English is a two-time Vern Smith Leadership Award recipient, given to the Mid-American Conference's top player, as voted on by league coaches. He is just the second defensive player to ever receive that honor, as Central Michigan linebacker Ray Bentley captured the inaugural award in 1982. English is also only the fourth player to earn that award twice in a career, joining quarterbacks Brian McClure of Bowling Green (1984-85), Erik White of Bowling Green (1991-92) and Byron Leftwich of Marshall (2001-02).

One of the premier pass rushers in the collegiate game, English ranks second to Phillip Hunt of Houston (33.5 sacks for minus 229 yards) among the NCAA's active players with 31.5 sacks for losses totaling 220 yards. His 31.5 sacks set the school all-time record and rank fifth in Mid-American Conference history. That total also ranks seventh in NCAA annals. His five sacks vs. Idaho in 2007 is topped by just two other players on the NCAA single-game record books.

English wreaked havoc in the opposing backfields throughout his career. His 63.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage set the school career record and rank fifth on the NCAA all-time record chart (the NCAA began compiling sack and tackle for loss totals beginning in 2000), as he is just the seventh player in major college annals to register 60 or more tackles for loss since those statistics were recognized by the NCAA.

English attended Marmion Military Academy, where the team co-captain and MVP was regarded as one of the most feared players in the Suburban Catholic Conference. The first- team All-SCC, Aurora Beacon-News All-Area, Daily Herald Tri-City All-Area and honorable mention IHSFCA All-State as a senior, he totaled 98 tackles and six sacks from his inside linebacker position and rushed for 312 yards on 38 carries (8.2 avg) as a fullback, despite being hampered early in that season by an ankle sprain that limited him to seven games.

English was named team MVP, first-team All-SCC, Aurora Beacon-News All-Area and Daily Herald Tri-City All-Area as a junior. He led the Tri-City area with 100 tackles, and added two interceptions along with two fumble recoveries. In addition to earning three letters in football, he also threw the discus for the track team as a freshman and added three more letters in basketball. The Honor Roll student was selected team captain in basketball. He received All-SCC and All-Area honors as a junior on the hardwood.

English turned down a scholarship offer from the University of Iowa, enrolling at Northern Illinois in 2004. He made four tackles vs. Maryland in his collegiate debut, but suffered a shoulder injury that would sideline him for the rest of the season, earning a medical hardship. In 2005, English started nine games at right defensive end, moving up from fifth on the depth chart to lead the team's down linemen with 57 tackles (35 solos). The 230-pounder had yet to show his pass rushing prowess, sacking the quarterback just twice, but his eight stops for loss ranked second on the squad.

As a sophomore, English garnered All-Mid American Conference first-team honors. He made 51 tackles (32 solos) in 13 games, leading the team and ranking second in the league with a career-high 12 sacks. That total tied the school single-season record that was first set by Scott Kellar in 1984. He also paced the Huskies with 16.0 tackles for loss and caused four fumbles, the most in the MAC for 2006.

The Vern Smith Leadership Award winner and first-team All-MAC pick led the conference with 10.5 sacks in 2007. His 17.0 stops for loss also led the league and ranked 16th in the nation. He produced 67 tackles (29 solos), fourth on the squad, and also recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. His banner junior campaign came to a crashing halt in the Poinsettia Bowl, as he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee that would require surgery.

The injury bug continued in 2008, as English suffered a torn pectoral muscle in spring drills. He played nearly all season with pins in his broken thumb, but he still led the team with eight sacks and 16 stops behind the line of scrimmage, ranking fourth and third, respectively, in each category among MAC players. He was again named the recipient of the Verne Smith Award, finishing his final season with a career-low 37 tackles (26 solos).

GENERAL REPORT. GRADE: 6.72

Body Structure: English has good muscle development, but needs further body tone in his lower frame. He has good arm length with muscular definition, adequate hamstrings and thighs. He added bulk to his frame during the 2008 off-season in order to compete better at defensive end, but outside of rush end duties he may be better suited as an outside linebacker - if he can generate enough foot speed.

