Football | January 18

DeKALB, Illinois – Northern Illinois University football head coach Thomas Hammock announced the addition of five transfers and one freshman to the Huskie roster for 2023 on Tuesday, the first day of spring semester classes at NIU.
 
The Huskies' transfer portal pick-ups - cornerbacks Gabriel Amegatcher and Cam'Ron Dabney, linebacker Tyler Jackson, wide receiver Davis Patterson and running back Gavin Williams – were brought in to provide competition and maturity at their respective positions, said Hammock. The newcomers, along with freshman linebacker Ridge Howard, who graduated early and is enrolled at NIU, joined six of the Huskies' December commits in beginning classes on Tuesday.
 
"We were very selective in bringing in this group of transfers," Hammock said. "We have to make sure there's a connection; we talked to their coaches. We feel we did very well with the guy we were able to bring in as far as need, position, fit and quality. I could not be more excited about the quality of guys we were able to bring in mid-year and what they can do for our program."
 

Incoming Transfers (January 2023	Pos.	Hgt.	Wgt.	Cl.	Hometown (HS/Previous School
Gabriel Amegatcher	CB	6-2	195	Sr.-R	Romeoville, Ill. (Lockport Township HS/Nebraska-Kearney)
Cam'Ron Dabney	CB	5-11	185	Jr.	Atlanta, Ga. (Cherokee Bluff HS/Kansas)
Tyler Jackson	LB	6-0	226	Sr.-R	Alief, Texas (DeSoto HS/Lamar)
Davis Patterson	WR	6-4	200	Sr.-R	Arlington, Va. (Yorktown HS/Notre Dame College)
Gavin Williams	RB	5-11	214	Jr.-R	Altoona, Iowa (Dowling Catholic HS/Iowa)
New Mid-Year Freshman
Ridge Howard	LB	6-1	220	Fr.	Elkhart, Ind. (Northridge HS)

Gabriel Amegatcher and Cam'Ron "Shaad" Dabney add experience and competition to the cornerback position. Amegatcher broke up 11 passes over the past two seasons at Nebraska-Kearney while Dabney played in 23 games over the last two years at Kansas.
 
"We wanted to increase the competition at the cornerback position," Hammock said. "They bring experience, a competitive fire and good size. Those things jumped off the screen for us. Having the ability to bring them in during the spring allows us to get a good thorough evaluation."   
 
Jackson was a 2022 All-Southland Conference selection who made 142 tackles, including 12 for loss, for the Cardinals over the last three seasons. Hammock said filling holes left by graduating seniors Nick Rattin and Kyle Pugh with an experienced linebacker was important.
 
"Middle linebacker is a spot we wanted to address because we wanted maturity at all three levels of our defense," Hammock said. "Tyler was very productive at Lamar. We liked what he brought to the table in terms of his leadership, his experience and his ability as a 'knock back' tackler."
 
Patterson brings size and big play ability after three seasons and 21 games at Notre Dame College in Ohio, where he averaged 16.1 yards per catch on 39 catches with five touchdowns in 2021.
 
"Davis Patterson is a big receiver who has the ability to go up and get the ball," Hammock said. "He was injured last year but had a big year a season ago. His upside is really high. You see the explosiveness, the ability to go get the ball on film. We want to be a big play offense and to have a receiver that can stretch the field vertically will make us more dynamic."
 
Williams played 26 games at Iowa over the last three seasons and averaged more than four yards per carry while also catching 18 passes out of the backfield.
 
"Coming from Iowa, we know what they're about," Hammock said. "He knew him coming out of high school, he is a big, strong, physical one-cut runner with a lot of great football ahead of him. He's a home run threat with the ball in his hands, also a returner on special teams. We look forward to watching him this spring."
 
Howard joins fellow freshmen newcomers Santana Banner (DB), Mason Kidd (QB) and Zach Gordon (K) who all graduated high school early in order to join the Huskies this semester. Junior college transfers Grayson Barnes (TE), Azhuan Dingle (RB) and Nevaeh Sanders (DL) are also on campus and ready to compete, said Hammock.
 
"For us to have the ability to bring in 12 newcomers in January is a great bonus for the program," Hammock said. "The fact that you get an extra spring to watch them develop, to give them an opportunity to learn the system, to compete and to have a chance to win positions. It definitely enhances the competition in the spring and adds a lot of excitement to the offseason. We want to infuse our roster with talent, and I think this group is going to do that."
 
See the complete list and bios on the Huskie signees announced in December, as well as this newest group on 2023 Signing Day Central on NIUHuskies.com. 
 
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