Aug. 22, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - As the Northern Illinois Huskies completed the final two-a-day practice session of the 2007 preseason camp, there is no question, offensively, who is the leader of the NIU offense. After two seasons as a back-up, during which he started five games, junior Dan Nicholson (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) enters the 2007 season as the clear number one quarterback.

Nicholson, who has completed 119-of-210 passes for 1,479 yards and 11 touchdowns in those five starts and 13 total career appearances, has continued to improve this fall despite having a solid hold on the starting job.

"Dan has done an outstanding job all summer and into this fall establishing himself as the leader of our offense," said NIU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Roy Wittke. "He's taken that role very seriously. He's grown and matured into an effective leader. He's really taken ownership of our offense."

"Dan is a very competitive individual," Wittke continued. "He plays the game with a great deal of passion. He's an effective thrower and he has good mobility that allows us to move him around. He's made improvements with his accuracy."

While Northern Illinois has not instituted wholesale changes in the offense, which boasts an NCAA-leading eight straight seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher, the Huskie quarterbacks have had some learning to do.

"Both Dan Nicholson and [back-up QB] Ryan Morris have made significant progress with picking up the system and some of the new concepts we've introduced," he said. "Both have done a good job in camp, they have made strides physically and mentally. I'm pleased with their progress."

While Morris [Carol Stream, Ill./West Chicago HS) enters the year with just three career appearances and only one pass attempt, the sophomore's improvement has impressed the Huskie coaches.

"Ryan has established himself as the clear number two quarterback and probably one of the most improved players on our offense this camp," Wittke said. "He's still young and inexperienced, but he has really come a long way since last spring and is playing more consistently. We're confident that, if called on, Ryan will step in and do an effective job."

A pair of true freshmen in DeMarcus Grady (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids HS) and Chandler Harnish (Bluffton, Ind./Norwell HS) continue to battle for the No. 3 quarterback spot.

"Both have shown signs of promise, and both have the raw physical tools it takes to play quarterback," Wittke said. "They have done a good job with keeping up with the fast pace of camp."

NIU Head Coach Joe Novak said that by the time Northern Illinois begins "game week" preparations for the Huskies' season opener with Iowa, either Grady or Harnish will be named the number three signal-caller.

"As for the freshman, in the next few days we will decide which one we're going to go with as our number three quarterback and he will get those reps," Novak said. "We're getting better [at quarterback], and we've got to be better. I'm pleased with Ryan's improvement and he needs to continue to improve."

As the Huskies concluded two-a-days, Novak is hoping to see his team re-energized with the Iowa game less than 10 days away.

"Practice was not bad," he said. "They're sore and they're tired of practice, and the coaches are tired of practice, too. We've pushed through it. I think we have tailed off a little bit this week so far. But we're going to one-a-days now and we won't scrimmage anymore so we can get everybody back and ready for Iowa."

Northern Illinois opens the 2007 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 at Chicago's Soldier Field versus Iowa. The sold-out game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPNU. The Huskie Stadium opener will take place Saturday, Sept. 8 versus in-state foe Southern Illinois. Season tickets for NIU's five Huskie Stadium games are on sale now for just $95 at www.niuhuskies.com or by calling the Athletics Ticket Office at 815-752-6800.

-- NIU --