HUSKIE BITES
NIU plays on the road for the fourth time in its last five games when the Huskies travel to Bowling Green for its last Saturday game of the year.
The Huskies are 2-0 in the MAC following their 14-13 victory at Buffalo as NIU won a one-point game for the first time since Sept. 15, 2012, a 41-40 win at Army.
NIU faces MAC East foe Bowling Green for the fifth straight year with three of the previous four meetings (2013, '14, '15) at Ford Field in the MAC Championship game. The Huskies won last year's game in DeKalb to improve its record in the series to 9-12.
- In addition to a 4-1 record versus teams from the Big Ten, Head Coach Rod Carey has coached NIU to a 28-6 record versus MAC foes in the regular season during his four years at the helm, for an .823 winning percentage. Carey ranks 23rd all-time in league victories, ahead of Bo Schembechler (Miami) and Don Nehlen (Bowling Green), among others.
- The Huskie defense ranks in the FBS Top 10 nationally in eight statistical categories, including total defense (7th), rushing defense (9th), passing efficiency defense (6th), sacks (6th), tackles for loss (2nd) and third down conversion percentage defense (4th).
- NIU's defense has given up just one touchdown in the last 10 quarters and has held its last three opponents to a 11.4% mark (5-of-44) on third down conversions.
- Sophomore defensive end Sutton Smith continues to lead the country in both tackles for loss (16.0) and quarterback sacks (8.5), with a great opportunity to break the NIU school single season records of 20 TFLs and 12 sacks.
- For the third consecutive season, NIU has had at least three different players start at quarterback as Marcus Childers made his first career start at Buffalo. Childers, sophomore Daniel Santacaterina (four starts) and junior Ryan Graham (one start) have all started games for NIU in 2017.
HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
Head Coach:
Rod Carey
Record at NIU/Years: 38-21/5th
Career Record/Years: 38-21/5th
Alma Mater/Year: Indiana/1993
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
All-Time Record: 573-485-51
2016 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 5-7/5-3/3rd West
Last Bowl Game: 2015 SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 7, 2015
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 50/31
Starters Returning: 15 (5 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialist)
Starters Lost: 12 (5 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
NIU FACTS
Location: DeKalb, Illinois
Founded: 1895
Enrollment: 19,015
Affiliation: NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision
Conference: Mid-American (West Division)
Colors: Cardinal and Black
Stadium: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf /23,595
Acting President: Dr. Lisa Freeman
Assoc. VP/Athletic Director:
Sean T. Frazier
Alma Mater, Year: Alabama '92
Ticket Information: 815-753-PACK (7225)
FALCONS FACTS
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Mike Jinks (Angelo State/1994)
Record at Bowling Green/Years: 5-19/2nd
Career Record/Years: 5-19/2nd
2016 Record: 4-8
Mid-American Conference Record/Finish: 3-5/3rd East
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio
Enrollment: 19,000
Conference: Mid-American, East Division
Colors: Orange and Brown
Stadium: Doyt Perry Stadium
Surface/Capacity: Shaw Sport Turf/24,000
President: Mary Ellen Mazey
Athletic Director: Bob Moosbrugger
Athletics Website: BGSUFalcons.com
Twitter: @BG_Football
Ticket Information: 1-877-247-8842
2017 Bowling Green Schedule & Results
NIU-BG SERIES FACTS
Overall: BGSU leads 12-9
In DeKalb: NIU leads 6-3
In Bowling Green: BGSU leads 7-2
In MAC Championship Games: BGSU leads 2-1
In MAC Games: BGSU leads 7-6
Streak: NIU, 1
First Meeting: Nov. 18, 1967; BGSU 17, NIU 7 (A)
Last Meeting: Nov 1 2016; BGSU 20, NIU 45 (H)
Series History
1967: BGSU 17, NIU 7 (A)
1968: NIU 7, BGSU 6 (H)
1969: BGSU 38, NIU 23 (A)
1973: BGSU 21, NIU 20 (A)
1981: BGSU 17, NIU 10 (H)*
1982: BGSU 20, NIU 18 (A)*
1983: NIU 24, BGSU 23 (H)*
1984: BGSU 28, NIU 6 (A)*
1985: BGSU 34, NIU 14 (H)*
1986: NIU 16, BGSU 8 (A)
1997: BGSU 35, NIU 10 (A)*
1998: BGSU 34, NIU 23 (H)*
2002: NIU 26, BGSU 17 (H)*
2003: BGSU 34, NIU 18 (A)*
2004: NIU 34, BGSU 17 (H)*
2008: NIU 16, BGSU 13 (H)*
2011: NIU 45, BGSU 14 (A)*
2013: BGSU 47, NIU 27 (N)
2014: NIU 51, BGSU 17 (N)
2015: BGSU 34, NIU 14 (N)
2016: NIU 45, BGSU 20 (H)*
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
TV: NIU-Bowling Green on ESPN3/ESPN APP
- The NIU-Bowling Green game will air on ESPN3 live online and on mobile devices via the ESPN App.
