DEKALB, Ill. – Perhaps the one unit hit hardest by graduation was the linebacking corps. All three starters from a year ago graduated this past spring. Well, almost all of them.
 
One of the breakout stars for the Huskie defense through the early going last season was linebacker Kyle Pugh. The linebacker from Chicago Heights, Ill., who played primarily on special teams in 2016, was NIU's starting middle linebacker through the first four games last season.
 
He made his presence felt in the 2017 season opener against Boston College. Pugh was all over the field, making 17 tackles and an interception, which resulted in a Huskie field goal. He also recorded 11 tackles in NIU's win at Nebraska. Unfortunately for the Huskies and Pugh, he suffered a season-ending injury in the San Diego State game.
 
"Last year was like me putting my foot in the water and seeing what it would look like," Pugh said. "I went through the process of being a special teams player and contributing when I can. Then, I finally got to be a starter, and then I had a season-ending injury. It was hard for me. It was also very humbling. It taught me a lot not only as a football player, but a grown man. It's made me even more prepared for this year."
 
As a result of Pugh's setback, Antonio Jones-Davis saw more playing time. That playing time has helped him move into a starting role this season. Lance Deveaux Jr., who has also been working with the ones in camp, had a similar path to Pugh and Jones-Davis.
 
"It's good to have them because they've all been on the field," said NIU defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jeff Knowles. "Jones-Davis got in there because of what happened to Kyle last year and it helped him. He got to play a lot of football.
 
"Kyle played the first four weeks last year, so you feel you have guys that have done enough out there and you can rely on. Lance has started a ton of games, but he's played a decent amount of football too. You definitely feel good about the first group out there."
 
The 2018 NIU linebackers are a young group with eight freshman, and one sophomore and not a senior in the room. However, those young players are talented and long. Behind Pugh, Jones-Davis and Deveaux are six guys that stand six-foot or higher.
 
"The younger guys we have to develop and figure out who the next group of guys are," Knowles said. "We have some good ones competing with Jordan Cole, Rayshawn Gay, Andrew Gregory and Danny Walker's in there battling too.
 
"The young guys, that's what they are, they're young and raw, but they're talented. They got some length. It wasn't something we necessarily said we had to get. I just look for the best players. They're long, good athletes that can play multiple spots. They're long and the can run."
 
The return of Pugh has provided a boost to the room from both a talent and leadership standpoint for the young group.
 
"You need that guy in the middle to set the tone and get everybody right," Knowles said of Pugh. "His experience and leadership is big for us to have back."
 
Practice #12 Notes: The Huskies practiced for an hour and half under beautiful conditions at Huskie Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
"We're coming to the end of the camp part of this," said NIU head coach Rod Carey. "The competition, although it's going to go through the course of the year is really heating up here at the end to set up that initial depth going into our prep for Iowa. That's really the focus the rest of camp, as well as the focus on the details."
 
After lagging behind the defense through the first half of camp, the offense has started to get their wheels under them of late. As a result, competition between both sides of the ball has picked up.
 
Quarterback Marcus Childers connected with Jordan Nettles on a 32-yard touchdown pass, while Adam Buirge, who has had a solid camp, made an interception as he was falling backwards.
 
The first-team defense came up with a big goal line stand on the first fourth and goal from the one in the final team session of the day. However, a few series later, the first-team offense punched in from two yards out on the second fourth and goal situation of the period.
 
"There's good give and take on both sides for sure," Carey said. "I thought the defense really had it today and I thought they put it to them, but then the offense found a way to execute some plays in there and that was good to see as well."
 
On the special teams front, freshman kicker John Richardson hit a 45 and 47-yard field goal during the final team period of the day.
 
Next: The Huskies return to the practice field on Monday 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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