DeKALB - Shawun Lurry, a 5-8 cornerback from West Palm Beach, Fla., played in 13 games as a true freshman. Though some NIU football fans knew Lurry's skill and playmaking ability, on Sept. 19, 2015 at No. 1 Ohio State, the then-sophomore became a household name in Huskie Nation.

In 2015, Lurry recorded an FBS-best nine interceptions along with 16 pass breakups and 59 total tackles to earn consensus First Team All-American honors by Phil Steele and the Football Writer's Association of America. He became only the second player in NIU history to earn Walter Camp All-America distinction, picking up second team honors.

When this year's "Watch List Week" rolled around, Lurry found himself on the Nagurski, Thorpe and Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch Lists. He said he was not satisfied with his accomplishments from last year and has worked on a few things to move the team forward in 2016.

"I focused on losing a lot of body fat this summer because I still had some baby fat. I wanted to work on my technique a little bit more and get the playbook down. I also wanted to learn how to watch film to help bring the young guys up with me," Lurry said.

"We only have like one or two young guys and the rest of us are all juniors and seniors so we're are all old for the most part but we show them how to communicate, make plays and win games," he added.

Lurry was quick to note former teammates for helping him along and setting the example of what he needed to work on over the summer.

"Paris Logan, Marlon Moore and Tommylee Lewis were all the ones that really talked to me and helped me out when I first got here and I looked up to," said Lurry.

Lewis, now turning heads in training camp with the New Orleans Saints, was a former teammate in both high school and college of Lurry.

"(Tommylee) just told me 'just go out there and do what you gotta do on the field.' But this past summer, I just did what I had to do to try and help my team win games."

Lurry reflected on his work this summer with confidence and enthusiasm.

"I feel good, I feel like I got faster and I feel like I got stronger. I also feel like I know the defense very well. I think as a team we're all playing really well and communicating with each other."

DAILY NOTES:
Junior college cornerback Demarius Brinson Jr. (Gulfport, Fla./Highland CC) recorded an interception during a team session of practice and ran in back untouched for a touchdown; Brinson played a season of junior college in California (Contra Costa) and Kansas (Highland) … Just a few plays for Brinson's touchdown return, Kenny Golladay leaped up in the corner of the end zone and snatched a touchdown pass over the covering defender with one hand to make the remarkable touchdown reception look routine.

NIU football season tickets, mini-plans and single game tickets are now on sale.  Season tickets offer the best prices and include the historic Huskie Chi-Town Showdown game versus Toledo at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago on November 9. Season tickets start at just $99 for a single ticket or $299 for a Family Pack of four season tickets; while mini-plans, featuring any three Huskie Stadium games, are just $60 each. To order season tickets, go online to NIUHuskies.com/tickets or call 815-753-PACK (7225).
 
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