BLOOMINGTON — The program for Saturday’s NCAA Division III first-round playoff game will list Nick Nikolich at 205 pounds.

Illinois Wesleyan’s soft-spoken senior linebacker knows that’s not the truth. It’s probably not even close.

The wear and tear of 10 games has taken its toll. But, with the encouragement of IWU coach Norm Eash, Nikolich is sticking to his preseason number on the scales.

“We would hate to tell you his true weight right now,” said Eash.

It really doesn’t matter. When IWU (9-1) entertains Wabash (9-1) at noon Saturday, Nikolich figures to be one of the heavyweights on Wilder Field in deciding whether the Titans advance to the second round.

Nikolich earned the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin’s Don Larson Defensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday. He paces the Titans in total tackles (67), tackles for loss (12) and sacks (5½) and is the unquestioned leader of the fifth-ranked Division III defense.

Well, Nikolich might dispute being called the defense’s leader.

“The great part about having so many seniors is we’re all leaders,” he said. “We have three defensive captains on our side of the ball as well as the other seniors. When one person says something, we all have each other’s back. It is not necessarily one person who is doing all the talking or all the leading. It’s a joint effort to get the win every single week.”

The 6-foot-2 Nikolich has used his speed and agility to overcome a lack of size. As the weak-side linebacker, Nikolich can chase down plays going the opposite way to the strong side of the formation.

“I look at Nick as a sly fox. He’s going to find a way to get it done,” said Eash. “He’s not the biggest linebacker we’ve ever had, yet he’s a fierce competitor and finds a way to win and beat the guy next to him.”

Nikolich has been a force in the CCIW for the last three years. The native of Libertyville was a first-team all-league selection as a sophomore before being named to the second team last year.

When the coaches picked the all-league team Tuesday, Nikolich was a unanimous first-team choice. While IWU had five other first-team defenders and another second-team selection, it probably wasn’t difficult to make Nikolich the first Titan to be named Defensive Player of the Year since Jeff Heinzl in 2000. 

After the Titans beat Hope, 28-25, in the season opener, defensive coordinator Mike Murray decided to make a change with Nikolich in mind.

“We turned him loose a little bit and played a little more aggressive with all of our linebackers which played to his strengths,” said Murray. “He operates on the run really well, so as he’s attacking things he can react and he’s a good finisher.

“When we get him on blitzes and he gets in the backfield he can make a play on the quarterback.”

Notes: Eash said senior quarterback Kraig Ladd, who missed the season finale with a first-degree separation of his non-throwing right shoulder, likely will start Saturday. Brien Rooney also will play, said the IWU coach … Junior punter Dennis Zic made three of four conversion kicks last Saturday in favor of struggling Michael Fenger. Eash isn’t sure who will get the nod Saturday … The Titans practiced Wednesday night at Illinois State’s Hancock Stadium. IWU was forced indoors Monday and Tuesday because of the muddy condition of its practice field.