2015 Camp Central

Throughout fall camp, NIUHuskies.com will preview every position on the 2015 Northern Illinois University football team, continuing today with the offensive line. Tuesday's position group: Kickers, Punters and Specialists.

DeKALB - It's no coincidence that NIU football has had such sustained success in the last five seasons. It always starts in the trenches and the Northern Illinois University offensive line has been the workhorse of the Huskies' offense.

Over the last five seasons, NIU has rushed for 17,907-yards and 195 touchdowns, including 3,488-yards and 34 touchdowns last season. Putting that into perspective, that's 1,170 points and roughly the distance of downtown DeKalb to downtown Sycamore and back in nearly six-yard increments per rushing attempt.

Take the passing game into consideration and the Huskies have only allowed 67 sacks in 1,950 pass attempts over the last five seasons. That's roughly a sack 3.4 percent of all passes attempted since 2010.

The unit is only getting bigger and stronger as well, as the line averages 6-4, 302 pounds across the 18-man unit in 2015. In 2010, the line was just as tall but 12 pounds lighter.

There are very few quantifiable numbers when it comes to measuring an offensive line's performance but it's hard to deny how formidable and efficient the aforementioned figures are to the NIU offense.

"We're trying to develop these guys and find out who's going to compete and help us move forward. It's a slow process with the offensive line and it's something we have to grind out daily," said Head Coach Rod Carey. "We have seven or eight guys right now that are vying for some time up front this season and there's some really good competition going on."

The Huskies have two starters returning from last year's line - redshirt seniors Aidan Conlon (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) and Andrew Ness (O'Fallon, Mo./Christian Brothers College) - who've each started all 42 games over the last three seasons.

Ness, a First Team All-MAC selection in 2014, replaced former All-American Scott Wedige at center and has picked up where the former NFL lineman left off. Ness has already collected preseason watch list honors for the Rimington Trophy (top center), the Outland Trophy (top-interior lineman) and the Lombardi Award (top lineman or linebacker).

Whether it's been to Ness' left or right, Conlon has been just as dependable as Ness on the front line. In his first two seasons, the senior played right guard before moving to left guard in 2014. His versatility on the line has made him invaluable since replacing former All-MAC guard Logan Pegram who was injured in fall camp in 2012.

After starting his career as a graduate assistant with the program in 2010, offensive line coach Joe Tripodi has seen the progression of Conlon and Ness as players and what they've brought to the rest of the offensive line.

"Those guys have played a lot of football around here," said Tripodi, "last spring they worked really hard on bringing the rest of the young group to their level. They make sure the guys are watching extra film before practice or getting extra reps after practice. They've done a real nice job with their leadership this year."

"These guy are close to being men and that doesn't just happen with time," Carey added, "it comes through hard work - grinding it out and pushing yourself and they've done a great job with that. They realize that they're young men and the work that needs to be done to be successful."

Both players were part of a changing of the guard in 2012, when the NIU offensive line returned zero starters from the 2011 MAC Championship team.

While three spots are open in the trenches, the good news for Tripodi is that four of the 16 Huskies in the running for the open positions played in at least 11 games last season. Throw in four redshirt freshmen and five players with three or more years of experience in the program and the NIU offensive line has a lot of depth to work with this season.

Outside of Conlon and Ness, redshirt junior Josh Ruka (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) is the only other Huskie with a start under his belt as he made his first career start at right guard in the Boca Raton Bowl versus Marshall last season. Ruka played in all 14 games last season for NIU.

Like Ruka, Levon Myers (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) and Lincoln Howard (Osceola, Wis./Osceola) played in all 14 games last season while Ron Brown (Detroit, Mich./Mumford) appeared in 11 games last season.

"I think competition is the number one thing that pushes a group. You can't be a good unit without people pushing you and we certainly have that," added Tripodi. "Max Scharping and Lincoln Howard are two guys that have really come into their own through the spring and fall. It's been a lot of fun this camp, I feel fortunate to coach these guys. They're good guys that work hard. They're just blue collar kids."

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.