Athletic Ability: English is an undersized defensive end, despite the recent weight addition. He might have to project to outside linebacker in the pros, but may not have the quickness to play at that position (4.82-second 40-yard clocking at the NFL Combine). He is a good athlete and could make the conversion, as he is quicker than fast and has good lateral agility. He has good straight-line quickness and the ability to plant and change direction fluidly. He does a good job of giving a shoulder and flattening working down the line. While he has good weight room strength, he does not have the bulk to consistently stack and control when working inside. He is best when given the ability to run and pursue down the line of scrimmage. GRADE: 6.7

Football Sense: English has very good field vision and shows maturity and patience letting the plays develop. He knows how to play within the defensive scheme and does a good job of flowing to the ball. He has a good grasp of the playbook and is not the type that is easily fooled by play-action. He has enough ability to stay tight with the short-area receivers, but does struggle some to locate the ball when dropping off in zone coverage. He is smart enough to deal with the mental side of the game. He shows good alertness to plays in front of him, but is best when getting a clear lane off the edge, as he is slow to recognize side blocking schemes. GRADE: 7.0

Character: English is a good program type who goes out of his way to mentor younger teammates. He has no known off-field issues and is a well-mannered athlete that the coaches cite his work ethic. GRADE: 6.8

Competitiveness: English is a good competitor who plays with intensity and aggressiveness. For the possible move to the linebacker position, he has above average playing strength and can be explosive in his hits. He is not the type to take plays off and shows good effort until the whistle. He is a physical take-on type of tackler who consistently fights through the play. GRADE: 6.6

Work Habits: English is still a 'tweener type, lacking ideal size to be a down lineman and might not be sudden enough to play linebacker. He could prove to have good value as a rush end or weak-side linebacker in a 3-4 defense. He has the physique that shows a good power base and is very accountable for his actions. From the look at his upper body, he knows how to put the extra hours into his weight training and has developed a violent punch to help him compensate for a lack of bulk when battling bigger blockers in the trenches. GRADE: 6.5

ATHLETIC REPORT: GRADE: 6.36

Key and Diagnostic Skills: English excels at sifting through and avoiding trash to locate the ball. He has good eyes coming from the backside and the lateral range to flow with the ball. He does a nice job of waiting for the action to come to him rather than over-commit, doing a nice job of neutralizing the bootleg. He shows good snap anticipation (no off-side penalties the last two years), knowing when to dip his shoulder and explode past blockers en route to the quarterback. He is not reckless on the field, a rarity for a pass rusher, as he knows he can get success by showing patience. He is alert to the option and is not the type who will be fooled by misdirection or play-action fakes. His problems arise when he has to work in-line, as he spends a lot of time trying to disengage and loses sight of the play. When he finds the ball, there is no hesitation in his moves to pursue the play. He is better coming off the edge than when having to deal with in-line reading responsibilities. GRADE: 7.2

Playing Strength and Explosion: English has a developing frame with good upper body strength but lacks the sand in his pants to hold up to NFL offensive linemen as a defensive end. He is not the type that can anchor well at the line of scrimmage and is generally washed out by double teams when trying to work in-line. He has a quick straight-line burst to disrupt the backfield activity, and does a good job of redirecting on the move, but lacks the foot speed to simply fly to the ball, and while his weight room numbers are good he often struggles to shed once a blocker latches on to his jersey. He does not have the lower body strength to hold his ground at the Xs. He is weight room strong, but because of his size, he does not generate enough force to work across blocks in pursuit and can be overmatched at the line of scrimmage vs. the bigger offensive tackles. He relies mostly on hand placement to gain separation and his burst and arm-over action to slip blocks. While his weight room numbers do not always translate to the football field, he is a take-on type that might struggle vs. the bigger blockers, but will give them a battle until the whistle. GRADE: 6.3

Lateral Pursuit/Range: English does a nice job of flowing to the ball and while he lacks blazing speed, he can run long distances to chase down the play. He shows good balance on the move and should be able to adjust to linebacker at the next level, as he generally played upright, especially on stretches and screens. He needs room to operate, as he is more effective as a pass rusher coming off the edge when standing up than with his hand on the ground. He just lacks the top-end speed you look for in a linebacker. Even though he has lateral agility, he does have upper body stiffness trying to turn and run out of his backpedal and might have trouble mirroring in pass coverage. He does a nice job of planting his foot and redirecting when chasing down screens. He has the backside pursuit ability to slip and work around blocks to get penetration (holds the school records for sacks and tackles for losses). He shows urgency and explosion chasing to the perimeter and above average acceleration working down the line. GRADE: 6.7

Use of Hands: English has enough upper body strength to generate a strong punch to rock an offensive lineman back on his heels. He uses his hands quite effectively to grab, jerk and pull, but he is also quite effective shooting them violently to stun. He is also quite effective at reaching around and using his length to try and dislodge the ball from the carrier (eight forced fumbles during his career). While he can be quick with his hands and uses them well, he lacks the bulk to hold ground at the point of attack when working in-line or in the trenches, especially vs. double teams. He keeps a tight mirror on the tight end and will shock and jolt to reroute, but will give up his body some. When taking on the lead blocker, he does a much better job to control, slap and break free and is best served making plays on the move rather than in tight areas. GRADE: 6.5

