Mid-American Conference

DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University defensive end Sutton Smith was named to his seventh All-America team this season when the Huskie junior earned second team honors by the American Football Coaches Association Wednesday.
 
A first team selection by SI.com, the Associated Press, ESPN and collegefootballnews.com, Smith also garnered second team honors from the Football Writer's Association of America and the Walter Camp Foundation. Smith became the first Huskie to earn AFCA All-America honors when he was a second team selection last year as well.
 
The first NIU player to be selected as a first team All-American in back-to-back years, Smith leads the Football Bowl Subdivision in sacks with a school-record 15 and is second in the country in tackles for loss with 24.5. He is looking to become the first player in FBS history to lead the nation in sacks in back-to-back years after tallying a nation-leading 14 sacks in 2017.
 
The 2018 Vern Smith Award winner (MAC MVP), Smith led an NIU defense that set the school record for team sacks in a season with 50. In addition to his ability to stop opposing offenses, Smith, who earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second-consecutive year, also scored a pair of touchdowns in 2018. His first came after he blocked his second punt of the year in NIU's win over Toledo, while his second, an 85-yard fumble return for a TD, came at Western Michigan.
 
A native of St. Charles, Mo., Smith ranks third on NIU's all-time sacks list with 30, while his 56 career tackles for loss ranks second to Larry English, who amassed 63 in his four-year career at NIU. English is also NIU's all-time sack leader with 31.5.
 
Smith and the Huskies will face UAB in the 2018 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at FAU Stadium. The game will be televised by ESPN at 7:00 pm ET/ 6:00 pm CT.