Tye Niekamp, a three-year starter at linebacker for Illinois State, won the Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year award Monday. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
Five days before the biggest game of Illinois State’s season, Tye Niekamp’s attention is on Saturday’s playoff matchup with North Dakota State.
The junior linebacker enjoyed a slight diversion, however, when he was honored Monday as the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.
“It’s a really cool honor to get,” Niekamp told Prairie State Pigskin. “Of the ones I’ve gotten in my career, it’s really special. We’re concentrating on how to beat North Dakota State, so I’m not really focused on awards right now. I’ll look back on it later and be very thankful for it.”
The honor was one of two specialty awards for the Redbirds announced Monday, along with wide receiver Luke Mailander receiving the MVFC Freshman of the Year honor.
With 81 points, Niekamp easily outdistanced second-place finisher Logan Kopp, an NDSU linebacker, who had 49 points in voting by media members and MVFC head coaches and communications directors.
Mailander (41 points) edged out Indiana State defensive back Nic Yatsko (35) for the honor.
Niekamp and Mailander were among 13 Redbirds honored on All-MVFC teams. Niekamp was joined on the first team by wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, offensive tackle Jake Pope and cornerback Shadwel Nkuba II.
Illinois State coach Brock Spack credited Niekamp – who has career bests of 139 tackles and 13 tackles for loss — with being a leader and steadying force on the defense.
“He’s done a good job of helping our guys when things get tough,” Spack said. “A college football game is really long. The momentum changes often. He’s very good at keeping our team focused on what’s important.”
The speedy Mailander has 35 catches, four touchdowns and a team-best 16.2-yard average per reception.
“Going into the season, I was hoping he’d have that kind of year, and he did,” Spack said. “I like the way he competes. I think there’s more to come from him. He’s got a big upside.”
Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard (102 points) won Offensive Player of the Year honors, with NDSU QB Cole Payton (69) and Southern Illinois quarterback D.J. Williams (31) finishing second and third, respectively.
Williams was one of eight SIU players to make All-MVFC teams, including first-team cornerback Jeremiah McClendon.
In other awards, NDSU’s Tim Polasek won the league’s Bruce Craddock Coach of the Year Award, which is named after the late Western Illinois head coach. Indiana State defensive back Kimal Clark won Newcomer of the Year. Nkuba finished third in the voting.
Dandy defense
The ISU defense piled up four interceptons, four sacks and allowed only 107 rushing yards after the 21-3 first-round victory at Southeastern Louisiana.
Since allowing 30 or more points in five of its first six games, the Redbirds are hitting their stride defensively.
“They’re really improved on tackling,” Spack said. “Our pass rush is better. The most important thing is getting off of blocks and making a tackle.”
Road Birds
Being away from home has proven comfortable for ISU, which is 6-1 on the road this fall. The only loss was the season opener at FBS Oklahoma.
What traits make ISU good away from home?
“We have pretty mentally and physically tough kids,” Spack said. “It’s hard to win on the road. But in a playoff scenario, you’ve got to be able to win on the road. You’re not guaranteed to get a home game.”
Travel troubles
The Redbirds spent Saturday night north of New Orleans rather than fly back into a winter storm in Illinois.
“The pilots would’ve had to make a decision when we got here,” he said. “If they couldn’t land, then we would have had to divert to another town. We would’ve had to get four buses there (and drive back) or stay in a hotel. It would’ve been a disaster.
“It was nicer (to stay in Louisiana) because I could make sure the players got rest.”
Bubble boys
The Redbirds at 10-1 in November over the last two seasons, a result Spack says can be equated to the use of the team’s indoor practice bubble.
“That has really helped us,” Spack said of the facility, which opened Sept. 30, 2023. “We practice well in there. We have a little more edge to us.”
Dan Verdun contributed to this story.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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