Tackling Ability: English is a classic wrap-up tackler who does a good job of keeping his hands inside his frame. He plays at a good pad level and is conscious of attacking the ball carrier's outside leg to impede forward momentum. He uses his hands well to push back the lead blocker and clog the rush lanes, but needs to be more alert to side blocks and not try to get into too many one-on-one battles in the trenches, as he is better served making plays on the move than operating at the line of scrimmage. When he stays low in his pads, English can string plays out, but when he gets high in his stance he leaves his body too exposed. He has the strength to hold ground on the edge, but lacks bulk to maintain position working inside. GRADE: 6.2

Run Defense: English is best when making tackles on the move, but needs to show better angle concept, as there are times he simply runs right into the blocker rather than trying to avoid. He keeps his hands active in attempts to shed and knows how to use his punch to temporarily stun a lineman, but has to rely more on quickness rather than power to defeat double teams, as he does not have the strong anchor to beat them otherwise. He has his best success coming off the snap with a low pad level, as he can be rocked back when he's too tall at the point of attack. He has had decent success using his arm length to play off blocks in order to chase down plays from the backside. Against the run, English is a one-gap player who can be productive to slip blocks, shoot the holes and be disruptive. He is best when using making plays off the backside, as he does show enough hand strength to shed in on-on-one situations. He just lacks the bulk and leg drive to stack and control and can be run at, getting covered up too much to be effective taking on blocks. He has the speed to pursue and cut off the edge, showing adequate redirection agility. He will get caught up in trash, but has the burst to escape. GRADE: 6.3

Pass Defense: English showed adequate ability dropping back in the short area to pick up tight ends and backs. He has good explosion and adequate quickness to penetrate off the edge when given a free lane, but was generally removed in obvious passing situations (made just seven plays vs. the pass in 2008). He shows decent hip snap to turn and run with the tight ends and backs in the short area, but is rarely used in man coverage. Until he can learn to play linebacker, it is not recommended using him much in pass coverage. GRADE: 5.3

Zone Defense: English is still a work in progress dropping back in the zone, as he does not look instinctive in locating the ball with his back turned to the quarterback. He looks too stiff in his backpedal and needs to do a better job of sinking his pads, as he looks too tall and rigid in his stance to turn cleanly out of his breaks. He is better playing in the short area than in long pursuit, as he lacks the foot speed to maintain relation with the receiver. Until he actually lines up in pass coverage, it is anyone's guess on what he will bring to the table here. GRADE: 5.2

Pass Rush and Blitz: There is no question that English had good success coming off the edge, but it was generally vs. lower level type of offensive tackles. Due to bulk issues, he will not be able to play as a down lineman at the next level. While he has a good short-area burst, unless he is in a 3-4 alignment he might not be able to blitz as often from the weak-side linebacker position as he did as a rush end. He is not the type that will have great success shooting the gaps on the blitz, as bigger blockers had good success engulfing him. He uses his rip moves with good success and knows how to get skinny to slip off blocks. When he plays at a low pad level, he can get his hands underneath the blocker to drive his man back into the pocket. The thing you notice on film is his ability to gear down and change speeds to get the offensive lineman off balance. As a pass rusher, he is the type that will explode and burst through traffic. He is more of a finesse-type pass rusher who will not generate great speed, but he uses his hands to gain separation and his extra effort in pursuit allows him to get pressure. He does a good job of dipping his shoulder to slip off blocks and has the quick twitch moves needed to make plays coming from the backside. He seems to get soft when engaging the offensive tackle, as he knows he will get stonewalled in a power battle. As a linebacker, he will be much more productive as a pass rusher, as he can gain acceleration and get a better feel for the ball when he won't have to engage the bigger blockers on in-line battles. GRADE: 7.5

Compares To: ANTHONY SPENCER, Dallas -- Some draft experts claim Larry English is the next Shawn Merriman, but that's a stretch at this point. As a pass rusher, he shows great tenacity, but that seems to be the only consistent aspect of his game. There are too many contests where he lost in too much trash and isn't much of a factor. As an athlete, you have to be impressed with his power, but one look at his clocked speed makes you be concerned that he won't be able to drop back and handle speedy slot receivers outside the short area.

