Secondary Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Nov. 2, 2026) – For the first time in his three-year career, Matt Janiak has been named the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin's (CCIW) Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week following his eight-tackle performance in North Central's 55-3 victory over Carthage College on Saturday afternoon inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
Janiak's eight tackles led the Cardinals in just two and a half quarters of play. He was also one of 12 players to register at least 0.5 tackles for loss. Janiak's efforts helped to limit the Firebirds to just 61 total yards, a new program record. North Central's defense has kept Carthage out of the endzone since 2022.
He leads the team in tackles this season with 59, 23 of which have been solo, and registered an interception in North Central's week two win over No. 9/10 Wartburg College.
The Plainfield South graduate and Plainfield native ranks seventh in the CCIW in tackles, ninth in tackles per game (7.4) and second in assisted tackles (36).
The award marks the fifth time a Cardinal has been recognized by the conference: Phillip Carlton Jr. (Sept. 7), Sean Ryniec (Sept. 7 and Oct. 26) and Garret Wilson (Oct. 26). Janiak joins Carlton as the only other CCIW Defensive Player of the Week honoree for North Central this season.
Janiak is the signal caller for a defense that ranks fourth in Division III in third-down conversion percentage (23.2%), fifth in first downs allowed (90), 24th in passing yards per game allowed (150.5), 24th in red zone defense (62.5%), 34th in rushing defense (81.9 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (10.4 points per game).
In his career, the junior linebacker has accrued 223 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four interceptions and seven pass breakups over 37 career games.
Janiak will lead the Cardinal defense again on Saturday down in Decatur, Illinois, where the Cardinals take on CCIW foe Millikin University at 12 p.m.
