HUSKIE BITES
- NIU returns to Huskie Stadium for the first time in 25 days and for just the second time in the last 45 days on Wednesday, Nov. 2 when the Huskies take on Central Michigan. NIU will play three of its last four games of 2022 at home.
- Central Michigan is NIU's most frequent FBS foe as the teams will play for the 57th time this week. CMU owns a 31-25-1 lead in the all-time series, while NIU leads in games played in DeKalb, 15-12-1.
- The Huskies' 39-38 win over the Chippewas last year was NIU's second in the last eight games and came on a Kanon Woodill 26-yard field goal with 54 seconds to play. NIU overcame a 28-10 deficit as the teams combined for 1,046 yards of total offense.
- Coming off two of their best defensive performances of the season, the Huskies rank second in the MAC and 32nd nationally in rushing defense; their 20 sacks and six interceptions have surpassed NIU's 2021 season totals (19 sacks, six INTs).
- Sophomore running backs Harrison Waylee and Antario Brown have combined to rush for 1,302 yards on 230 carries and 11 touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry and 162.75 yards per game.
- NIU is one of six FBS teams to start at least three different quarterbacks this year, the first time since 2017 the Huskies have had three players start at quarterback; in all, 41 players have made starts for the Huskies in 2022, the second highest total in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
- NIU head coach Thomas Hammock, a two-time first team CoSIDA Academic All-American at NIU who rushed for over 1,000 yards in both 2000 and 2001, was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame on October 7th. He joined fellow Huskie football alums Chad Spann (2007-10) and Chandler Harnish (2008-11) in the 2022 class.
- Chicago Heights native Kyle Pugh has made NCAA FBS history as he is back for his eighth season as a member of the NIU football team. Pugh saw his 2017 and 2019 seasons cut short, missed 2021 with a knee injury sustained in the spring, and earned the COVID-19 "re-do" for 2020. The two-time All-MAC (2018, 2020) linebacker currently ranks third on the team with 43 tackles.
NIU FOOTBALL FACTS
Head Coach:
Thomas Hammock (NIU '02)
Record at NIU/Years: 16-24/4th
Career Record/Years: Same
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-2-5
First Year of Football: 1899
2021 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 9-5/6-2/1st
All-Time Record: 603-518-51
Last Bowl Game: 2021 Tailgreeter Cure Bowl (Coastal Carolina 47, NIU 41)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 14
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 9, 2021
MAC Championships, Last: 6, 2021
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 52/15
Starters Returning: 22 (8 offense, 13 defense, 1 specialist)
Starters Lost: 7 (3 offense, 2 defense, 2 specialists)
CENTRAL MICHIGAN FACTS
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Jim McElwain (Eastern Washington/1984)
Record at Central Michigan/Years: 22-19/4
Career Record/Years: 66-48/10
2021 Record: 9-4
Conference Record/Finish: 6-2/T-1st-West
Location: Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Enrollment: 15,465
Conference: Mid-American
Colors: Maroon and Gold
Stadium: Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Surface/Capacity: AstroTurf/30,255
President: Dr. Robert O. Davies
Athletic Director: Amy Folan
Athletics Website: cmuchippewas.com
Twitter: @CMUAthletics
CMU Football Schedule & Results
NIU-CMU SERIES
Head Coach:
Thomas Hammock (NIU '02)
Overall: CMU leads 31-25-1
In DeKalb: NIU leads 15-12-1
In Mount Pleasant: CMU leads 19-10
In MAC Games: CMU leads 19-17
Streak: NIU, 1
First Meeting: at CMU 6, NIU 0 (9-30-39)
Last Meeting: at CMU 39, NIU 38 (10-23-21)
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
TV: NIU-CENTRAL MICHIGAN ON ESPNU
- Watch the NIU-Central Michigan game on ESPNU. NIU will make its first appearance of 2022 on the network and play its second on an ESPN over-the-air network.
- The Huskies are playing on ESPNU for the 25th time and for the ninth time in the last five seasons. NIU is 13-11 all-time in games broadcast on ESPNU.
- Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst) will be on the call for ESPNU Wednesday.
RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK
- The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage for the Central Michigan game begins 90 minutes before kickoff, at 4:30 p.m. (CT), on 94-9 WDKB with the Toyota Huskie Nation Pre-Game Party.
- Coverage on WDKB, as well as NIU network affiliates AM 560 The Answer (Chicago) and SportsFan AM 1330 begins 30 minutes before the game, at 5:30 pm (CT).
- Hear the broadcast online via Huskie All Access, and on mobile devices via the FREE NIU Huskies mobile app or The Varsity Network app.
- Bill Baker is in his 43rd season as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo is alongside for the the 37th consecutive season, while Andy Garcia is in his 10th season on the NIU sidelines.
INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW
- Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show every week at 1 p.m. in the Novak Room at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy).
- Shows will take place this Thursday, October 27, before moving to Friday in November.
- Listen live on 94-9 WDKB FM in DeKalb and on the NIU Huskies or The Varsity Network mobile apps. Hear the show on the same day at 6 p.m. on SportsFan AM 1330 in Rockford.
- Host Andy Garcia chats with NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock each week, along with Huskie players and special guests.
NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE
- The show features weekly interviews with NIU football personnel, including head coach Thomas Hammock, as well as NIU administrators, coaches and student-athletes from other sports programs.
- Watch new episodes on the NIU Athletics YouTube Channel each week.
- The show is hosted by Andy Garcia.
NIU ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE
- See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features, highlights of past games and more.
- Subscribe for FREE and click the bell to be notified every time NIU posts a new video.
- Search "NIU Athletics" on YouTube or go to YouTube.com/NIUAthleticsOfficial.
- Archived videos and highlights, replays of some of the greatest games in school history and special features are also available 24/7 on YouTube.
NIU HUSKIES MOBILE APP
- Download the free NIU Huskies mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
- Link to the NIU radio broadcasts, live stats, complete team rosters, digital game programs and more.
- Connect to the NIU social media channels and sign up for notifications on any Huskie team.
NOTING NIU
WELCOME BACK: NIU plays at home in Huskie Stadium for the first time in 25 days and for just the second time in the last 45 days Wednesday when Central Michigan comes to town. The Huskies have played four of their last five games on the road; the CMU game is the first of three November home games for NIU.
MOST FREQUENT FOE: The Huskies have played Central Michigan 56 times since 1939, more than any other current NCAA FBS team. The Chippewas lead the all-time series 31-25-1 and are 19-17 versus NIU in 35 games as MAC opponents. With a one-point win over CMU last year, NIU claimed just its second win in the last eight games against the Chips, and its first win at Kelly-Shorts Stadium since 2013. In DeKalb, NIU leads the all-time series 15-12-1, with two wins in Huskie Stadium since 2012.
THE LAST TIME: Freshman kicker
Kanon Woodill booted a 26-yard field goal with 54 seconds to play and Central Michigan's last second field goal attempt was thwarted by a bad snap as the Huskies overcame a 17-point third quarter deficit to earn a 39-38 win in Mt. Pleasant on Oct. 23, 2021.
Trayvon Rudolph caught six passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yarder, completed a two-point conversion pass and ran for seven yards to convert a fourth down on the game-winning drive. Quarterback
Rocky Lombardi threw for 348 yards, Jay Ducker ran 31 times for 183 yards and the NIU defense held CMU to 10 second-half points.
LAST WEEK: Ohio scored with seven minutes remaining to break a 17-17 tie and held on to earn a 24-17 win over the Huskies on Saturday, Oct. 22 in Athens. The Huskies had come back from a 17-9 deficit to tie the game in the third quarter on an 11-yard rush by
Kacper Rutkiewicz and a two-point conversion pass from receiver
Shemar Thornton to
Cole Tucker. Kicker
John Richardson provided all the rest of the Huskies' scoring with three field goals, while the NIU defense limited Ohio to 200 passing and 354 total yards, below their averages of 324 and 436, respectively.