OVERALL GRADE: 6.42

--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas

English started 47 of 50 games at Northern Illinois, recording 216 tackles (111 solos) with 32.0 sacks for minus 220 yards, 57.0 stops for losses totaling 283 yards and nine quarterback pressures … Caused a school career record eight fumbles and recovered four others, as he also deflected four passes … His 57.0 tackles for loss set the school career record, breaking the previous mark of 53.0 by Cary Caliendo (1987-90) … That total tied Johnathan Goddard of Marshall (2001-04) for eighth on the Mid-American Conference all-time record chart … English holds the school career record with 32.0 sacks, breaking the old mark of 31.0 by Cary Caliendo (1987-90), as those two joined Jason Babin of Western Michigan (38.0, 2000-03), Dan Bazuin of Central Michigan (35.5, 2003-06), Jon Wauford of Miami, Ohio (35.0, 1988-91) and Joel Smeenge of Western Michigan (34.0, 1986-89) as the only Mid-American Conference players to register more than 30 sacks during a career … His 32.0 sacks rank seventh on the NCAA record charts since college football began to recognize that category in 2000 … English registered 17.0 tackles for loss in 2007, topped by only Scott Kellar (20 in 1984) and Max Gill (18 in 1980) on the school single-season record list … His 12 sacks in 2006 tied the school annual record that was first set by Kellar in 1984 … English set the school single-game record with five sacks vs. Idaho in 2007, just one shy of the MAC and NCAA single-game record of six sacks, set first by Elvis Dumervil of Louisville vs. Kentucky in 2005 and matched by Ameer Ismail of Western Michigan vs. Ball State in 2006 … Registered six tackles for loss vs. Temple in 2006, setting a school single-game record while ranking fifth on the conference single-game record chart.

English earned All-Mid American Conference first-team honors, as he was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches and media, in addition to being selected by The Sporting News … Captured the Vern Smith Leadership Award for the second-straight year, just the fourth player and first defender to win that honor twice in a career … Member of the Bronko Nagurski Award, Ted Hendricks Award, Rotary Lombardi Award and Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Watch Lists … Named MAC Player of the Week vs. Tennessee and Kent State … Had an injury-plagued year, as he first underwent knee surgery in January to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, missing most of spring drills with a torn pectoral muscle and then played most of the season with pins in his thumb after undergoing surgery for a broken bone in his hand … English was limited to a career-low 37 tackles (26 solos), but he led the team and ranked fourth in the conference with eight sacks for minus 57 yards … Led the Huskies and finished third in the MAC with 16.0 stops for losses totaling 73 yards … Added two quarterback pressures with three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a pass deflection while starting all thirteen games at right defensive end … Opponents managed just three yards on 34 running plays to his side of the field (0.09 ypc) and completed only 2-of-7 passes thrown into his area (28.57%) for 11 yards (5.5 yards per completion/1.57 yards per attempt) … Made twelve third-down tackles, including nine vs. the run, adding another stop on fourth-down … Allowed just five first downs, all coming on rushing plays, as he stopped ball carriers for no gain twice … Helped the team lead the MAC and rank 17th in the nation in total defense (298.46 ypg) and placed 14th nationally in scoring defense (18.0 ppg).

Minnesota … English contributed four tackles (3 solos), one sack, and one forced fumble in the Huskies' near-upset of Minnesota, a 31-27 loss that wasn't decided until the game's final seconds … On Minnesota's first drive of the game, English was credited with tackling Gopher halfback Duane Bennett after a 1-yard gain and stopping quarterback Adam Weber after a 3-yard rush to the NIU 28-yard line that converted a 3rd-&-2 play … Midway through the third quarter, English tackled Bennett for a 3-yard loss on a rushing attempt … The NIU rush end sacked Weber for a 9-yard loss at midfield with 13:07 remaining in the game … Later in the fourth quarter, English recovered a fumble by Gopher wide receiver Ralph Spy, who lost control of the ball when he was tackled by NIU's David Bryant after a 16-yard reception … Record Watch: English's first sack of the season gave him 24.5 for his career, which trails NIU's all-time leader, Cary Caliendo (1987-90), by 6.5 sacks … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#76-Dominic Alford (6:03-315) … Defensive Impact: English made three tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 1 yard, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 127 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries (4.10 ypc) … English was involved in one third-down play, one tackle for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble, as the defense allowed 425 total yards on 68 plays (6.25 yards per play).

Western Michigan … English registered four solo tackles in the Huskies' 29-26 loss to Western Michigan, their second-straight defeat to begin the 2008 season … Early in the first quarter, WMU tailback Brandon West was stopped for a 1-yard gain by English … On the Broncos' first possession of the second half, English chased down Brandon West after the running back broke off a 19-yard gain and, later in the drive, limited quarterback Tim Hiller to 1 yard on a rushing attempt … With 4:54 remaining in the game, Brandon West was tackled for a 2-yard loss by English at the NIU 44-yard line … Record Watch: English's one tackle for loss gave him 43 TFLs for his career, tying him with Doug Bartlett for third place in school history … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#72-Anthony Parker (6:05-305) … Defensive Impact: English made four tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense to 19 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 198 yards and one touchdown on 32 carries (6.19 ypc) … English was involved in one tackle for loss, as the defense allowed 384 total yards on 62 plays (6.19 yards per play).

