DeKALB, Ill. – If there is one thing that has become synonymous with Northern Illinois University football in recent decades is a history of strong running back play. Starting with NIU's first Consensus All-American LeShon Johnson in 1993, to recent Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame inductee Michael Turner, to Garrett Wolfe, Chad Spann, and Joel Bouagnon who scored a touchdown for the Green Bay Packers in their first preseason game of the year Thursday, the Huskies have become known for moving the ball on the ground.
 
Last season NIU was fourth in the MAC in rushing, averaging 177.8 yards per game. This season, the Huskies will have to find a way to replace graduated senior Jordan Huff who led NIU who 740 rushing yards in 2017. With a group led by redshirt-senior Jaden Huff (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook/St. Cloud State), redshirt-junior Marcus Jones (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice), and redshirt-sophomore Tre Harbison (Shelby, N.C./Crest/Virginia), running backs coach Jake Landry has a solid base to work with.
 
"There's a lot of talent in the room I've walked into," said Landry, who is beginning his second stint as an assistant coach at NIU. "I'm really excited about the group. It's helpful that there are guys back that have played a lot of football, with Marcus and Tre especially. To have those guys be able to help our younger guys along is a great help."
 
Jones and Harbison look to step up their production in 2018 with Jordan Huff no longer in DeKalb. Both backs averaged over four yards per carry in 2017 and each scored three touchdowns. Jones also added 12 receptions out of a backfield. With quarterback Marcus Childers (Adairsville, Ga./Adairsville) as NIU's leading returning rusher from a year ago, it's up to those two to lead the way for the running backs to put their stamp on the Huskies' offensive attack.
 
"We felt last year was not good enough as a group," said Jones, who rushed for 350 yards in 2017. "We've been working on little things, getting back to the basics of how NIU running backs have played here. In camp, we're working on turning what were weaknesses last year into strengths. At this level, everyone can run the ball. It's just what you can do to separate yourself; what you can do to make yourself noticeable and make some explosive plays".
 
The running backs room also has two redshirt-freshmen and two true freshmen for 2018. Jordan Nettles (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) and Jordan Rowell (Elmhurst, Ill./Immaculate Conception) redshirted the 2017 season after stellar prep careers. Rowell finished his career at Immaculate Conception with 6,032 career rushing yards, eighth-most in Illinois, and an IHSA Class 3A title-game record 272 yards as the Knights capped 2016 with an undefeated state championship run. Nettles came to NIU as Romeoville High School's record holder for single-season and career rushing yards. The two newest faces in the backfield are Erick Doke (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford) and Rahveon Valentine (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow). With seven running backs on the roster, depth may be a benefit as the younger backs pick up all that is required of them in the NIU offense.
 
"My main focus this camp is to get the young guys going," added Jones. "We're going to need everyone in our room to be ready to go just in case someone goes down."
 
"It's fun to play running back here," said Landry. "You get to carry the load running the football, and also now splitting out to run routes, pass block, and any other number of things. You have to be more versatile now, rather than being just a downhill-type runner. It keeps them learning and on their toes."
 
Practice #7 Notes: NIU practiced for two hours in helmets and shoulder pads Saturday afternoon at Huskie Stadium with multiple "team" periods. The defense had the better of the play in the first team period, controlling the Huskies' passing attack. Head Coach Rod Carey put his charges through a drill of random in-game situations to test their situational awareness.
 
"Eighty percent of football is situational football," said Carey. "You've got to have great fundamentals to succeed in situational football, but you have to teach them those things and that's what we're trying to do. I think the guys responded well to that drill and we have a lot of teachtape from it."
 
The final portion of practice saw the one's and two's battling, with the offense getting the ball at the 30 yardline attempting to score. The defense kept the offense out of the endzone numerous times, as cornerbacks Albert Smalls and Tifonte Hunt both broke up would-be touchdown passes. Freshman defensive lineman Jeffrey Griffin Jr. also recovered a fumble near the goal line. Kicker Andrew Gantz made four field goals, including one from 46 yards out. The offense put its last two possessions in the endzone on rushing touchdowns by Tre Harbison and Jordan Rowell.
 
Next: The Huskies have an off day Sunday before returning to the practice field on Monday at 3:30 p.m.
 
Full season and single game tickets, as well as three-game mini-plans, for 2018 NIU Football games are on sale now through the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center, online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets and by calling 815-753-PACK (7225). Season tickets start at as little as $55 each (via the Family Pack) and mini-plans, featuring two Saturday and one #MACtion game, are $70. Single game tickets are also on sale.  See all the options here and get your tickets today. (https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/northernillinois/EN/buy/browse).