NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State redshirt freshman linebacker Dexter Niekamp was one of nine players from the Missouri Valley Football Conference named to the FCS Football Central Freshman All-American Team on Monday. Now in its fourth year, the team recognizes the best freshman players from across the subdivision with 62 players from 46 programs recognized on this year's Freshman All-American Team.
Niekamp, a 2025 MVFC All-Newcomer Team selection, played in all 12 games at outside linebacker and ranked second on the team with three sacks during the regular season. Niekamp finished the year with 36 total tackles, including 12 solo stops, and was credited with 5.0 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble during the regular season. The younger of the Niekamp brothers who play linebacker for the Redbirds, he had five tackles and a half tackle-for-loss in his collegiate debut against Oklahoma and recorded a career day in a win at South Dakota State, with five tackles, two sacks and an interception against the Jackrabbits.
In the opening round playoff game at Southeastern Louisiana, Niekamp had six tackles in the win for the Redbirds and last weekend in the upset win over top-seeded North Dakota State, he had a tackle and a forced fumble that led to a takeaway for the Redbirds.
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