Indiana State … The Northern Illinois defense caused four turnovers and limited Indiana State to 154 total yards of offense and three points, as the Huskies got their first win of the 2008 season, a decisive 48-3 victory over the Sycamores … English finished the contest with two tackles and a pass deflection … Midway through the first quarter, ISU fullback Brock Lough was stopped for a 1-yard loss on 3rd-&-1 from the Sycamore 35-yard line, forcing Indiana State to punt, which was blocked by NIU's Willie Clark … On ISU's first drive of the second half, English broke up a pass from quarterback Chuck Dowdell to tailback Darrius Gates … Later in the quarter, English limited Gates to 4 yards on a rush attempt from the ISU 15-yard line … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#70-Janssen Hayes (6:03-300) … Defensive Impact: English made two tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 3 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 31 yards on 26 carries (1.19 ypc) … English was involved in one tackle for loss and one pass breakup, as the defense allowed 154 total yards on 61 plays (2.52 yards per play).

Eastern Michigan … The NIU defense allowed neither a point nor a single drive to enter its red zone as it thoroughly dominated Eastern Michigan in its 37-0 shutout win … English contributed one solo tackle and two quarterback pressures to the victory … Early in the second quarter, English put pressure on EMU quarterback Andy Schmitt on 3rd-&-5 from the Eagles' 40-yard line, but the signal-caller was able to complete a 7-yard pass to wide receiver Marvon Sanders for a first down … Seconds before halftime, English tackled Schmitt after the quarterback rushed for 4 yards to the EMU 18-yard line … With 6:33 remaining in the third quarter, English put pressure on Schmitt on a 4th-&-14 play from the NIU 40-yard line, forcing the quarterback into throwing incomplete … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#50-T.J. Lang (6:04-307) … Defensive Impact: English made one tackle vs. the run, which netted the offense 4 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 119 yards on 33 carries (3.61 ypc) … English was involved in two quarterback pressures, as the defense allowed 259 yards on 72 plays (3.60 yards per play).

Tennessee … Northern Illinois' defense held Tennessee to just 69 rushing yards and one touchdown and received three third-down sacks from rush end Larry English, but the Huskies were unable to pull of the improbable upset in Knoxville's Neyland Stadium, falling to the Volunteers, 13-9, after a hard-fought battle … English finished the contest with four tackles (2 solos), 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble … Said NIU head coach Jerry Kill of his star defensive end, "Larry English is a great football player. He stepped up his game" … Midway through the second quarter, the NIU rush end sacked Tennessee QB Nick Stephens for a 4-yard loss on 3rd-&-9 from the NIU 15-yard line, forcing the Vols to settle for a 36-yard field goal … With 4:45 remaining in the third quarter, English sacked Stephens gain, this time for a 14-yard loss on 3rd-&-7, forcing the signal-caller to fumble the ball, which was recovered at the Vols' 9-yard line by NIU's Mike Krause … Early in the fourth quarter, English recorded his third sack of Stephens, a 10-yard tackle behind the line of scrimmage on 3rd-&-goal from NIU's 4-yard line, forcing the Vols to attempt a 32-yard field goal, which was missed wide left … At the 5:33 mark in the fourth quarter, the NIU rush end tackled Tennessee's Arian Foster after the tailback picked up 3 yards … Head-to-Head-to-Head Competition: OT#79-Chris Scott (6:05-346) … Defensive Impact: English made one tackle vs. the run, which netted the offense 3 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 69 yards on 32 carries (2.16 ypc) … English was involved in three third-down sacks, two red-zone plays, one goal-line play, and one forced fumble, as the defense allowed 225 total yards on 50 plays (4.50 yards per play).

Miami (Ohio) … NIU linebacker Josh Allen batted down a potential game-wining fourth-down touchdown pass to ensure the Huskies a 17-13 victory over MAC rivals Miami University … English finished the contest with two tackles … Early in the game, English tackled the RedHawks' Thomas Merriweather after the tailback picked up 3 yards … Midway through the fourth quarter, Miami quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh completed a 9-yard pass to wide receiver Jamal Rogers, who was stopped by English at the NIU 29-yard line … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#68-Dave DiFranco (6:04-305) … Defensive Impact: English made on tackle vs. the run, which netted the offense 3 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 135 yards on 30 carries (4.50 ypc) … The defense allowed 284 total yards on 65 plays (4.37 yards per play).