- Get the direct link to watch on GameDay Central and on the football schedule page at NIUHuskies.com.
- The announce crew for the NIU-BG game is Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Jerod Cherry (color analyst).
RADIO: NIU Sports Network
- The NIU Sports Network broadcast for the Bowling Green game begins at 12:30 p.m. CT, 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
- The game will be carried on NIU network affiliates WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 (DeKalb) and AM 560 The Answer (Chicago).
- Hear the broadcast online via NIU All-Access (subscription), and on mobile devices via TuneIn. Download the app free and find the NIU Huskies channel.
- Bill Baker is in his 38th season as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo joins him for the 32nd season, while Andy Garcia is in his fifth season on the sidelines.
"INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW"
- Fans are invited to attend the one-hour show every Monday at Noon at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy).
- Listen live with the TuneIn app; hear it Monday at 7 p.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb, 8 pm Mondays on 560 AM The Answer in Chicago and Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on SportsFan Radio 1330 AM in Rockford.
- The weekly show features host Bill Baker, NIU Head Coach Rod Carey, Huskie players and athletic department guests.
"NIU WEEKLY" RADIO SHOW
- Airs Friday at 10 p.m. CT in Chicago on AM 560 The Answer, Saturday at 8:30 a.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb and on Sports Fan Radio 1330 in Rockford at 6:30 a.m Saturdays.
- Also hear it on NIUTube (subscription).
- Hosts are Andy Garcia and Sean T. Frazier, NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics.
- The 30-minute show features interviews with football coach Rod Carey, other NIU head coaches and guests.
NIUTube (Huskie All-Access)
- See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features, Huskie Olympic sports and special events.
- Hear all NIU live radio broadcasts, including football and basketball games and NIU radio shows.
- Purchase a daily, monthly or annual subscription.
- Go to NIUHuskies.com for rates and information.
GETTING SOCIAL
- Twitter: @NIUAthletics, @NIUScores, @NIU_Football
- Facebook: NIU Huskies, NIU Football
- Instagram: niuhuskies, niufootball
- YouTube: niuhuskiesdotcom
- See NIU Athletics' social media hub online to see all of the Huskie team and coaching staff accounts.
NEWS & NOTES
SERIES HISTORY: Bowling Green owns a 12-9 advantage over NIU in the all-time series. The two schools have played in each of the last four seasons, with each team winning two games. NIU won the last meeting between, scoring a 45-20 win over Bowling Green (Nov. 1) last season at Huskie Stadium. The Huskies are 2-7 in games played at Bowling Green, however, NIU posted a 45-14 win over the Falcons in their last trip to Doyt Perry Stadium. Nov. 8, 2011.
CHAMPIONSHIP RELATIONSHIP: Before last season's contest in DeKalb, the previous three meetings between the two schools occurred in Detroit in the league's championship game. Bowling Green won the 2013 MAC Championship game, 47-27, while NIU won the rematch, 51-17, in the 2014 title game. The Falcons won the 2015 conference championship game, 34-14, at Ford Field.
WHEN LAST WE MET: Senior tailback
Joel Bouagnon scored five rushing touchdowns as NIU defeated Bowling Green, 45-20, on Senior Night at Huskie Stadium. Bouagnon's five TDs came as he rushed for 134 yards on 26 carries. The Huskies outgained the Falcons 479 yards to 314, rushing for 286 yards. Safety
Mycial Allen tallied a team-high eight tackles and made an interception.
HUSKIES IN THE MAC: With its 14-13 win at Buffalo NIU improved to 143-97-2 all-time in MAC play and to 107-52 (.673) in league action since 1997, when NIU rejoined the league. Since 2010, NIU is 51-7 and has recorded three undefeated campaigns and two one-loss seasons in league play, winning six-straight division championships during that stretch. The Huskies are in their 32nd season as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 2017-18, including an initial stint in the league from 1975-85.
