DEKALB, Ill. – 2017 was clearly the year of Sutton Smith (Saint Charles, Mo./Francis Howell). The redshirt-sophomore led the nation in tackles for loss at 2.3 per game, was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and became Northern Illinois University's second all-time Consensus All-American. Smith will tell you he could not have done it alone.
 
"It's a teamwork thing," said Smith following Tuesday's practice. "The guy to my right, and the other tackle and other end, they play just as big a role as I do. What they do impacts what I do and what I do really impacts what they do. It's a huge team effort. It wasn't just me doing all this to get a sack, it's all of us."
 
Smith's play highlighted a banner year for the Huskies' defense in 2017. NIU led the MAC in scoring defense at 22 points per game, total defense at 338.5 yards per game, and sacks with 43. It was also second in the conference in rushing defense at 120 yards per game and opponent third down percentage at 30.5 percent. Smith isn't about to rest on his laurels, no matter how good 29.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks looks.
 
"I just got to keep doing what I have to do to get better every day," added Smith. "I know the double teams and triple teams are coming my way. I have to do my best and train out here in camp in order to become successful on the football field."
 
The Huskies have plenty to show opposing offenses at the line of scrimmage this season. NIU boasts 14 defensive linemen on the 2018 roster, with eight players that recorded at least one tackle for loss last year.
 
"It's a really talented group," said defensive line coach Walter Stewart, who is in his first season in DeKalb. "Sutton is an All-American and sets the tone as far as work ethic and expectations we're trying to attain. It's a really talented group. We have some guys that can rush the quarterback, some guys that can play good run defense, so we have a nice blend of talent."
 
While Smith was the one making headlines in 2017, his cohorts on the defensive line played their part as well in the Huskies' success. Senior Josh Corcoran (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South) had 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 10 games a year ago. Junior defensive tackle Ben Leroy (Wilmette, Ill./Loyola Academy) added another 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. As a freshman, Weston Kramer (Naperville, Ill./Marmion Academy) had 19 tackles, 2.5 for loss. With teams potentially gameplanning against Smith, it will be up to this group to make their presence known in the backfield as well.
 
"If other teams start gameplanning towards Sutton, it's going to leave someone open," said Leroy. "As long as everybody keeps working and progressing, we'll be good this year."
 
NIU boasts a deep corps of defensive linemen, including redshirt-senior Drequan Brown (Chicago, Ill./Bremen/Independence [Kan.] CC) who had two sacks last season and senior tackle Devin Webster (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie/Arizona Western) who made 10 tackles in 11 games in 2017. Redshirt-Juniors Quintin Wynne (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers), A.J. Taylor (Chicago, Ill./IMG Academy (Fla.)/Murray State), and Marcus Kelly (Waukesha, Wis./West) are competing for playing time along with sophomore Matt Lorbeck (Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port), redshirt-freshman Michael Kennedy (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel) and freshmen Caleb Wright (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) and Jeffrey Griffin Jr. (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Floosmoor).
 
With a healthy balance of experience and youth, the Huskies' defensive line looks to give opponents' fits in 2018.
 
 "Up front, the way we control the game is physicality and hits on the quarterback," said Stewart. "If you can move bodies up front and get to the quarterback, that slows the tempo down. We practice at a high tempo here, and even in our drills we're going at a high pace and high tempo. We're trying to get our guys used to playing and that speed and keeping that physicality with them."
 
"If you come out ready to play and hitting as hard as you can, you'll make it a long day for the opposing offense," added Leroy. "It all starts up front. Everybody has to be ready to play and that sets the tone."
 
 
Practice #9 Notes: NIU practice for 90 minutes Tuesday afternoon in full pads at Huskie Stadium. The Huskies had three "team" periods. Cornerback Albert Smalls had an interception in the endzone in the first session, while Marcus Kelly also picked off a pass in the second session. The offense showed a spark in the final session as Tre Harbison and Jaden Huff each rushed in a touchdown in the red zone.
 
Head Coach Rod Carey On Tuesday's Practice: "I thought today was better than yesterday's practice, and yesterday was pretty good. We're climbing in the right direction as far as execution is getting cleaner. There's still some stuff we have to get better at, and that'll be a give and take."
 
Next: NIU will have meetings and a walk-through on Wednesday before returning to the practice field Thursday.
 
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.
 
-- NIU --