Antario Brown led NIU with 160 yards on 16 carries, including runs of 49 and 45 yards.
HOME AGAIN: With a 76-31 (.710) record at home since 2003, NIU's all-time record at Huskie Stadium is 184-115-2 for a .615 all-time winning percentage. During that stretch, the Huskies have had 15 winning records at home and five undefeated seasons in DeKalb (2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013). NIU was 4-2 at home in 2021 and is 1-2 in 2022.
HUSKIES IN THE MAC: In their 37th football season as a member of the Mid-American Conference season, NIU is 163-116-2 all-time in league play. The Huskies are 128-71 (.643) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 72-26 (.735) against the MAC with three undefeated campaigns, two one-loss seasons and seven division championships, including a run of six-straight (2010-15). NIU originally competed in the MAC from 1975-85.
AT HOME IN THE MAC: In 36 seasons of MAC play dating back to 1975, NIU is 90-49-1 (.646) all-time at home in league games, including a 68-29 (.701) mark in Huskie Stadium versus league opponents since rejoining the league in 1997. In 49 MAC home games since 2009, the Huskies are 40-10 with six of those losses in the last two seasons.
MAC WEST MARK: Since the MAC went to divisional play in 1997, NIU is 78-50 (.609) versus teams from the MAC West, including a 41-19 (.683) mark in the division since 2010. NIU is looking for its first MAC West win of the season after falling to Ball State in double overtime in Muncie on Oct. 1 and to Toledo at home on Oct. 8.
HALL OF FAMER: NIU head coach
Thomas Hammock is one of three former Huskie football players inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame during Homecoming Weekend in DeKalb on October 7. Hammock gained more than 2,400 rushing yards and was a two-time first team CoSIDA Academic All-American during his NIU playing career (1999-2002). He was joined by fellow running back Chad Spann (2007-10) and quarterback Chandler Harnish (2008-11), who both won the MAC's Vern Smith (MVP) Award during their time in Cardinal and Black, in NIU's 2022 Hall of Fame class.
HARRIO BROWNLEE?: The combination of
Harrison Waylee and
Antario Brown have been a powerful one-two punch at running back for the Huskies. The two have combined to rush for 1,302 yards on 230 carries and 11 touchdowns through eight games, accounting for more than 80 percent of NIU's rushing yards and averaging 5.6 yards per carry and nearly 163 yards per game. Waylee (90.9 yards per game) and Brown (71.9 ypg) rank third and sixth, respectively, in the MAC in rushing; NIU is the only school in the league with two players in the Top 10.
SCORING RUNS: Kacper Rutkiewicz' 11-yard touchdown run at Ohio stretched the Huskies' streak of consecutive games with a rushing touchdown to 19. NIU has scored at least one rushing TD in every game this season and in the last 11 games of 2021. The last time the Huskies did not score a rushing TD was against Michigan on Sept. 18 when NIU's lone touchdown came on a passing play.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR NIU: Sophomore tailback
Antario Brown had his best statistical day as a Huskie with 160 yards on 16 carries at Ohio. His 45-yard run in the third quarter set up NIU's touchdown and he opened the Huskies' fourth-quarter possession with a 49-yard run.
AB FROM LD: NIU sophomore running back
Antario Brown has made a habit of scoring from long distance during his 16-game NIU career. Seven of Brown's 11 career touchdown runs, including three of his team-leading six TDs this season, have been at least 35 yards long. His 11 scores have traveled 328 yards for a 29.8-yard average. Brown posted his second two-score game at Eastern Michigan on runs of 47 and six yards. He had a career-long 51-yard touchdown run versus Vanderbilt and a 35-yard score versus Eastern Illinois this year. A year ago, four of Brown's five TD runs went 37 yards or longer. He has 10 career runs of 25-plus yards.
ON THE WAY(LEE): NIU's leading rusher,
Harrison Waylee, led the Huskies with 158 yards on 16 carries at Eastern Michigan to average 9.9 yards per rush. His career long 76-yard touchdown run at 7:14 of the fourth quarter iced the game for the Huskies. The sophomore recorded his second 100-yard game of 2022 and the seventh of his career. With a 90.9 yards per game average, Waylee ranks third in the MAC and 30th in the country in rushing.
