DeKALB, Ill. – The 2016 Northern Illinois University Huskies took the football field for the first time Sunday afternoon at Huskie Stadium as training camp got underway with a 1:40 minute practice in helmets and shorts. 
 
The 105 players, including 22 newcomers, 52 returning letterwinners and 16 returning starters, were eager to get on the field for Sunday's practice, said NIU Head Coach Rod Carey.
 
"There was good energy, good enthusiasm," Carey said.  "They were excited to get back out there.  It was a good first day.  We have to get better.
 
Carey enters his fourth season at the helm of the NIU program in 2016 with a 31-12 win-loss record. He said the players are not the only ones who were ready for football.
 
"I was excited to get out here too," Carey said.  "We've got a good team and a good staff.  They worked hard this summer, but it's just the beginning and there is more work to do."
 
Sunday's practice included several periods of special teams, along with individual drills and fundamentals. During seven-on-seven periods, the defense produced back-to-back turnovers as linebackers Bobby Jones IV and Jawuan Johnson picked off passes on successive plays. The session also included multiple completions from quarterbacks Drew Hare and Ryan Graham to senior receivers Aregeros Turner and Kenny Golladay, among others.
 
Throughout the practice, there were instances of Huskie veterans explaining plays and coverages to newcomers and younger players. Carey said that is expected, as is a little bit of the wide-eyed look he saw from those newcomers.
 
"They're learning what [camp] is all about," he said. "They did a good job this summer, but this is a different deal. They'll get it."
 
The Huskies will practice daily between today and Sunday, August 21 before classes start at NIU on Monday, August 22.  Complete coverage of each practice, along with the schedule, video features and more, will be available at NIUHuskies.com and via the Huskies' social media channels. The final week of camp will actually be held during the first week of classes with the season kicking off Saturday, Sept. 3 at Wyoming. NIU's first home game is Saturday, Sept. 17 versus San Diego State with kickoff on the CBS Sports Network at 2:30 p.m.
 
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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