N. Illinois' Dan Sheldon Named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year
Dec. 3, 2002
The football program at Northern Illinois claimed the league's Special Teams Player of the Year for the third consecutive season when punt return specialist Dan Sheldon was honored as this year's winner as voted by the MAC News Media Association.
Sheldon, a sophomore from Elgin, Ill./Burlington Central High School, joins place-kicker Steve Azar (co-winner in 2001) and Justin McCareins (2000) as Huskie honorees.
Sheldon set a school record by returning three punts for touchdowns this season. He also led the nation in punt returns with an average of 22.7 yards per return on 21 returns for 417 yards. His average was 4.7 yards better than the nation's second ranked player. He added eight kickoff returns for 147 yards, an average of 18.4 ypr.
In addition to his special teams skills leading to an overall mark of 8-4 and a West Division co-championship with a 7-1 league record, Shedon led the team in receiving. He grabbed 40 passes for 783 yards and five touchdowns and an average of 19.6 yards per reception.
Including his 135 rushing yards on 12 carries, Sheldon totaled 1,482 yards on 81 touches, an average of 18.3 yards each time he handled the ball.
Sheldon received 21 votes with Miami place-kicker Jared Parseghian and Toledo return specialist Donta Greene each receiving 10 votes and Marshall place-kicker and punter Curtis Head named on eight ballots among the 54 turned in.
MAC Special Teams of the Year Winners
2002 - Dan Sheldon, Northern Illinois,
punt return specialist
2001 - Dave Zastudil, Ohio, punter and
Steve Azar, Northern Illinois, placekicker
2000- Justin McCareins, Northern Illinois,
return specialist
1999- Dave Zastudil, Ohio, punter
1998- Brad Selent, Western Michigan, placekicker