SCHOOL RECORD ALERT! Harrison Waylee's 10 catches (for 96 yards) versus Toledo established a new NIU single game record for receptions by a Huskie running back, recorded since NIU became a "major college" program in 1969. Waylee's mark broke the previous single game high of eight catches, last accomplished by single season record-holder Justin Anderson versus Southern Illinois on Sept. 8, 2007. He has 16 receptions for 116 yards on the year.
ALL THE WAY(LEE) HOME: Huskie third-year sophomore
Harrison Waylee had a career day at Ball State on October 1 with 230 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns all career highs, including touchdown runs of 68 and 32 yards. His 230 yards were the most since quarterback Jordan Lynch ran for 321 yards versus Western Michigan on Nov. 26, 2013. The 230 yards rank as the ninth-most in the FBS this season.
IN THE CLUB: With the first 200-yard rushing game of his Huskie career at Ball State,
Harrison Waylee became the 18th NIU player all-time to record a 200-yard day, a mark that has been reached 46 times in NIU history. Waylee's 230 yards are tied for 23rd all-time at NIU. His 1,757 career rushing yards rank 25th on the Huskies' all-time list.
COLE HARD FACTS: Sixth-year senior receiver
Cole Tucker, the only active player on the roster to enter the season with at least 20 catches at NIU, leads the Huskies with 37 catches for 560 yards an average of 15.1 yards per catch. The DeKalb native and Huskie legacy, whose parents Brett and Cindy were NIU football and gymnastics student-athletes, respectively, has caught 147 passes for 1,958 yards in his career to rank tied for ninth on NIU's all-time receiving yards list. Tucker, who will play in his 50th career game Wednesday - the most of any player on the 2022 team - needs 42 yards to become just the eighth player in school history with 2,000 career receiving yards, and the first since current New York Giants receiver Kenny Golladay. His 147 career catches are ninth at NIU all-time.
THREE QBS: For the first time since 2017, NIU has started three different players at quarterback.
Justin Lynch, a sophomore transfer from Temple, has started the last two games in relief of
Rocky Lombardi, who started the first three games before suffering an injury versus Vanderbilt. Redshirt freshman
Ethan Hampton started and finished the Kentucky, Ball State and Toledo games with Lynch also seeing action in those contests. Hampton was injured during the Toledo game, and Lynch started at Eastern Michigan and at Ohio. NIU is one of six FBS team this season to start three or more players at quarterback in 2022.
LYNCH AT NIU: Justin Lynch, who made his NIU debut at Kentucky on Sept. 24 and moved into the starting role at Eastern Michigan, ranks third on the team in rushing with 170 yards on 45 carries. He scored on a two-yard run at Kentucky and a 15-yard jaunt versus Toledo. Lynch had his most successful passing day as a Huskie at Ohio when he completed nine-of-18 passes for 110 yards. Lynch, the younger brother of NIU All-American and 2013 Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch, transferred to NIU from Temple - where he played in 11 games as a true freshman - in January.
PASSING THREAT: At Kentucky, wide receiver
Shemar Thornton became the first NIU non-quarterback to throw a touchdown pass since 2019 vs. Western Michigan when he hit tight end
Tristen Tewes for a three-yard score in the second quarter. Last week, although it doesn't show up in the stats as a completion, Thornton caught a lateral from
Justin Lynch and connected with
Cole Tucker for the two-point conversion that tied the game.
SACKS & PICKS: The Huskies added a pair of sacks at Ohio and has seven in the its last two games, bringing the team's total to 20 on the season, surpassing NIU's 2021 total of 19 in 14 games.
Ivan Davis collected his first sack of the year at Ohio, becoming the 10th Huskie to sack the quarterback this year. with
Michael Kennedy (4.5 QS),
Devonte O'Malley (3.5) and
Daveren Rayner (3.5) leading the way. Meanwhile,
James Ester's interception at Eastern Michigan was the Huskies' sixth of 2022, doubling last year's season total. NIU ranks third in the MAC in interceptions and is fourth in the league, and 40th in the country, in sacks, a far cry from last season's 117th final ranking in that category.