NIU VS. MAC EAST: NIU has won 22 of its last 23 regular season games over MAC East Division opponents and 27 of 29 since the 2008 season with its win over the Bulls. NIU's last regular season loss to a MAC East foe was on Nov. 24, 2015 when the Huskies fell to Ohio, 26-21, in Huskie Stadium. The Huskies are 7-0 versus Buffalo, 6-0 against Kent State, 4-0 versus Akron, Miami and Bowling Green, and have one win over Ohio in the regular season during that time. NIU defeated former league members Temple in 2010 and UMass in 2012 and 2013. Miami defeated NIU in the 2010 MAC title game and Bowling Green won the 2013 and 2015 MAC Championship games over NIU.
ONE-POINT WIN: NIU's one-point win over Buffalo, the Huskies' 11th straight in the series, was the first such victory for the Huskies since a 41-40 at Army on Sept. 25, 2012. It is also the second one-point win in the series. NIU scored a 31-30 victory over the Bulls at Buffalo on Oct. 22, 2011.
SACK ATTACK: Linebacker
Bobby Jones IV recorded a career-high two sacks in NIU's four-sack effort against Buffalo. NIU is the first defense this season to record four sacks against the Bulls. In addition to Jones,
Sutton Smith and
Ben LeRoy recorded a sack-and-a-half and a half sack, respectively.
HOLD THEM UNDER 100: NIU's defense held Buffalo to 39 yards rushing, including just one net yard in the second half. It is the first time the Huskies have held an opponent to less than 50 yards rushing since Oct. 20, 2012 when NIU held Akron to 42 yards on the ground. It's the third time this season [Eastern Illinois (60) and Nebraska (85)], the Huskies have held an opponent under 100 yards rushing.
HUSKIE HARDWARE: At least one NIU player has garnered Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week honors in each of the last four games. Linebacker
Bobby Jones IV is the latest to join the list after he earned MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors at Buffalo. Defensive end
Sutton Smith earned the same honor following his performance against Kent State. Linebacker
Jawuan Johnson also earned MAC West Defensive Player of the Week accolades following his play at Nebraska. Wide receiver
Christian Blake and punter
Matt Ference garnered MAC West Offensive and Specialist of the Week awards following their performances in NIU's contest at San Diego State.
THREE FOR THREE: Marcus Childers became the third quarterback to start a game for NIU this season when he took the first snap at Buffalo. It is the third-straight year the Huskies have started at least three different starting quarterbacks in the same season. In 2015
Drew Hare,
Ryan Graham and Tommy Fiedler each started a game for the Huskies, while Hare, Graham,
Anthony Maddie and
Daniel Santacaterina each started at least one game for NIU in 2016. Graham (1), Santacaterina (4) and Childers (1) have the starts this year.
ALL MY CHILDERS: A week after seeing his first extended action against Kent State,
Marcus Childers established career highs in yards passing (224), completions (20), attempts (31), carries (27) and yards rushing (79) versus Buffalo in his first career start at NIU. The redshirt freshman threw a career-best three touchdown passes against the Golden Flashes in the 24-3 win.
SPECIAL FORCES: NIU freshmen punter
Matt Ference is averaging 41.3 yards a punt and has landed 14 punts inside the 20-yard line. Last season, NIU had only eight punts inside the 20 and Jake Ambrose averaged 38.1 yds/punt. The last Huskie punter to average more than 40 yards a punt was Tyler Wedel who posted a 41.7 average in 2014.
PINNING THEM DEEP: Of NIU punter
Matt Ference's 14 punts that have dropped inside the 20-yard line, 10 have landed on or inside the 10-yard line. Ference and the NIU punt team placed a season-high three punts on or inside the 10-yard line at Nebraska and at San Diego State.
FIELD POSITION BATTLE: Between the defense forcing turnovers and the punting of
Matt Ference, NIU's average starting field position is its own 32-yard line. Conversely, NIU opponents' average starting position is their own 27-yard line. Of the Huskies' 91 drives, 16 have started inside the 20-yard line, while 14 have started in their opponents' territory. Opponents have started 26 of their 92 drives inside the 20-yard line and only six in Huskie territory. NIU has won the field position battle in three of its six games.
TE FOR THE TD: Shane Wimann, who entered the season as the school record holder for career touchdown receptions by a tight end, added to his total with a 34-yard touchdown reception, the longest of his career, from
Marcus Childers at Buffalo. It was his 14th career touchdown, and fourth of the season, which leads the team. He had a 25-yard touchdown against Kent State and a one-yard touchdown catch in NIU's 38-10 victory over Eastern Illinois. He scored his first touchdown of the season on a seven-yard grab against Boston College. The Huskie senior is the only player on the current roster to have caught a touchdown pass from each of the last five NIU starting quarterbacks.
