DeKALB, IL – A position of strength for the Northern Illinois University Huskies may well be in the middle of the defense with its linebackers. NIU returns its three main starters from a year ago in Lance Deveaux Jr. (Pompano Beach, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas), Kyle Pugh (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom Township) and Antonio Jones-Davis (Vero Beach, Fla./Vero Beach) and has a promising young group behind them.
 
First-year executive assistant coach/co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Robert Wimberly was excited to get to work with this group after seeing its 2018 on film.
 
"I thought that they gave great effort," Wimberly said. "When you watch them, they play hard. You can tell that they have a very tight bond. When I got a chance to meet them, I could tell that all they want to do is learn and play at the highest level."
 
Jones-Davis returns as NIU leading tackler in 2018 with 130. He also was second on the team with 14.5 tackles for loss and added four sacks, six pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries which all added up to a First Team All-Mid American Conference selection. He saved some of his best football of the year for the MAC Championship game, making a game-high 15 tackles in the Huskies' win over Buffalo.
 
"I pride myself on stopping the run since I've been in college," said Jones-Davis. "Now I'm becoming a smarter player, understanding the passing game better and working on coverage."
 
Pugh was also a force on defense last season with 106 tackles in 13 games on his way to Second Team All-MAC honors. Deveaux was fourth on the NIU defense with 67 tackles in 2018, making nine at Florida State to go with his first career sack. In 2018 alone, this trio combined for 303 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups, and four fumble recoveries.
 
"When you have young men that have played as many football games as they have, there aren't a lot of things that are new to them," Wimberly said of his three seniors. "It's just the way you introduce it to them and the way you explain the scheme to them. They have to meet you halfway, and they were more than willing to meet me 100 percent of the way just because they're eager to learn and love the game of football. It's been a good start to what we're trying to build here because all three of them play at a very high level."
 
Two other linebackers who will try to make an impact this season are redshirt-sophomores Jordan Cole (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer South-Berkeley) and Vinny Labus (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South). Cole played in all 14 games last season with 28 tackles and two forced fumbles. Labus also appeared in every game in 2018, making 17 tackles and coming up with an interception late in the Huskies' 24-16 win over Central Michigan.
 
"Jordan Cole has definitely made a nice jump from spring ball to fall camp," Wimberly noted. "It's the jump that I wanted him to make. I think for him, he's still trying to learn the game. This year is going to be big for him to see if the game can really slow down. He has tremendous athletic ability. It's just trying to apply the mental side that he needs in every situation."
 
"Vinny Labus has probably had the most consistent camp so far. He's made a great jump from spring to fall camp. He's been steady with his technique and communication. I've been very pleased with how he's been able to fit the run game. I see his confidence taking off. The exciting thing is he played last year so it's not brand new to him."
 
With 14 linebackers on the roster, the group is one of the deepest on the team. No matter who is on the field, they're out to show that they are a force to be reckoned with.
 
"We want to show that we're one of the best linebacker corps in the nation," Jones-Davis said. "We want to show that we can compete with anybody. We're going to line up and stop the run and affect the passing game."
 
The Huskies battled the elements during Monday's practice. A steady rain fell on Huskie Stadium as NIU trained in the rain for two hours before an off day Tuesday. NIU is back on the practice field Wednesday afternoon.
 
Season Tickets for all five 2019 NIU home games are still available, starting at as little as $60 for an East Side (general admission) season ticket. Purchase four tickets for family or a group of friends on either the East or West Side for as little as $55 or $75 per person with the Huskie Family Pack. 
 
Three-game Mini-Plans, which include a choice of any two Saturday and either #MACtion (weeknight) game are just $70 each for all three games, while the new Huskie Flex Pass offers the chance to purchase a minimum of five tickets to any game or combination of games for $75, or just $15 each. The new Saturdays Special includes a ticket to all three Saturday home games as well as a voucher good for a hot dog, chips and a soda for each game for just $110. 
 
To renew or purchase new season tickets and #JointhePack for 2019, click the links above, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tickets are also available by calling 815-753-PACK (7225), emailing huskiestickets@niu.edu or stopping by the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
The Huskies open the season Saturday, August 31 versus Illinois State with kickoff set for 6 p.m. as NIU celebrates Ag Day and the opening of the Thomas Hammock era with a special Hammock retro jersey giveaway to the first 1,000 fans in the stands, courtesy of First Midwest Bank.
 
-- NIU --