SCHOLAR-SACKER: Senior defensive end
Michael Kennedy leads NIU in sacks with 4.5, surpassing his CAREER total entering the year. Kennedy had one sack in each of his four active seasons (2018-21) totaling 40 career games. Kennedy was also one of six Mid-American Conference players named a semifinalist for the 2022 William Campbell Trophy, presented by the National Football Foundation to the top football Scholar-Athlete in the country. A sixth-year senior, Kennedy earned his undergraduate degree in management with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and social responsibility and is pursuing his MBA.
RAYNER SHINES: Sophomore linebacker
Daveren Rayner leads NIU, ranks eighth in the MAC and 36th nationally in tackles per game (8.9) with a total of 71 on the year. The Indianapolis native has 17 more tackles than any other Huskie defender and is looking to become the first linebacker to lead NIU in tackles since 2018. He had 2.5 tackles for loss at Eastern Michigan and added half a sack and TFL at Ohio to take the team lead in TFLs with 5.5, and his 3.5 sacks are tied for second on the team.
FIRSTS: With 10:49 to play in the first quarter at Eastern Michigan, NIU defensive tackle
James Ester tipped a pass into the air, then caught it at the goal line for his first career interception and his first career touchdown. It was the first defensive touchdown of the season for NIU and the first since C.J. Brown's 26-yard interception return for a score versus Kent State in the 2021 MAC Championship game.
NO PLACE TO RUN: The Huskies held Eastern Michigan to a season-low 29 rushing yards on 27 carries thanks in part to five sacks for minus 49 yards in the game. Add the sack yardage and the Huskie defense STILL held an opponent to less than 100 net rushing yards for the 18th time in the last five years and the second time in 2022 (Ball State had 77 rushing yards). NIU ranks 32nd nationally and second in the MAC in rushing defense as opponents are averaging just 120.9 yards per game on the ground; NIU has allowed a league-low seven rushing touchdowns.
HOW LOW CAN YOU GO: Eastern Michigan's 29 rushing yards were the fewest by a Huskie oppponent in more than 10 seasons, since the 2011 NIU defense held Arkansas State to 28 yards on 29 rushes in the 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl, a 38-20 NIU victory. EMU was the second opponent in 2022 to total less than 100 rushing yards and four of NIU's foes this season have rushed for 107 yards or less
MORE D: Eastern Michigan's 10 points were the fewest scored by a Huskie opponent in 31 games, since NIU shut out Akron on October 26, 2019. After giving up a long touchdown at 10:34 of the first quarter to EMU, NIU did not allow the Eagles into the end zone, or even into the red zone, the rest of the game, giving up only a 56-yard third quarter field goal.
DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: Over the last two games, the Huskie defense has shown marked improvement. The numbers prove it:
|
1st 6 Games |
Last 2 Games |
Difference |
| Points/Game |
38.3 |
17.0 |
-21.3 |
| Rushing Yards/Game |
130.7 |
91.5 |
-39.2 |
| Passing Yards/Game |
291.5 |
198.5 |
-93.0 |
| Total Offense Yards/Game |
422.2 |
290.0 |
-132.2 |
| Opponent 3rd Down Conversion |
52% |
37% |
-15% |
BALL SECURITY: NIU did not commit a turnover at Ohio in its last game or in its win over Eastern Michigan on Oct. 15, the third and fourth times this season the Huskies did not turn the ball over in a game. The Huskies also had zero turnovers versus Eastern Illinois (Sept. 1) and at Kentucky (Sept. 24). With just one fumble lost to date, NIU ranks third in the country in that category. In 2021, NIU had just one turnover-less game (at Central Michigan).
TURNOVER TALES: Meanwhile, the Huskies have forced 10 turnovers (six interceptions, four fumbles) through eight games, just two shy of its 2021 total of 12 turnovers gained (in 14 games). NIU intercepted three passes and recovered nine fumbles a year ago.
