2015 Camp Central | WR Video Preview

Throughout fall camp, NIUHuskies.com will preview every position on the 2015 Northern Illinois University football team, continuing today with the linebackers. Friday’s position group: Cornerbacks.

DEKALB, Ill. -- Despite the loss of its statistical leader from a season ago in Da’Ron Brown, the NIU wide receiving corps returns a host of hungry players eager to carve out bigger roles in 2015, and one familiar face looking to end his explosive NIU career with a bang.

“We are working hard right now,” said NIU wide receivers coach Thad Ward. “It’s training camp, guys are pushing forward, each and every day we are getting better and better. Tommylee (Lewis) is having a great camp, Juwan Brescacin, Kenny (Golladay), all of those guys are pushing hard and having a great camp.

“It’s good to have a solid, veteran group and it’s good to have some younger guys in that mix too. We have some guys that have played some ball and they are teaching and molding the younger guys.”

At this time last season, one face Huskie fans would not have expected to see in 2015 was Tommylee Lewis (Riviera Beach, Fla./W.T. Dwyer). After appearing in two games in 2014, Lewis missed the final 12 contests of the season due to injury. That extended missed time allowed Lewis to take a redshirt and return for a fifth-year in 2015.

Two seasons ago, Lewis recorded 86 catches for 715 yards and three touchdowns. A First Team All-MAC honoree in 2013, Lewis averaged 117.1 all-purpose yards per game, good enough to also earn honorable mention All-America honors from SI.com as an all-purpose player.

With a season-high seven catches, senior Juwan Brescacin (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada/Culver Academy), made one of his biggest impacts of last season in the MAC Championship win over Bowling Green. For the season, Brescacin tied for the team lead with six touchdown catches while finishing second on the team with 445 receiving yards and third with 31 receptions.

Heading into his final season, Brescacin admitted there is a different feeling from previous camps.

“When the camp grind gets to you, you realize that it’s your last one, it’s the last chance you get to do this with your brothers,” Brescacin said of being a senior. “Some of us may be fortunate enough to do this at the next level but for right now this is all we have.”

The only returnee to record at least one catch in all 14 games last season, junior Aregeros Turner (Copley, Ohio/Copley) adds tremendous versatility to the receiver position. In addition to his 37 catches for 398 yards in 2014, Turner also had 13 carries for 38 yards, including a pair of touchdowns, and returned 23 kickoffs for 479 yards.

Another Huskie who made contributions as both a receiver and returner a season ago is junior Chad Beebe (Aurora, Ill./Aurora Christian), who saw his 2014 season cut short due to a broken arm during the MAC Championship Game. Up to that point Beebe had found his stride in the NIU offense, recording catches in seven consecutive games heading into the conference title game. Beebe finished the season fourth on the team in receptions (21) and receiving yards (219) while also serving as NIU’s primary punt returner.

Turner and Beebe’s ability to help the Huskies as more than just pass catchers exemplifies just what Ward is looking for from his group.

“You need that versatility in our offense,” said Ward. “You need guys who can run the ball, guys who can go downfield, guys who can jump over a guy’s head and guys who can run an intermediate cut. We have good versatility and that is what we look for.”

Another name Huskie fans will get to know this fall is that of redshirt junior Kenny Golladay (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita). In two seasons at North Dakota, Golladay racked up 99 catches for 1,313 yards and nine touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2013, Golladay earned honorable mention All-Big Sky recognition before returning home to NIU as a transfer last season.

“He is growing in our offense,” said Ward. “He is developing as we speak. He has had a great camp, he has worked hard and the best is yet to come for him.”

Among the newcomers, Coach Ward pointed to freshmen Adam Buirge (Minneapolis, Minn./Park Center), Spencer Tears (Robbins, Ill./H.L. Richards) and Steven Lee (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) as players having a good camp. For older guys like Brescacin, the most important thing with the newcomers is to instill in them the mentality that has made NIU successful.

“I’m just trying to be a positive influence on them and make sure that they are working hard and sticking to that “Hard Way” mentality that we have at NIU,” Brescacin explained. “When I was a freshman, Chandler Harnish and those guys were here and they were hard-workers, so as a senior class we want to keep that going.”

Practice Notes

The seventh day of fall camp took place on another beautiful day with pleasant temperatures in DeKalb, the Huskies workout lasted for about two hours. NIU’s first morning practice of camp will take place tomorrow as the Huskies will take the field just before 10 a.m.

In a fourth down drill during today’s session the offensive got off to a quick start, converting on five of the first six plays during the period, but the defense came back to draw even in the drill, 9-9.

The biggest roar of the day took place during an offensive line versus defensive line one-on-one receiving drill at the goal line. The lighthearted moment of practice quickly turned competitive and the d-line came away with bragging rights when sophomore Rajshawn Mosley (Indianapolis, Ind./Arsenal Tech) came up with an interception and returned it the length of the field for a touchdown, with the entire defense joining him in celebration on the 100-yard run.

NIUHuskies.com's 2015 Camp Central is your place for all the news and updates on the NIU Football team's preparations for the 2015 season. There you'll find practice updates, position previews, video interviews and highlights as well as practice schedule changes and more all throughout camp.

NIU Football 2015 season tickets are still on sale and remain the best value in Chicagoland. Season ticket prices begin for as little as $99, a 61 percent discount off the single game price. Other ticket options include two different three-game mini-plans for just $75, the new Huskie Family Pack, which includes four season tickets in sections A, B, F or G of Huskie Stadium for just $299 or the Young Alumni Ticket, with two East Side season tickets for $115 for all 2014-15 NIU graduates. Faculty and staff, senior citizens (62 and over) and NIU Alumni Association members can purchase season tickets for just $115.

In addition to the Seats for Soldiers program for donated tickets, single game, three-game mini-plan and group tickets are on sale now. Check out the 50th Anniversary ticket special presented by Hy-Vee offering tickets in section A and G on the West Side of Huskie Stadium for $19.65 each. These tickets are available for purchase online only by using the promo code "1965" CLICK HERE to order.

To become an NIU season ticket holder or to purchase mini-plans, the Family Pack or single game tickets, go online anytime to NIUHuskies.com/tickets or call 815-753-PACK (7225) Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Or check out the premium areas available for 2015, including bench back seating, the Coaches' Club or the new End Zone Club! The Huskies' newest premium area is located at field level, just outside of the South End Zone and provides fans with a completely unique view of the action, as well as food and beverages. For more information, go to huskieathleticfund.com.