Football | August 14

DeKALB, IL – When a football team wins seven games by eight points or less like the NIU Huskies did in 2021, special teams can play a significant factor. Whether it's a key extra point, late field goal, or a punt to flip field position, the third phase of the game can have just as much an impact on the game as the offense or defense.
 
"We spend a lot of time on special teams," head coach Thomas Hammock said after Sunday's practice, where kickoff and punt coverage were an emphasis. "It's obviously a third of the game and we understand the value and importance of it. We have a lot of guys that are twos on our team that are excellent special teams players and they understand that's another way to make an impact on the game."
 
"Early in fall camp we do a lot of circuits, getting guys in different positions and seeing what they can do," added special teams coordinator Nic McKissic-Luke. "From there, you make an evaluation of what the right spots would be for certain guys. We have really good personnel, guys that can get the job done on special teams."
 
With a lot of continuity at plenty of position on this year's team, there is some turnover in the Huskies' special teams with the graduation of long snapper Erik Abrell and punter Matt Ference. Redshirt-Freshman Isaac Hatfield (Georgetown, Ind./Floyd Central) and redshirt-sophomore Tom Foley (Peoria, Ill./Peoria Notre Dame/Minnesota) will get the first opportunity to fill in at those two respective positions.
 
"Isaac was here with us last year and competed with Erik, so we feel very comfortable with him as a long snapper," Hammock said. "Tom Foley was here as a transfer from Minnesota last year and he developed and had an extremely strong leg. He's working on his consistency where we feel like those guys can be weapons along with John Richardson."
 
Hatfield and Foley will also be key in the placekicking game, where redshirt-junior John Richardson (Orland Park, Ill./Brother Rice) looks to build upon a record-setting 2021. Richardson made an NIU single-season record 22 field goals last season, including game-winners at Toledo and against Ball State that helped the Huskies win the Mid-American Conference west division. He is NIU's career leader in field goal percentage at 79.6 percent and was named to the Groza Award watch list this preseason.
 
There is depth at the position, as Kanon Woodill (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) filled in for Richardson for one game and made three field goals in NIU's win at Central Michigan last season including a 26-yarder in the final minute of regulation to make the score 39-38.
 
"Our depth is big for us and part of what Coach Hammock has built here," McKissic-Luke said. "We have two kickers that can get the job done. John is our kicker and he's one of the best in the country. To have a guy like Kanon who can come in and also get the job done, it's good for us."
 
Sunday's practice at Huskie Stadium was under the lights with overcast skies. The Huskies worked on different game situations and had an extended team period at the end for the younger guys on the team.
 
"We wanted to work some situational stuff like hands team, onside kicks, all those things you have to be prepared for," Hammock said. "After the scrimmage yesterday, today was a day to work more fundamentals and techniques and get them moving around, and then we'll come back out tomorrow and get after it."
 
NIU is back on the practice field Monday at 10:15 a.m. Read the current position previews online and see the complete camp schedule on the 2022 Camp Central page.
 
Purchase NIU Football tickets now online at NIUHuskies.com or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) during regular business hours. Ticket options include season tickets to see all six Huskie home games, Mini-Plans featuring either the All-Saturday ($90) or All-Weekday ($78) package, and single game tickets, priced from $18-$40 depending on the game. Season tickets provide the best value with prices as low as $14.67 per ticket with the Huskie Family 4 Pack (do not have to be related), $97 for East Side general admission seating or $144 for West Side reserved seats. Premium area tickets are also available on both a season and per game basis.  For more information and to see all the options and prices, click here.
 
--NIU--