KICKING IT: NIU kicker
John Richardson went three-for-three on field goal attempts at Ohio and has now made eight straight three-pointers, dating back to the fourth quarter of the Toledo game on Oct. 8. Richardson made all four of his field goal attempts at Eastern Michigan - his most makes without a miss in his 42-game career. He has now made 12-of-16 field goals and scored a team-leading 60 points on the season and has 275 career points on 55 field goals and 110 PATs. In his career, Richardson ranks fifth in most points scored kicking and ninth in most overall points. He ranks third in field goals made and sixth in PATs made. Richardson's onside kicks, meanwhile, have been a weapon resulting in more possessions for the NIU offense.
ONSIDE EXPERT: After attempting four onside kicks - and recovering two - in the fourth quarter alone versus Toledo, the Huskies have attempted and recovered more onside kicks than any FBS team in the country this season. Prior to this year, NIU's last onside recovery was at Eastern Michigan in 2020. Kicker
John Richardson has displayed a wide variety of onside styles, that have helped NIU recover four of NIU's seven onside kicks this year, well above the 23.8 percent average (between 2014-20) of onside kicks recovered successfully in NCAA football. The game-by-game list:
TOPS IN KICK COVERAGE: Thanks in part to their onside proficiency, NIU ranks first in the country in kickoff return defense as opponents are averaging just 11.52 yards per return with 311 yards on 26 returns. In addition to the four onside kick recoveries, freshman
Nick Alvarado forced a fumble on
John Richardson's squib kick at Eastern Michigan that was recovered by
Joey Rattin to set up a Huskie field goal.
ONE OF A KIND: NIU linebacker
Kyle Pugh is the first player in FBS history to play eight years of college football - although due to a series of different injuries, he has not actually played in all eight seasons. Pugh, who is earning his second master's degree, signed with the Huskies in February 2015 and redshirted as a freshman. He was an all-MAC player in 2018 and 2020; he currently ranks third on the team in tackles with 43 while starting every game. His career totals include 229 tackles in 42 games with 14.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. His most successful season was 2018 when he made 106 tackles, 63 solo with five tackles for loss. The Chicago Heights product has been at NIU through three presidential administrations, four bowl games and three MAC Championship games; his freshmen teammates were in sixth grade when he arrived in DeKalb.
START ME UP: So far this season, 41 different players have started games for the Huskies with 23 different players making starts on offense and 18 on defense. Among the defensive front seven, six starters have remained the same throughout the first seven games, including the defensive line of ends Ray Thomas and
Izayah Green-May and tackles
James Ester and
Devonte O'Malley, along with linebackers
Daveren Rayner and
Kyle Pugh. NIU has started the same defense in each of the last three games for the first time this season. The Huskies have started a different 11 on offense in every game. Safety C.J. Brown, center
Pete Nygra and guard
Logan Zschernitz are the only other Huskies to start every game this season.
REVOLVING SECONDARY: The Eastern Michigan game marked the first time this season that NIU started the same players in the defensive backfield as it had the previous game with cornerbacks
Jordan Gandy and
Eric Rogers and safeties
Jordan White and C.J. Brown in the line-up. They were the fifth different starting quartet of players in the secondary this year. Of the four starting spots in the NIU secondary, only 2021 All-MAC safety C.J. Brown has started every game. At least three different players - nine in all - have started games at the other three secondary positions.
CARDIAC CANINES CONTINUED: In four seasons under
Thomas Hammock, 24 of the Huskies' 39 games, including five of NIU's eight games in 2022, have been decided by one score (eight points) or less. Last year, 10 of the Huskies' 14 games came down to one score. The Huskies are 8-7 in one score contests over the last two seasons and are 11-13 in games decided by one score over the last four years. in games decided by three points or less, NIU is 7-4 since 2019, including a 4-0 record in those games a year ago.
