Amariyun Knighten Named Lott Impact Trophy Player of the Week

Sophomore cornerback Amariyun Knighten (Hollywood, Fla./Stranahan) of the No. 25 Northern Illinois University football team was named the Lott Impact Trophy Player of the Week on Wednesday for his play in the Huskies’ historic 16-14 win at Notre Dame last Saturday.

Knighten had three tackles in the victory over the Fighting Irish, along with his first career interception in the fourth quarter. He picked off Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard with under six minutes to go, returning the interception 33 yards to give NIU the ball at the fifty yard-line to set up the Huskies’ game-winning drive.\

The NIU defense forced two turnovers and held Notre Dame under 300 yards of total offense in the Huskies’ first win in program history over a Top 10 team. The Huskies also blocked two field goals. Through two games, NIU leads the Mid-American Conference in total defense

The Lott Impact Trophy honors college football’s best in character and performance. The award is unique because it represents the first college football award to give equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance from a defensive college player.

NIU (2-0) is next in action at Huskie Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, as the Huskies host Buffalo in their Mid-American Conference opener. Kickoff at 2:30 p.m. Check out all of the ticket options and buy tickets anytime online at NIUHuskies.com/myhuskies. Use the promo code Boneyard19 to purchase West Side reserved seats for just $19 in honor of the Huskies’ 19th Boneyard Win all-time, or get East Side general admission tickets for $12.50 in honor of the 125th Anniversary of NIU Athletics.

To request more information and connect with a member of the NIU ticket staff, click here or call the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). Calls received outside of business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm CT) will be returned the next business day.