college career.

With four selections to the 2007 Academic All-MAC squad, Northern Illinois earned its most honorees since the 2003 campaign, when four NIU student-athletes were also selected.

-- NIU --