Toledo … The Northern Illinois defense limited Toledo to just 80 rushing yards in the Huskies' impressive 38-7 victory on homecoming, getting two solo tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble from English … "We responded. We came out and played as a team and executed. We played smart and played together. We've done a good job of keeping points off the board. We have our breakdowns during the year, but like today, we made them attempt a field goal and they missed it," said English of the NIU defense … Midway through the first quarter, Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt completed a 2-yard pass on 3rd-&-6 to running back Morgan Williams, who was tackled by English at the Rockets' 46-yard line, forcing Toledo to punt the ball away … Early in the fourth quarter, English sacked Opelt for an 8-yard loss, forcing the signal-caller to lose the football, which was recovered by NIU's Jake Coffman at the Toledo 43-yard line … Said English of the sack, "I was real happy to come up with that play. It was great for the team. I love making plays like that. It was fun" … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#74-Mike VanDerMeulen (6:07-290) … Defensive Impact: English helped the defense hold the opposition to 80 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries (3.64 ypc) … English was involved in one third-down play, one sack, and one forced fumble, as the defense allowed 229 total yards on 46 plays (4.98 yards per play).

Bowling Green … A blocked punt by NIU's Landon Cox led to Mike Salerno's 30-yard game-winning field goal with 12 seconds remaining in the game to give the Huskies a 16-13 victory over Bowling Green … English contributed one solo tackle to NIU's defense, which held the Falcons to 76 rushing yards and 168 yards overall … On Bowling Green's first offensive series of the game, wide receiver Anthony Turner was limited by English to 1 yard on a rushing attempt … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#70-Brady Minturn (6:04-288) … Defensive Impact: English made one tackle vs. the run, which netted the offense 1 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 76 yards on 22 carries (3.45 ypc) … The defense allowed 168 total yards on 43 plays (3.91 yards per play).

Ball State … The NIU rush end registered five tackles (4 solos) in the Huskies' disappointing 45-14 loss to Ball State, a defeat that ended Northern Illinois' three-game winning streak … On Ball State's first offensive series of the game, Cardinal quarterback Nate Davis rushed for 6 yards before being tackled by English … Early in the second quarter, BSU tailback MiQuale Lewis was stopped for a 2-yard loss by English at the Cardinals' 21-yard line … Early in the third quarter, English allowed Lewis to pick up 5 yards and a first down on a 2nd-&-1 play from the NIU 7-yard line … On one series in the fourth quarter, English was credited with stopping Cardinal running back Ray Winkler after a 4-yard gain to the NIU 31-yard line and, on the next play, tackling tailback Cory Sykes for no gain … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#79-Andre Ramsey (6:05-308) … Defensive Impact: English made five tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 13 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 219 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries (5.48 ypc) … English was involved in one tackle for loss, one tackle for no gain, and one red-zone tackle, as the defense allowed 529 total yards on 63 plays (8.40 yards per play).

Central Michigan … Despite scoring 24 unanswered points in a 16-minute span to force overtime, Northern Illinois couldn't pull out a victory in overtime, falling to MAC rivals Central Michigan, 33-30, in fog-filled Huskie Stadium … English finished the contest with five tackles (4 solos) and 1.5 sacks … Midway through the first quarter, on 3rd-&-10 from the NIU 44-yard line, CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour was sacked for a 3-yard loss by English, forcing the Chippewas to punt … Early in the fourth quarter, English was credited with three tackles on a single drive, stopping CMU tail-back Bryan Schroeder for a 4-yard loss, tackling quarterback Dan LeFevour after a 3-yard gain on a rushing attempt, and sacking LeFevour for a 4-yard loss on third down to force a punt … Later in the quarter, on a 3rd-&-1 play from the NIU 44-yard line, LeFevour gained 3 yards and a first down before English could bring him down … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#74-Andrew Hartline (6:05-285) … Defensive Impact: English made three tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 2 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 239 yards and two touchdowns on 46 carries (5.20 ypc) … English was involved in three third-down plays, two sacks, and one tackle for loss, as the defense allowed 428 total yards on 72 plays (5.94 yards per play).

