DEKALB, Ill. – During one of the team sessions in camp, freshman tailback Antario Brown (Savannah, Ga./Beach) took the handoff, went between the right guard and tackle, broke a couple tackles in the second level, outran the Huskie secondary and was headed for the endzone on a 30-plus yard run. Behind the line of scrimmage, there was NIU head coach Thomas Hammock with a big grin on his face.
 
"They get me excited," Hammock said. "I've had some really talented backfields before, but this is by far the deepest. Maybe not the most talented, but they are the deepest. We can go seven to eight deep, very, very easily. So the challenge for us is to make sure we can get them reps to get ready."
 
If there is one man in the NIU football program that understands the importance of depth, it's Hammock. He experienced it firsthand during his playing days.
 
"I explained the story today about when I went down in 2000 with an ankle injury against Toledo," he said. "Michael Turner came in and almost ran for 600 yards the last two games of the season. So, you never know when your opportunity is going to present itself, but we've got to keep force feeding these guys reps. The competition is at an all-time high."
 
"The thing that we preach in the room is we understand that most of the time there's going to be one of us on the field," NIU running backs coach McKissic-Luke said. "There's only one ball and they get that. You hear them out here in practice, they're cheering each other on. We tell them, compete, don't compare. That's how they go about their day."
 
When asked to categorize his running back room, McKissic-Luke had one word, diverse.
 
"We've got a really good group, guys that have different running styles," he said. "It's a room that's full of really good kids too. That's the thing you really love about coming to work every day. You enjoy being around them."
 
Like McKissic-Luke, Hammock had one word as well, unique.
 
"It's unique, I will say that," Hammock said. "It's unique. It's interesting when you watch it. They are very unique. They all have all-around games, but they do it a little bit different. They go about it a little bit differently. For us it's finding the right pieces to get guys enough work to make sure that they can continue to develop and be ready."
 
Last season, the Huskie running back room was thin with Harrison Waylee (Johnston, Iowa, Urbandale) and Erin Collins (Plant City, Fla./N.C. State) carrying the bulk of the load. Waylee led the way with 456 yards rushing and a touchdown on 107 carries. Collins chipped in 192 yards on 50 totes, while scoring four touchdowns. This year, the pair will have some help.
 
"It's unreal when you think about it, especially with a guy like Harry [Waylee]," McKissic-Luke said. "We went back and watched some plays of him and he's a totally different dude [from last year]. All the recognition he's getting, he's worked to deserve it. Now he's got to prove it on the field.
 
"Collins has become what we need him to be, physically. He's a guy that we're going to be able to count on this season because he can win us some ballgames."
 
The Huskies have nine running backs in the room, including returners Waylee, Collins and Jay Ducker (Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue West) transfers Clint Ratkovich (Crete, Ill./Western Illinois) and Braxton Chapman (Farrell, Pa./Farrell) and four first-year players – Brown, Mason Blakemore (O'Fallon, Mo./Centralia [Ill.]), Julius Bolden (Wichita, Kan./Wichita Northwest) and Tajheem Lawson (University Park, Ill./Marian Catholic).
 
Working with the running backs, Ratkovich, a grad transfer from Western Illinois, is almost a position of his own. Hammock has compared him to Kyle Juszczyk, current 49ers fullback and former Baltimore Raven, for his rushing, receiving and blocking skills. The Huskie newcomer has already been accepted as a team leader.
 
"Clint brings versatility to the room," McKissic-Luke said. "He has the ability to do so much. He can be a running back for us. He can be an H-back, there's so much he can do. He shows the young guys how to work. Our room is still young. You think about it, Harry, Ducker, Anatrio [Brown] and Mason [Blakemore] are all in the same class. Clint's the guy that shows them how to work."
 
A two-year letterwinner at Youngstown State rushed for 404 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games in 2019, Chapman, who stands 6-2, 220, brings size and experience to the room.
 
Ducker, who missed 2020 due to a preseason injury, is back healthy in 2021 and has looked impressive throughout camp.
 
"It's good to have Ducker back. He's a special talent. Within the group, he's probably the most talented back, as far as natural talent. It's good to have him."
Freshmen Brown and Blakemore have made their case for playing time this year throughout camp. Blakemore has impressed the coaching staff so much this camp that he earned a scholarship following Saturday's scrimmage.
 
News & Notes
 
Punt Line: Before the team broke off into position groups, the offensive and defensive line displayed their punt-fielding prowess. Center Brayden Patton got things started catching the first punt. After a pair of drops, Raishein Thomas put the defense on the board. After 10 punts, five for each side the offensive and defensive line each had three catches.
 
The position coaches then took their shots. O-line coach Daryl Agpalsa was first up and made a nice catch on his attempt. Not to be outdone, D-line boss Jordan Gigli was able to snag his attempt and nis guys rejoiced and the Huskies got to work.
 
Pick Six: Safety Devin Lafayette provided a highlight for the defense, which Hammock said had a good day today, with a pick six later in practice. On a heads up play, Lafayette plucked a pass that bounced off Liam Soragham's hands and. Took it to the house.
 
Jersey Boys: Huskie defensive players Myles McGee and Raishein Thomas were wearing the jerseys of the day on Friday. McGee was fittingly in the yellow BYOJ (Bring Your Own Juice) jersey. He displayed that "juice" before team stretch with a backflip to begin the day. Thomas, who was in the red POTD (Player Of The Day) uniform last Friday was back in it today.
 
NIU opens the season at Georgia Tech on September 4 before welcoming fans back to the stands at full capacity in Huskie Stadium beginning with the home opener versus Wyoming on September 11. Kickoff for the game is at 12:30 p.m. (CT) and the game will honor First Responders and Health Care Heroes, while also serving as a Welcome Back Fans celebration.
 
Season tickets for NIU's complete six-game home schedule remain on sale with season ticket prices as low as $85. Purchase a minimum of four tickets for all six games via the Family Pack for just $90 per ticket (in sections B and F) or $66 per ticket (in sections A and G). Three-game or four-game mini-plans are also available with Mission's 3-Game Mini-Plan priced at $79 (including processing), while Victor E.'s 4-Game Mini-Plan is $107.
 
To see all the ticket options and prices, and for more information on premium seating, see the Football Ticket Page at NIUHuskies.com.  To purchase tickets, call 815-753-PACK (7225) or go to NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies. 
 
-NIU-