McLean County Times

Illinois State University defensive players Keondre Jackson and Tye Niekamp have been recognized with FCS All-America honors by football analyst Phil Steele. The announcement was made on Friday, marking a week of accolades for the duo. In addition to this recognition, Niekamp also received Second-Team honors from the 2024 FCS Coaches' All-America Team, as announced by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

Earlier in the week, both players were acknowledged with All-America honors from the Associated Press and Stats Perform. Their performances during the season earned them First-Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) honors.

Jackson, a two-time All-MVFC selection from Freeport, Illinois, finished third on his team with 99 total tackles and eighth in MVFC tackles during the regular season. His contributions included 1.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions. Notably, he recorded double-digit tackling efforts in three games and had standout performances against Iowa and North Alabama.

Niekamp, who previously earned FCS Freshman All-America honors in 2023, continued his strong performance into 2024. He led the Redbirds with 112 tackles and tied for first in the MVFC for that category. Additionally, he led the conference with four interceptions and ranked among the top six for tackles-for-loss with 11. His achievements also included three sacks and eight pass breakups. Niekamp's exceptional play was highlighted when he received MVFC Defensive Player of the Week and Stats Perform National Defensive Player of the Week honors following a game against Southern Illinois.

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