Kent State … The NIU defense limited Kent State to 253 total yards of offense and caused four fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown, in the Huskies' 42-14 victory over the Golden Flashes in snowy Kent, Ohio … English contributed three solo tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble to the win … Early in the first quarter, Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman broke off a 12 yard run to the NIU 31-yard line before English could bring him down … On Kent State's first drive of the second half, English sacked Edelman for a 1-yard loss on 3rd-&-4 from the KSU 43-yard line, forcing the Flashes to punt … At the 8:50 mark in the third quarter, English sacked Edelman 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage, forcing the signal-caller to fumble the ball, which was scooped up by defense end Craig Rusch and returned 60 yards for a touchdown and a 28-7 NIU lead … Record Watch: English recorded two sacks in the game to increase his career total to 31.5, moving him into first place on Northern Illinois' career sacks list … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#56-Augustus Parrish (6:05-305) … Defensive Impact: English made one tackle vs. the run, which netted the offense 12 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 127 yards and two touchdown on 34 carries (3.74 ypc) … English was involved in one third-down play, two sacks, and one force fumble, as the defense allowed 253 total yards on 55 plays (4.60 yards per play).

Navy … MAC's Most Valuable Player of 2007, English registered three tackles (1 solo) in Northern Illinois' tough 16-0 loss to Navy … "We knew that it was important to hold Navy to one or two yards on first down but they were usually getting around four. That made it real hard on the defense, especially since they were eating the clock. The coaches and scout team did a great job preparing us. As a defense, you have to play real disciplined ball and try to force them to pitch. Their offense did a great job finding the crease," said English of Navy's rushing attack … Early in the first quarter, English tackled Navy's Bobby Doyle after the tailback gained 5 yards to the Midshipmen 46-yard line and, later in the drive, stopped Doyle for a 2-yard loss at NIU's 5-yard line, the 62 TFL of English's NIU career … Midway through the third quarter, Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs was stopped for no gain by English at the NIU goal line … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#61-Jeff Battipaglia (6:04-260) … Defensive Impact: English made three tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 3 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 219 yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries (4.87 ypc) … English was involved in two goal-line plays, one tackle for loss, and one tackle for no gain, as the defense allowed 251 total yards on 47 plays (5.34 yards per play).

Louisiana Tech (Independence Bowl) … The Northern Illinois defense held Louisiana Tech to just 92 rushing yards and 236 yards overall but the Huskies came up short were it really mattered, losing to the Bulldogs, 17-10, in the 33rd installment of the Independence Bowl … The NIU rush end finished the contest with one solo tackle … At the end of the first quarter, Tech quarterback Ross Jenkins was sacked for a 9-yard loss at the NIU 48-yard line by English but a 15-yard facemask penalty by the rush end negated the play and gave the Bulldogs a first down … With 2:06 remaining in the first half, English tackled Tech's Phillip Livas for a 2-yard loss after the wide receiver hauled in a pass from Jenkins … Head-to-Head Competition: OT#74-Rob McGill (6:06-305) … Defensive Impact: The defense held the opposition to 92 yards and one touchdown on 31 carries (2.97 ypc) … English was involved in one tackle for loss, as the defense allowed 236 total yards on 58 plays (4.07 yards per play).

English became the first defensive player to win the Mid-American Conference's Vern Smith Leadership Award since Ray Bentley of Central Michigan captured the inaugural first award in 1982 … The All-MAC first-team choice was also a member of the Bronko Nagurski Award (top defensive player) and Hendricks Award (top defensive end) Watch Lists … Was on the field for 894 of the team's 916 defensive plays, ranking fourth on the squad with a career-high 67 tackles (29 solos) … Led the team and the MAC, as he also ranked tied for eleventh in the nation with 10.5 sacks for minus 79 yards … Led the Huskies and ranked third in the conference, finishing tied for 16th in the NCAA with 17.0 stops for losses totaling 91 yards … His 17.0 tackles for loss rank third on the school single-game record list behind Scott Kellar (20 in 1984) and Max Gill (18 in 1980) … Caused a fumble and recovered another for a touchdown in the end zone vs. Idaho … Also deflected a pair of passes and was credited with three quarterback pressures.

Made two solo tackles vs. Iowa … Recorded two tackles for loss, including a 12-yard sack, and had seven hits (3 solos) vs. Southern Illinois … Collected eight stops, with a half tackle for loss, vs. Eastern Michigan … Tied his own school-record with five sacks for minus 34 yards, forced a fumble that he recovered for his first career touchdown, and racked up a career-high 12 tackles (7 solos) to earn conference and national defensive player of the week accolades at Idaho, as he sacked the Idaho quarterback on the last play of the game to preserve the Huskie victory … Tallied one sack for minus 5 yards and two tackles at Central Michigan … Totaled four stops, including one for loss, at Temple … Had 1.5 sacks for losses of 11 yards in a seven-tackle performance vs. Western Michigan … Made two solo stops, one for loss, at Wisconsin … Registered 10 tackles (5 solos) with 2.5 stops for minus 6 yards, including an assisted sack for a 3-yard loss vs. Toledo … Collected nine assisted tackles with three stops behind the line of scrimmage, including 0.5 sack for a 4-yard loss vs. Kent State … Credited with three tackles and a 10-yard sack of QB Nate Davis vs. Ball State.

