Athlon Sports has unveiled its preseason All‑Mountain West Conference team, and seven members of the Northern Illinois Huskies football squad have earned spots on the list.
Offensive standouts
Telly Johnson Jr. and Landon Hron were placed on the Second Team offense, while DeAree Rogers earned a Third Team nod. Ross Liegel, Jay'shon Thomas and Jake Ference rounded out the recognition with Fourth Team selections.
Season highlights
Johnson rushed for 712 yards on 124 carries last season and found the end zone four times. His 5.74 yards per carry placed him among the top 30 rushers in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Rogers was the Huskies’ top receiver with 506 yards on 46 catches, underscoring his role as a primary target in the offense.
Jay'shon Thomas, the team’s returning tackles leader, appeared in all 12 games and is expected to anchor the defense once again.
Special teams contributions
Dev'ion Reynolds averaged 25.3 yards per return as a kick returner, a performance that ranked 16th nationally in the FBS.
Punter Jake Ference handled 30 kicks, posting a 43.7‑yard average that positioned him fourth among conference punters.