Mikkelson Honored With NFF Mental Toughness Award

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Illinois State sophomore offensive lineman Erik Mikkelson has persevered through emotional and physical pain to earn a starting spot on the Redbird football team. As a result, Mikkelson was honored with the Mental Toughness Award, one of several awards presented at the National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony Monday evening at Halas Hall.

The National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter started presenting the Mental Toughness Award in 2012, with the first two honors going to Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa and Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish.  Mikkelson is the fifth Redbird player to be honored with the award, following in the footsteps of Pat Meehan (2014), Dion Starnes (2015), Brent Spack (2016) and Jamal Towns (2017).

Mikkelson was nominated by ISU head coach Brock Spack for his perseverance through emotional and physical struggles during his football career. After excelling at Oswego High School before redshirting at ISU in 2015, Mikkelson was ready to compete for a starting role in 2016 before a back injury and surgery sidelined him for the entire season. He worked hard to get healthy and had a great spring in 2017, however he was faced with adversity again in the summer of 2017 when his father, Rick, passed away unexpectedly.

Contemplating taking a semester off to be with his mother, Julie, and sister, Annika, he instead refocused and came to fall training camp in 2017 with something to prove. Mikkelson would go on to earn a starting role on the offensive line for the final six games of 2017, and played a key role on ISU's offensive line that averaged 26 points per game, recorded 2,341 rushing yards, and averaged 183 rushing yards per game in the always tough Missouri Valley Football Conference.  

He accepted the award in honor of his father, and thanked his family in attendance for all of their love and support throughout a difficult journey. He also mentioned the support he received from his teammates, coaches and staff at Illinois State and how important it was to keeping his spirits up, and helping him overcome obstacles to be a key member of the offensive live unit.

The annual event recognizes the dedication and hard work of high school and collegiate football standouts. Among the attendees were Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Hampton, Richard Dent and Ted Hendricks and College Football Hall of Famers Pat Fitzgerald and Steve McMichael. Hampton and emcee Jeff Joniak ended the evening with a sit-down chat, where the 1985 Super Bowl Champion gave advice to the players, coaches and families in attendance. 

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