DEKALB, Ill. – The challenge was set down to the offensive line by Northern Illinois University head coach Rod Carey before camp even started.
 
"I've told the O-line about this, it wasn't good enough last year up front, probably for the first time in my time at NIU it wasn't good enough last year," Carey said at Chicago Media Day. "We've got everybody back and I think they realized that too and are working to correct it. I saw a lot of progress this spring and I know they've kept it going in the summer."
 
Challenge accepted.
 
"It's our play, we have to take it a little personal, but at the same time you have to have tough skin, especially as an offensive line," said left tackle Max Scharping. "You have to take it in stride and use it to get better as a group."
 
"I totally agree with coach Carey," said NIU offensive line coach/run game coordinator Joe Tripodi. "We didn't meet the NIU O-line expectations last year. The guys worked very hard in the offseason and they're really working hard this camp. I know they have a chip on their shoulder, especially the leadership in the room. I'm really excited to see how it all plays out."
 
The Huskies return six players who started at least one game from last season's offensive line, led by redshirt seniors in Scharping and Luke Shively (Tipton, Ind./Tipton).
 
"It's a pleasure to coach those guys," Tripodi said of Sharping and Shively. "They're going on five years here now. It's a pleasant surprise to coach great leaders, but they're honest. They'll tell you what's going on."
 
The anchor of the line and an Outland Trophy Watch Lister, Scharping, a native of Green Bay, Wis., has started all 39 games of his Huskie career. The only freshman to start all 14 games for NIU in 2015, Scharping played right tackle, even spending time at right guard, the first two years of his Huskie career, before moving to left tackle last season.
 
Shively has made every start at center for NIU since the 2015 season opener at Wyoming. He was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List
 
The rest of the offensive line Jordan Steckler (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) and Nathan Veloz (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) started 12 games for NIU at left and right guard, respectively. However, in the bowl game, Veloz flipped to left guard, while Steckler started at right tackle. That's where he has been repping during camp, with Veloz back at right guard.
 
"Nate handles his business," Tripodi said. "Within our room he definitely has a personality. Nate was moved to D-line earlier in his career and he came back and started all our games last year. He had a tremendous offseason. He had a tremendous offseason. He's very strong. He got stronger. Nate has really settled in. He's learned the offense. He's having fun with it. He loves football
 
"Jordan's worked his butt off, always has. We could all see that when he was young. He's a straightforward guy. Very regimented, knows what he wants."
 
Newcomer Christopher Perez Jr. (Shawnee, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas) has been working with the ones at the left guard spot. Perez Jr. comes to NIU via Butler Community College where he was a first team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and first team All-American selection in 2017.
 
"He's very athletic, strong," Tripodi said. "It will be interesting to see how he develops and where he fits into the room. He's fit it personality-wise. He's a worker and that's all we can ask for."
 
Ryan Roberts (Northville, Mich./Northville) and Isaac Hawn (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) each split time starting at right tackle last year. Roberts and Hawn provide not only depth, but competition. Nothing has been decided yet as far as starters.
 
"Right now, for us to say which group is going to walk out on the field at Iowa, I don't think any of us know that," Tripodi said. "We have an idea on a few of them, but we're in the middle of some position battles. That's real."
 
Practice #8 Notes: The Huskies practiced for a little over two hours in full pads with officials present to give the guys a little more of a game feel. The Huskies had three different "team" periods. Safety Adam Buirge (Minneapolis, Minn./Park Center) had an interception in the first team session, while Tifonte Hunt (Harvey, Ill./Thornton Township) had one in the second session. Quintin Wynne (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers) recovered a ball on fumbled handoff exchange and took it 20 yards for a touchdown.
 
Also present at practice were a few guests, headlined by former NIU head coach Joe Novak. The Huskie legend is in town for a couple days as a guest of coach Carey. NIU Acting President Lisa Freeman was also in attendance Monday, and spoke to the team at the end of practice.
 
Next: The Huskies return to the practice field on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
 
The Huskies kick off the 2018 campaign at Iowa Saturday, Sept. 1 and will welcome Utah the following weekend to Huskie Stadium. Season ticket packages start as low as $55 in 2018 with the Huskie Stadium Family Pack (four tickets for $220), while a general admission ticket on the East Side is only $60. Mini-plans were introduced last week. Fans can pick two Saturday games and one midweek MACtion game for $70. Single game tickets for all five 2018 NIU home football games are on sale NOW online at NIUHuskies.com or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225).
 
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