THE DEFENSE DOES NOT REST: NIU's defense allowed 383 yards of total offense at Buffalo and is averaging 281.2 yards per game, which ranks seventh in the nation and leads the MAC. Last year, the Huskies finished the season ranked 98th nationally in total defense, ninth in the MAC, allowing 451.5 yards a game. NIU's defense allowed a season-low 131 yards of total offense versus Kent State (Oct. 7), the lowest total versus an FBS team since the Huskies allowed 64 versus the Golden Flashes on Oct. 8, 2011.
AT A LOSS: The Huskie defense leads the league and is second in country in tackles for loss, averaging 9.0 TFLs per game after amassing six at Buffalo. NIU tallied a season-high 14 against Kent State, which ties for third most in an FBS game this year. NIU has 40 TFLs on the season. The Huskies recorded 41 TFLs through the first six games last year before finishing with 73. The school record for tackles for loss in a season is 104, set in 2008.
GETTING OFF THE FIELD: The Huskie defense ranks third in the country in defensive three-and-outs after recording seven against Buffalo. NIU's season-best is eight three and outs against San Diego State and Kent State. NIU is averaging 6.33 three and outs a game. The Huskies have either forced teams to punt or forced a turnover in the first three plays of a drive in 38 of 91 drives by their opponents. The Huskies also tallied six three-and-outs versus Eastern Illinois, five at Nebraska and four in the season opener against Boston College.
MODEL OF EFFICIENCY: The NIU defense held Buffalo to 2-of-14 on third down for a 14.2 percent conversion percentage. The Huskies lead the MAC and rank fourth in the country in third down efficiency as NIU's opponents' third down conversion percentage is 24.0 percent, and NIU's last three opponents have converted just 5 of 44 third down ries for a 11.4 percent rate. The Huskies held San Diego State to a season-low 1-of-14 on third down conversions, and held the Golden Flashes to 2-of-16 on third down.
NATIONAL LEADER: Redshirt sophomore
Sutton Smith maintained his national lead in both sacks and tackles for loss after recording a sack and a half and 1.5 tackles for loss against Buffalo. His career-best for tackles for loss in a game is five, set in the season opener with Boston College, while he recorded a season-best three sacks against Kent State. Smith has 8.5 sacks on the season, averaging 1.42 a game, and 16 tackles for loss for an average of 2.7 a game. The school record for sacks in a season is 12 set by Larry English (2006) and Scott Kellar (1984). Kellar set the school record for season tackles for loss at 20 in 1984.
HALF FOR A LOSS: Sutton Smith tallied four tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss in NIU's victory at Buffalo. The Huskie defensive end has 32 tackles on the year. Of those 32, 16, have gone for a loss.
FAMILIAR FOES: Huskies
Shawun Lurry (West Palm Beach W.T. Dwyer), Mycial Allen and
Jalen Embry (Detroit Martin Luther King) and
Sutton Smith (St. Charles, Mo. Francis Howell) will recognize some of the faces on the opposite sideline Saturday as the Bowling Green roster includes at least one player from each of those high schools, as well as players from the high schools of NIU back-up quarterbacks
Anthony Thompson (Chicago Mount Carmel) and
Rodney Hall (Detroit Cass Tech).
DOING MORE WITH LESS: NIU's 14-13 win over Buffalo marked the first time the Huskies had won a game by scoring 14 points or less in 29 seasons, since 1988 when the Huskies defeated Southern Illinois, 10-9, on Oct. 22. Amazingly, the Huskies went 7-4 that season without ever scoring more than 20 points in a game with all seven victories coming with the team scoring less than 20 points.
NO PASSING ZONE: Kent State's 29 yards passing are the fewest passing yards allowed by the Huskies since Sept. 26, 2015 when NIU held Boston College to 92 yards passing, and are the 13th lowest passing yardage total by an FBS team this year. The Huskies lead the league and rank eighth in the country in pass defense allowing 156.4 yards a game.
BALL-HAWKING HUSKIES: The Huskie defense tallied their third multi-interception game of the season when they intercepted three Kent State passes, including Bobby Jones' first career INT. NIU had three interceptions at Nebraska (Sept. 16) and two against Eastern Illinois (Sept. 9). The Huskies have 10 interceptions to rank fifth in the country.