English earned All-MAC first-team honors … Started all thirteen games at right defensive end, tying the school career-record first set by Scott Kellar in 1984, with twelve sacks for minus 77 yards, ranking second in the conference and tied for tenth in the nation for 2006 … Led the team's down linemen with 51 tackles (32 solos) … Paced the Huskies with 16.0 stops for losses of 92 yards … Caused a school single-season record four fumbles and recovered another … Had at least one sack in eight contests and at least one tackle for loss in seven of his final eight games.

Totaled four tackles (3 solos) vs. Ohio State and had four stops, including a 6-yard sack vs. Buffalo … Racked up four tackles, a 13-yard sack and forced a fumble vs. Indiana State, followed by two tackles for loss, including a 9-yard sack at Miami (Oh.) … Made three stops, one for loss at Western Michigan … Established a then school record with 4.5 sacks for minus 30 yards and 5.5 tackles for 36 yards in losses while adding a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in nine-tackle effort vs. Temple … Forced a fumble and had one sack in three-tackle performance at Iowa … Credited with a 1-yard sack, a tackle for loss and forced a fumble in a seven-tackle outing vs. Toledo … Registered five tackles, two for loss with a 4-yard sack at Eastern Michigan … Credited with two stops and a 5-yard sack before leaving the game with a knee injury vs. Texas Christian in the Poinsettia Bowl.

English was listed fifth on the depth chart entering fall camp, but went on to start 9-of-11 contests at right defensive end … Led the team's down linemen with 57 tackles (21 solos) that included 1.5 sacks for minus 7 yards and eight stops for losses of 27 yards … Also had one fumble recovery and four quarterback pressures.

Had six tackles and two pressures at Michigan … Racked up 11 tackles, second highest on team, with one for loss, at Northwestern … Recorded seven tackles, including two for loss, with sack, two pressures and a fumble recovery vs. Tennessee Tech … Led the team with 11 stops, including one for loss vs. Akron … Tallied eight tackles, including one for loss, and had a hurry vs. Miami (Oh.) … Totaled seven tackles vs. Ball State and made nine stops, two for loss at Central Michigan … Tied for the team-lead with 10 hits, including one for loss vs. Western Michigan.

Made his collegiate debut with four-tackle effort vs. Maryland, but missed the final eleven games with a shoulder injury and was granted a medical red-shirt.

2003: Only played in seven games as a high school senior due to an early-season ankle sprain.

2004: Missed the final 11 games after suffering a shoulder injury vs. Maryland.

2007: Suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee vs. Texas Christian in the Poinsettia Bowl (12/19), undergoing surgery in early January 2008.

2008: Missed most of spring camp with a torn pectoral muscle … Played most of the season with pins inserted in his thumb after breaking his hand in fall camp.

Campus: 4.74 in the 40-yard dash … 1.59 10-yard dash … 2.71 20-yard dash … 9'7" broad jump.

Combine: 4.82 in the 40-yard dash … 1.64 10-yard dash … 2.78 20-yard dash … 4.38 20-yard shuttle … 7.26 three-cone drill … 36-inch vertical jump … 8'11" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 24 times … 32 1/2-inch arm length … 9 3/4-inch hands.

Attended Marmion (Aurora, Ill.) Military Academy … The team co-captain and MVP was regarded as one of the most feared players in the Suburban Catholic Conference … The first- team All-SCC, Aurora Beacon-News All-Area, Daily Herald Tri-City All-Area, and honorable mention IHSFCA All-State as a senior, he totaled 98 tackles and six sacks from his inside linebacker position and rushed for 312 yards on 38 carries (8.2 avg) as a fullback, despite being hampered early in that season by an ankle sprain that limited him to seven games … Named team MVP, first-team All-SCC, Aurora Beacon-News All-Area, and Daily Herald Tri-City All-Area as a junior … Led the Tri-City area with 100 tackles, and added two interceptions along with two fumble recoveries … In addition to earning three letters in football, he also threw the discus for the track team as a freshman and added three more letters in basketball … The Honor Roll student was selected team captain in basketball. He received All-SCC and All-Area honors as a junior on the hardwood … Graduated with a 3.4 grade point average.

Liberal Arts & Sciences major, earning NIU Scholar-Athlete honors with a 3.0 grade point average in the Spring, 2008 … Son of Susan Postlewaite and Larry English, Sr … Uncle,

Charles Richardson, lettered as fullback at Wisconsin in 1972 … Born 1/22/86 … Resides in Aurora, Illinois.