DeKALB, Ill. – As a redshirt freshman in 2017, quarterback Marcus Childers (Adairsville, Ga./Adairsville HS) put together an impressive debut season for the Northern Illinois University Huskies.
 
After taking over in the season's fifth game versus Kent State, Childers led NIU to six wins, including two of the comeback variety, and accounted for more than 2,000 yards of total offense in nine games, leading to his selection as the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year.  In addition to throwing for 1,674 yards and 16 TDs with a 57.4 percent completion rate, Childers ran for 473 yards on 143 carries and five scores.  
 
He returns as a savvy sophomore in 2018, and his knowledge of the offense – as well as the rest of the offense's comfort level with him firmly in the number one role – have him ready to take the next step.
 
"At this point last year, we had three guys [competing for the starting job], and we really didn't know who was gonna be the guy yet," Childers said. "Having a steady guy be able to lead the offense [this camp] has been a lot better for those guys to build trust in one person. I think we've been doing a great job.     
 
"Getting all that time with the guys through the spring and summer, you build a lot better relationships," he said.  "It's a big help now because I know where guys are going to be and I know what kind of routes they're going to run, so it's great for timing."
 
NIU Head Coach Rod Carey likes the development he has seen from Childers entering his sophomore season.
 
"He's in the middle of taking the next step, which is what we were hoping he was ready to do, and he is in the process of doing that," Carey said. "In terms of operation [of the offense], leadership and timing, those things are going really well."
 
Childers said his development has been both mental and physical.
 
"I've lost six percent body fat in the last eight months, and made a lot of physical development in the weight room, as well as developing on the field and gaining knowledge of the offense," he said.  "This year we've opened the offense a lot more and that has helped me gain more knowledge of the game, and I've also been working on the deep ball.  Knowing where to put the ball in certain routes, I've really worked on that. I'm trying to make big improvements. I want to win more and I want to do more for the offense."
 
A pair of capable back-ups are vying for the second team job behind Childers: fifth-year senior Ryan Graham (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South HS), who has started nine games and played in 20 over the last three years, and Chicago native Anthony Thompson (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel HS), who saw his first action in the final regular season game of 2017.  Thompson is trying to follow in the footsteps of another former Mt. Carmel quarterback, NIU all-time great Jordan Lynch.
 
"It's really good to have Ryan [Graham] out there," Carey said. "He's a wily veteran and he's working himself back off that injury in a really positive way.  Anthony Thompson, I've been really happy with. He had a little lull right there the last couple of days, but he's bounced back and his operation, timing and delivery have improved."
 
Childers said while there is competition, the quarterbacks are working together as a group to improve the offense.
 
"Ryan is a great guy, he's always trying to help me understand the things and where people are supposed to be and AT is maybe one of the smartest kids in our room.  He's a great mentor for me too, if he sees something I don't see on the field, he comes back and tells me." 
 
Rounding out the quarterback room are redshirt freshman Rodney Hall (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech), who has taken on additional duties at wide receiver this fall, and true freshman Jiya Wright (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead HS), who has flashed an impressive arm in practice.  
 
Practice Notes:  After moving practice from 3:30 p.m. to 10 a.m., the Huskies worked for 1:45 in full pads Friday morning. Much of the workout was spent in team (11-on-11) drills, including red zone third downs and "move the ball" situations.  Each side of the ball had its bright spots during the team sessions, highlighted offensively by touchdown passes to D.J. Brown (North Little Rock, Ark./North Little Rock HS) and Leon Payne (Chicago, Ill./Simeon HS). Payne, a true freshmen working primarily with the second team unit, made several nice catches on the day, while defensive end Michael Kennedy (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel) stood out among the young defenders, recording multiple "sacks" (quarterbacks are not tackled) during the team periods.
 
"I think Mike [Kennedy] is having a really good camp, you can see the consistency is starting to come," Carey said. "It has to keep coming, but I really like what he's doing. Leon, he's relentless. He just won't stop. I really like the way he goes about his job."
 
Friday's session was spirited and competitive on both sides of the ball, and featured its share of good-natured jawing.
  
"You can't play this game without passion and emotion and they had that today, which is good," Carey said. "For it being almost smack dab in the middle of camp, I loved it, thought it was great. I think both sides are ready to hit someone else, that's just where we're at.  But we're not going to, for a while."
 
NIU returns to the practice field Saturday at 3:30 p.m. for its 14^th official workout of preseason training camp before an off day on Sunday.
 
Of Note:  Earlier this week, NIU defensive end Sutton Smith (Saint Charles, Mo./Francis Howell HS) was named to another preseason All-America team, this time generating a second team selection from Sports Illustrated.  In addition, NIU punter Matt Ference (St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette HS) has been nominated for the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation's top punter.
 
Tickets: 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).
 
-- NIU --