CLOSING IN ON A RECORD: Shawun Lurry tallied his second interception of the season and 14th of his career when he picked off a Kent State pass in the second quarter. The school record for career interceptions is 16 set by Dan Meyer (1964-66), while Lurry is one away from the FBS mark of 15 by Vince Thompson (1999-2002). Lurry had three interceptions last season and a personal best nine in his All-American season of 2015.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Shawun Lurry added to his school record for career interception return yards when he ran back a pass 45 yards versus Kent State. He leads the nation with 132 interception return yards this season and has 435 in his NIU career ro rank as the NCAA active career leader. Lurry set the NIU single season record in 2015 with 273 interception return yards.
SECOND WIND: After shutting out Buffalo in the second and allowing 115 yards of total offense, the Huskie defense has allowed fewer total yards and points in the second half in four of their six games this season. NIU has allowed just three second half points in its last three contests, a fourth-quarter field goal at San Diego State.
|
2nd |
Half |
Final |
Total |
| Opponent |
Yards |
Points |
Yards |
Points |
| Boston College |
127 |
10 |
339 |
23 |
| Eastern Illinois |
129 |
7 |
187 |
10 |
| Nebraska |
269 |
17 |
384 |
17 |
| San Diego State |
104 |
3 |
263 |
34 |
| Kent State |
8 |
0 |
131 |
3 |
| Buffalo |
115 |
0 |
383 |
13 |
GETTING THE POINT: The three points scored by the Golden Flashes were the fewest allowed by a Huskie defense in a MAC game since NIU shut out Massachusetts on Nov. 3, 2012, a span of 59 games. It's the fewest in a game overall since a 55-3 victory over Presbyterian on Aug. 28, 2014.
SACK IT TO ME: The Huskie defense recorded four sacks at Buffalo and now have 20 sacks on the season. They are the most sacks through the first six games since 2013, when NIU tallied 20 sacks. NIU didn't record their 20th sack of 2016 until game nine, on Nov. 16 at Eastern Michigan, and finished the season with 22. The Huskies' single game-high in sacks is seven, set against Kent State, which are the most recorded by a Huskie defense since Sept. 14, 2013 when NIU amassed nine at Idaho.
SACK STREAK: The NIU defense extended its sack streak to 16 games when
Sutton Smith sacked Drew Anderson in the second quarter of the Huskies' win at Buffalo. The streak dates back to the Huskies' Sept. 17, 2016 contest against the Aztecs. The Huskies lead the MAC and are sixth in the country averaging 3.33 sacks a game.
SPREADING THE WEALTH: The Huskie receiving corps, looking to fill the void left by the graduations of
Kenny Golladay and
Aregeros Turner, have four players in triple digits in receiving yards this season, including two 200-yard receivers.
Christian Blake and
Spencer Tears lead the groups with 279 and 248 yards receiving, respectively, while Blake leads all Huskies with 23 receptions. Junior
D.J. Brown, who had nine catches for 91 yards a year ago, has 196 yards on 22 receptions. Senior
Chad Beebe had a reception for 27 yards as he returned to action at Buffalo. Beebe has tallied 152 yards on 11 catches.
CONVERTING INTs INTO TDs: With his 87-yard interception return for a touchdown at Nebraska,
Shawun Lurry tied the school record for career interception returns for a touchdown with two. His first came in the 2015 MAC Championship game against Bowling Green (Dec. 4) when he ran a Matt Johnson pass back 64 yards for a score.
TURNING OVER POINTS: The Huskies have converted seven of the 12 turnovers forced on the season into 45 points. Last season, NIU tallied 33 points off 15 turnovers. The Huskies scored a field goal on the first turnover forced this season by NIU, a
Kyle Pugh interception against Boston College. NIU has turned one fumble recovery into a touchdown and four other interceptions into touchdowns.
MAKING HISTORY: The NIU defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a game for the first time in school history in its victory at Nebraska.
Shawun Lurry ran the first interception of the day back 87 yards in the first quarter, while
Jawuan Johnson followed suit with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown for a 14-0 NIU lead.
WORKING ON THE LINE: The NIU defensive line has accounted for 16 of NIU's 20 sacks, 29.5 of the Huskies' 54 tackles for loss and three of NIU's 11 forced turnovers, including an interception by
Josh Corcoran (DE) at Nebraska. Defensive tackles
William Lee,
Ben LeRoy, and
Devin Webster and defensive end
Drequan Brown have each recorded at least one sack. LeRoy,
Sutton Smith and redshirt freshman
Jack Heflin are all first-time starters.