DOG TREATS: The 14 consecutive completions by quarterbacks
Rocky Lombardi and
Ethan Hampton (seven each) to start the Vanderbilt game fell one short of the unofficial NIU record of 15 set by Dan Nicholson versus Southern Illinois on Sept. 8, 2007. NIU's first incompletion did not occur until 10:08 of the third quarter ... in that game, Tewes became the first NIU tight end to catch two touchdown passes in a game in 70 games, since Shane Wimann had a pair of TD catches at San Diego State in 2017 ... cornerback
Eric Rogers became the first Huskie to earn MAC Player of the Week honors after picking off a pair of passes in the 2022 season opener versus Eastern Illinois, becoming the first Huskie with two INTs in a game since Jalen McKie versus Akron in 2018 ... the Huskies' double overtime loss at Ball State on October 1 broke NIU's four-game winning streak in overtime games that dated back to Oct. 15, 2016. All-time, the Huskies are 9-5 in overtime games, including a 6-4 mark in MAC regular season contests. ... NIU's 25-point fourth quarter versus Toledo - a result of three touchdowns, a field goal and two two-point PATs - was the Huskies' highest single quarter output since October 10, 2015 when NIU scored 28 points in the second quarter versus Ball State. The Huskies held the ball for 11:55 in the fourth quarter
FRESH FACES: Thirteen players, including nine true freshmen and four redshirt freshmen, have made their NIU debuts in 2022 with cornerbacks
Jacob Finley and
Amariyun Knighten (at Ball State) the first true freshmen to start a game this year. Running back
Jaiden Credle earned his first carries at Ball State, running six times for 27 yards and
Christian Nash played at Ohio. Other true freshmen to see action include linebackers
Jake Gassaway,
Nick Alvarado, Rashon Myles, and safety
Trey Porter on special teams, and
Roy Williams at defensive end. Redshirt freshman
Isaac Hatfield has been NIU's starting long snapper.
NEW TO NIU: Seven players who transferred to NIU this year have seen action in 2022. Wide receivers
Shemar Thornton (FIU) and
Kacper Rutkiewicz (Illinois State), defensive end
Izayah Green-May (Wisconsin) and safety
Jordan White (Youngstown State) have all started games. Rutkiewicz and Thornton rank second and third on the team, respectively, in receptions. Green-May is fourth on the team in tackles for loss and White has totaled 17 tackles over the past two games - both starts. Transfer QB
Justin Lynch (Temple) ranks third on the team in rushing, while
Quinn Urwiler (North Dakota) and
Joey Rattin (Upper Iowa) have contributed on special teams.
EARNED IT: Since
Thomas Hammock's arrival at NIU in 2019, 21 players have earned scholarships after arriving at NIU as walk-ons, including 19 players on the 2022 roster and eight – fully one third – of the Huskies starters on offense, defense or special teams. Of those 19, 15 are from the state of Illinois. The group joins a long and distinguished list of NIU players from the past that arrived as walk-ons including 2010 MAC MVP Chad Spann, who will be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend, and recently retired NFL defensive back Rashaan Melvin. See the complete list of current former walk-ons in the column to the left.
LEAD DOGS: Six players were elected team captains for 2022 by their teammates. Quarterback
Rocky Lombardi, linebacker
Nick Rattin and defensive tackle
James Ester (DT) were named captains for the second straight season. Linebacker and eighth-year senior
Kyle Pugh, offensive tackle
Nolan Potter and sophomore defensive back
Jashon Prophete were also chosen.
GRADS: NIU 2022 roster includes 13 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees - either at NIU or from another institution, and one who already has two degrees. Huskie eighth-year senior
Kyle Pugh has both an undergraduate and a graduate degree as he works on his second graduate degree. Transfers
Miles Joiner,
Rocky Lombardi,
Izayah Green-May,
Kaymar Mimes and
Shemar Thornton all came to NIU with degrees from their previous institutions. In addition to Pugh,
Brett Bostad,
Marques Cox,
Jeffrey Griffin Jr.,
Michael Kennedy,
Nolan Potter,
Liam Soraghan and
Cole Tucker are already Huskie alumni.
