Northern Illinois' Shawun Lurry drawing attention at Poinsettia Bowl

Another reporter was waiting on the side of the field for Lurry, as was the school's camera crew that's here to document the Huskies' preparation for Wednesday's Poinsettia Bowl matchup with Boise State.

The NIU players already had climbed the concrete stairs, chattering their way to the locker room, where a lunch of Kentucky Fried Chicken awaited. Lurry was left behind to perform media duty as the team's clear, if unlikely, star.

Lurry's nine interceptions this season are why he's getting so much attention. That total leads the nation, is an NIU Division I record and earned the sophomore a bunch of postseason accolades, including first-team honors on the FWAA All-America team. He was the only first-teamer on offense or defense not from a Power Five conference.

After he got off the phone Sunday, Lurry shook hands and smiled.

"It's been good," he said of the hoopla. "I'm kind of shy. I'm getting used to it right now."

This is not a quarterback or running back accustomed to the limelight. Lurry, 21, arrived in DeKalb a year ago as a lightly recruited receiver from West Palm Beach, Fla.

A teammate suggested he might make a good cornerback, and with a feeling he might not cut it at receiver, Lurry put the word out that he would like to change. The coaches agreed.

"It's a lot of hard work on his part," NIU coach Rod Carey said. "Attention to detail on the playbook and a whole year in the weight room. He got here as a freshman and worked out in the summer, and then he played right away. Getting that training in the spring and summer is a whole different deal. He's put in the work and he deserves it."

Lurry had no interceptions in 2014 but recorded picks in five consecutive games this season, starting with two in a Sept. 19 loss to reigning national champion Ohio State. He set the team record with his eighth interception when he made a spectacular grab over a receiver and dragged his feet inbounds against Buffalo.

In the MAC championship game, a disappointing loss to Bowling Green, Lurry jumped on a read, snatched the ball and raced 64 yards for a touchdown. That wasn't even his longest return, which was a 79-yarder in a loss to Boston College. Lurry also leads the country in return yards with 273 — another NIU record.

Carey credits natural instincts and film study for Lurry's success.

"When you've got those two things, you're going to get the results he's gotten," he said.

Lurry said he didn't know how to study film when he arrived at college and credits his teammates with aiding his improvement.

As for the nine picks, he isn't as satisfied as one might think.

"I'm really supposed to have more," Lurry said with a somewhat embarrassed expression. "I dropped a couple of them that I really should have had."

Nine is just fine.

Thanks for reading...!!!