ADDING TO THE BONEYARD: NIU improved to 15-61-1 all-time versus teams that were in an autonomous conference (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC & Pac-12) at the time the Huskies played them with its 21-17 victory at Nebraska. Of those 15 wins, nine have come in the last 15 years, beginning with NIU's 42-41 victory over Wake Forest Aug. 29, 2002. The Huskies have played a team from one of those five conferences 34 of the last 35 years. The only year the Huskies didn't face one of those teams was 2016.
RUSHING TO A RECORD: Tailback
Jordan Huff is averaging 6.45 yards a carry for his career, rushing for 1,877 on 291 carries. He is nine carries away from qualifying for NIU's all-time list for yards per carry.
Jordan Lynch is NIU's leader in career yards per carry with 6.56, while Garrett Wolfe is second with a 6.40 yard per carry average.
TWO FOR 100: Wide receivers
Christian Blake and
Spencer Tears amassed career-bests of 153 and 105 receiving yards, respectively, at San Diego State, becoming the first NIU receiving duo to tally 100 yards receiving in the same game since Nov. 3, 2015 when
Kenny Golladay (128) and Tommylee Lewis (125) accomplished the feat in a 32-27 win at Toledo. The pair also became the first Huskies since Golladay to tally 100 yards receiving in a game since last season's meeting with Toledo (Nov. 9).
FROSH FACES: Six redshirt and four true freshmen have made their Huskie debuts this season. Quarterback
Marcus Childers and tailback
Tre Harbison saw their first action as Huskies in NIU's win over Eastern Illinois. They join fellow redshirt freshmen
Jack Heflin (DT),
Andrew Parchment (WR),
Benn Olson (OL) and
Austin Warner (OL) in seeing their first playing time this year. Freshmen
Matt Ference (P),
Isaac Hawn (OL),
Matt Lorbeck (DE) and
Weston Kramer (DT) have all seen action as well, with Hawn (OT) and Ference (P) earning starting roles.
WELCOME NEWCOMERS: NIU has also had six newcomers see their first action as Huskies in 2017. Grad transfer
Jonathan Parker and transfers
Drequan Brown (DE),
Jalen Embry (CB),
Devin Webster (DT),
Jauan Wesley (WR) and
Mykelti Williams (S) have all stepped in to play significant roles. Williams, who starts at one of the safety spots had a career-best 10 tackles at Nebraska and ranks fourth on the team in stops.
MEET THE "NEW" GUYS: Two-time NIU All-American and 2013 Heisman Trophy finalist
Jordan Lynch is one of three new members of the coaching staff for 2017. One of the top FBS running quarterbacks of all-time, Lynch is coaching the Huskie running backs.
Jeff Knowles (linebackers) and
Steve Crutchley (wide receivers) are the other new additions.
SUNSHINE STATERS: The 2017 Huskie roster includes 12 players from the state of Florida. Freshmen
Jalen McKie,
Dennis Robinson and
Jordan Robinson, no relation, join nine returning Florida Huskies – seniors
Christian Blake,
Shawun Lurry and
Ezra Saffold, redshirt senior
Bobby Jones IV, redshirt junior
Albert Smalls, redshirt sophomores Antonio Davis-Jones and
Trequan Smith and redshirt freshman
Andrew Parchment. The 12 – all from the southeast coast of the state – represent nine different Florida high schools.
FINISHING AT NIU: NIU welcomed two graduate transfers for 2017. Tailback
Jonathan Parker comes to NIU after spending the previous four seasons at Iowa.
Jaden Huff transferred to NIU from St. Cloud State, where he was a team captain for the St. Cloud State Huskie in 2016.
DEGREES IN HAND: Eight players on the NIU roster are college graduates. Six have earned their degrees from NIU, while two others came to DeKalb as graduate transfers.
Jackson Abresch (S) - Business Administration
Ty Harmston (TE) - Biology
Jordan Huff (TB) - Studio Art-Design & Media Arts
Bobby Jones IV (LB) - Sociology
William Lee (DT) - History
Max Scharping (LT) - Kinesiology
Jaden Huff (LB) - Business Administration
St. Cloud State
Jonathan Parker (CB) - Biology
Iowa
MAKING THE GRADE: The NIU football team continues to excel in the classroom. NIU again leads the MAC and ranks in the Top 20 nationally with a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 84 percent, which is 10 points above the national FBS average. Additionally, the Huskies' 976 in the most recent Academic Progress Rate (APR) report from the NCAA, is the third-highest score in school history.
