NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Eight players from the Vikings Football Team for North Park University were given All-CCIW honors for their outstanding play on the field this season, as the league announced Tuesday morning. Both sides of the ball received nods with four players making 1st team and four making the 2nd. Juniors Jereme Ombogo and Ben Butler along with seniors Egan Bender and Jaydin Miller were 1st team players, while 2nd team honors went to seniors Matt Eck, Joshua De Luca, and Juan Nieves, followed by junior Wesley McCloud. Eight all-conference picks sets a program record for NPU Football.
First Team Picks
Bender, a senior from Mt. Zion, Illinois, was arguably the heartbeat of the Viking defense, leading the team in total tackles this year (80) while being second in the CCIW in total tackles and second in solo tackles (47), three shy of fellow Viking Ben Butler. Bender was also fifth in the CCIW in assisted tackles (33), highlighting his knack for always being around the ball and making plays. He had double-digit tackles in five different games this season, including a career high 13 against WashU.
Miller, a fifth-year senior from South Bend, Indiana who is now a three-time All-CCIW pick, found his home with the Vikings as one of their premier playmakers in his playing career. A 1st Team All-CCIW player in 2023 made it back-to-back years this year with his outstanding play and tenacity. With more teams scheming and game planning their offense to try and take Miller out of the equation, he still was able to notch 65 total tackles and 30 assisted tackles which were both good for 7th in the league. His versatility as a top linebacker in the CCIW was on full display this year as he was top 15 in solo tackles, top 20 in tackles for loss and sacks, and top 25 in pass breakups, not to mention he led the CCIW in forced fumbles with three, joining Wheaton's Nate Tofilon as the only player with more than two.
Ombogo, the electric speedster, notched his first All-CCIW nod in emphatic fashion. Leading the Vikings in receiving yards (881) and touchdowns (11), Ombogo emerged as one of the favorite targets for Matt Eck. Averaging just over 100 yards per game, Ombogo was second in the CCIW in receiving yards with and second in receiving touchdowns. These numbers are even more impressive since he was fifth in total receptions with 47, 17 catches less than the league leader in yards, receptions and touchdowns, speaking volumes to Ombogo's straightaway speed.
Butler proved to be the anchor of the Vikings' secondary. He's a player who can fit the run while also being one of the elite ball hawks in the CCIW. This was evident in Butler's league-leading 48 solo tackles and 4 interceptions, 3 of which came in the fourth quarter in a big game against Illinois Wesleyan. He also added a pair of pass breakups on the season and posted a season-high 10 tackles at No. 23 Wheaton to close out the season.
Second Team Picks
Eck defined toughness by pushing through time and time again to be there for his team. He led the CCIW in passing yards with 2,403 and passing yards per game with 267.0 was 3rd in passing touchdowns with 21, 3rd in completion percentage at 64%, and 4th in quarterback efficiency (144.5). His 2,732 passing yards this season establish a new all-time mark for North Park Football and his 26 passing TD's tie TD Conway's 2014 record for the top spot as well. His top-5 rankings in every category this season almost certainly had him in the discussion to be a first-team pick.
De Luca captained a North Park offensive line that played a massive role in Eck's chances to move the ball deep. This season, the Vikings obtained 123 first downs through the pass and averaged 25.10 points per game. In a 44-0 rout of Millikin, De Luca and the NPU line did not allow a sack and they surrendered just one in the Vikings' overtime win at Augustana.
Nieves continues to be a Swiss army knife for the Vikings. He's a linebacker, a kick returner, and even a receiver at times with a receiving touchdown to his name - just a guy who Coach Kyle Rooker couldn't keep off the field. Whatever he was doing on the field, he did well, notching a 11th-ranked finish in pass breakups (5), top 5 finish in punt return yards (89), and top 10 in kickoff return yards (262). Nieves added a 12-yard sack and 3.5 tackles for loss to his CCIW resume. He is just the second Viking to earn an All-CCIW accolade in each of his four seasons, joining Viking Hall of Famer Gary Cassady.
McCloud, another Viking worthy of First Team honors, was "Mr. Reliable" on third down situations. With 57 catches, good for 3rd in the CCIW, McCloud was the big target for Eck to complement Ombogo's blazing speed. McCloud finished 8th in touchdown receptions (4) and 4th in receiving yards (815) behind Ombogo, averaging just under 80 yards per game. McCloud had 100+ receiving yards in five different CCIW games this season, including 160 in the win over IWU. The combo of McCloud and Ombogo will excite Viking fans for at least one more season as they look to be senior leaders next year for this Vikings team.
The RESPECT Award:
At the conclusion of every sports season, each varsity program will recognize one student-athlete as their RESPECT Award honoree. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture.
This year's Viking representative for the CCIW's RESPECT AWARD went to senior punter Carson Blatchford.
2024 ALL-CCIW TEAM
