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FB23 - Seniors (preseason)

NIU Plays Host to Western Michigan Tuesday on Senior Night

Home Finale Kicks Off at 6 pm CT on ESPNU

November 12

 
FB23 - WMU game 11 notes header

  DOG TREATS  
  • NIU will honor 14 seniors prior to its November 14 home finale versus Western Michigan. The group includes five starters, including four-year starters Nolan Potter (OT) and James Ester. 
  • While Western Michigan owns a 27-21 lead in the all-time series, the series is tied 12-12 in DeKalb, while the Huskies own a 19-18 lead in games played as Mid-American Conference foes. 
  • Tailback Antario Brown has rushed for a career high 916 yards on 155 carries for an average of 5.9 yards per carry. He ranks 14th nationally in rushing yards and 30th in yards per carry. 
  • Turnovers have been the key indicator of Huskie success in 2023. NIU is 3-0 in games when it wins the turnover battle and 0-3 when committing more turnovers than its opponent. The Huskies have turned the ball over three times in each of the last two games. 
  • Ball State's 10 fourth-quarter points were the first scored against the Huskies in five games. MAC opponents have scored just 17 points in the  fourth quarter against NIU this year. 
  • NIU ranks third nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (154.0/game, 10th in pass efficiency defense (110.67) and 22nd in total defense (323.1 yards/game).
  • With a team-leading 56 tackles on the season, senior defensive end Ray Thomas ranks second among all FBS linemen in total tackles and is the only defensive lineman to lead his team in tackles. No defensive lineman has ever led the Huskies in tackles for a season (since records were kept in 1971). 
  • Wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph totaled 149 all-purpose yards versus Ball State on three carries for 69 yards, six catches for 57 yards and a 23-yard kickoff return. Rudolph leads NIU in receiving, and ranks third on the team in rushing. 
  • The "Voice of the Huskies" - radio play-by-play broadcaster Bill Baker - will retire following the 2023 football season, his 44th behind the mic for NIU. The Western Michigan game will mark Baker's 518th NIU football broadcast. 
  • Over the last 15 years - since 2008 - every freshman class has left NIU with at least one MAC Championship. The Huskies' five MAC Championship game victories are more than any other current league member and NIU has made a record nine appearances in the game.  
  • Of the 85 scholarship players on NIU's 2023 roster, 21 came to NIU as walk-ons. The group includes 2023 Burlsworth Trophy nominee and team captain Jaden Dolphin (LB). as well as starters Nate Valcarcel (S), Devonte O'Malley (DT), Brock Lampe (FB) and Trayvon Rudolph (WR/KR).   

  NIU FACTS  
Location: DeKalb, Illinois
Founded: 1895
Enrollment: 15,649
Affiliation: NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision
Conference: Mid-American (West Division)
Colors: Cardinal and Black
Nickname: Huskies
Mascot: Mission (live); Victor E. Huskie (costume)
Stadium: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
    Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf /23,595
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-2-5
First Year of Football: 1899
2022 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 3-9/2-6/6th
All-Time Record: 608-527-51
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: 49/27
Starters Returning: 17 (8 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialist)
Starters Lost: 11 (4 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
 

  BRONCOS' FACTS  
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Lance Taylor (Alabama '02) 
Record at Western Michigan/Years: 4-6/1st
Career Record/Years: 4-6/1st
2022 Record: 5-7
Conference Record/Finish: 4-4/3rd West
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Enrollment: 18,191
Conference: Mid-American
Colors: Brown and Gold 
Stadium: Waldo Stadium
    Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf/30,200
President: Dr. Edward B. Montgomery
Athletic Director: Dan Bartolomae
Athletics Website: WMUBroncos.com
Twitter: @WMUBroncos

WMU Schedule & Results
 

  NIU-WMU SERIES  
Overall: WMU leads 27-21
In DeKalb: Series tied 12-12
In Kalamazoo: WMU leads 15-9
In MAC Games: NIU leads 19-18
Streak: NIU, 1
First Game: WMU 40, NIU 13 (A)  9/23/50
Last Game: NIU 24, WMU 21 (A) 11/9/22
 

  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES  
TV:WESTERN MICHIGAN AT NIU ON ESPNU
  • Watch the Western MIchigan-NIU game on ESPNU. The Huskies make their fourth appearance on the network in 2023 and play on a national over-the-air network for the eighth time this season.  
  • The Huskies are playing on ESPNU for the 30th time and the 14th time in the last six seasons. NIU is 15-14 all-time in games broadcast on ESPNU. 
  • Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Aaron Murray (analyst) will be on the call for ESPNU.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK
  • The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage for the Western Michigan game begins 90 minutes before kickoff, at 4:30 p.m. (CT), on 94-9 WDKB with the Toyota Pre-Game Tailgate Show from the Chessick Center in DeKalb.
  • Coverage on NIU network affiliate SportsFan AM 1330 and on The Varsity Network app begins 30 minutes before the game, at 5:30 pm (CT).
  • Hear the broadcast on mobile devices via the free NIU Huskies mobile app or The Varsity Network app. 
  • Bill Baker is in his 44th and final season (see note) as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo is alongside for the the 39th consecutive season, while Andy Garcia is in his 11th year on the sidelines. 

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW
  • Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show each Wednesday at 6 pm. 
  • The show is held at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy).
  • Listen live on the NIU Huskies or The Varsity Network mobile app and hear the show live on 94-9 WDKB and on SportsFan AM 1330 in Rockford.
  • Bill Baker returns to host the season finale show on Nov. 15 with guests Thomas Hammock and Mark Lindo. 

NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE
  • Host Andy Garcia talks NIU football, basketball and more with the Huskie head coaches and administrators, including a weekly spotlight on Huskie Football. Get all the latest news and updates in this fast-paced 30 minute show.
  • Also, hear from Huskie legend Bill Baker in each episode with a special "Looking Back with Bill Baker" segment.  
  • Watch new episodes on the NIU Athletics YouTube Channel on Thursdays. 

NIU ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE
  • See weekly and post-game press conferences, special features, game highlights, NIU Weekly 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.

  NEWS & NOTES  
FB23 - Senior Salute Box (WMU game notes)
SENIOR NIGHT: NIU closes out its 2023 home schedule with its third consecutive Tuesday night #MACtion game when the Huskies play host to MAC West foe Western Michigan at Huskie Stadium on November 14. The Broncos and Huskies bring identical 4-6 overall and 3-3 MAC records into the game.    

SERIES HISTORY: Western Michigan holds a 27-21 advantage in the all-time series, while the teams have split the 24 games played in DeKalb, 12-12. Five of the last seven games between the teams have been decided by one possession or less, including last year's 24-21 Huskie win in Kalamazoo that came down to the final minute. WMU won 14 of the first 15 games of the series between 1950 and 1982, while the Huskies are 15-7 versus the Broncos since 2001, including a seven-game winning streak between 2009-2015. Western Michigan's 2021 win over NIU in DeKalb was its first at Huskie Stadium since 2007. 
  
THE LAST TIME: In the last meeting between these teams, Justin Lynch scored on a nine-yard run with 56 seconds to play to finish a five-play, 73-yard drive on which he gained 72 rushing yards, giving the Huskies a 24-21 over Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. Lynch's touchdown was the final score in a seesaw battle that featured six lead changes. The Huskies sacked WMU quarterback Treyson Bourguet six times and recorded 11 tackles for loss while limiting the Broncos to 3-of-14 third down conversions. The Huskies started true freshmen at both quarterback (Nevan Cremascoli) and tailback (Jaiden Credle) in the game.  

IN THE DOGS' HOUSE: NIU has won nearly 70 percent of its games played in Huskie Stadium since 2003 with a 78-37 (.678) record over the last 20 years. NIU's all-time record at Huskie Stadium is 186-121-2 for a .605 all-time winning percentage. During that stretch, the Huskies have had 15 winning records at home and five undefeated seasons (2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013).

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: Now in their 38th overall season as a member of the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies are 167-122-2 all-time in league play. The Huskies are 132-77 (.631) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 76-32 (.704) against the MAC with three undefeated campaigns, two one-loss seasons, seven division championships, including a run of six-straight (2010-15). NIU originally competed in the MAC from 1975-85.

MAC WEST MARK: Since the MAC went to divisional play in 1997, NIU is 81-54 (.600) versus teams from the MAC West, including a 44-23 mark in the division since 2010 for a 65.7 winning percentage. NIU is 1-3 versus MAC West foes to date in four one-score games.

AT HOME IN THE MAC: In 37 seasons of MAC play dating back to 1975, NIU is 92-53-1 (.633) all-time at home in league games, including a 70-33 (.680) mark in Huskie Stadium versus league opponents since rejoining the league in 1997.  In 56 MAC home games since 2009, the Huskies are 42-14. 

LAND OF LINCOLN LEADERS: Since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program among Illinois' seven Division I football programs. The Huskies are 1-1 versus in-state FBS programs with a 2014 win over Northwestern and a 2010 loss at Illinois, and are 4-1 versus in-state FCS opponents over the last 12 seasons, including wins over Illinois State (2019) and Eastern Illinois (2022) under Thomas Hammock. 

Illinois' Division I Schools Since 2010
Team W L Pct.
NIU 107 70 .604
Illinois State 94 64 .595
Northwestern 87 83 .512
Southern Illinois 73 83 .468
Eastern Illinois 61 92 .399
Illinois 65 101 .391
Western Illinois 52 103 .335

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: NIU senior defensive tackle James Ester was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation award which annually recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation and is selected from across all divisions of college football. A two-time All-MAC selection and three-year team captain with 111 career tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss, Ester earned his bachelor's degree in communications last May with a 3.333 GPA and is currently pursuing his master's in sports management.

HUSKIE LEGEND: The 2023 season marks the 44th and final year behind the mic for the "Voice of the Huskies," legendary play-by-play man Bill Baker. Baker will call his 518th NIU football game this week, and has missed just one game since making his NIU debut when the Huskies faced Long Beach State in Anaheim, Calif. on Sept. 5, 1980. He also has called more than 1,200 NIU basketball games – including several years when he called both men's and women's games. Baker, who ranks tied for sixth in longevity for FBS play-by-play voices, was honored during halftime of the Huskies' 2023 home opener versus Southern Illinois on Sept. 9 and a special tribute video can be seen on the NIU Athletics Official YouTube Channel.
 
WORTHY NOMINEE: Linebacker Jaden Dolphin is this year's Huskie nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is presented to the most outstanding FBS player who began his career as a walk-on. Dolphin, one of five players selected as a permanent team captain in 2023, ranks second on the team with 49 tackles and his 31 solo stops lead NIU. The Des Plaines, Ill. (Maine West HS) product who was an IHSA All-State tight end AND defensive end, walked on to the NIU team in 2020 as a safety and has played in 40 games with 140 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five pass break-ups in his Huskie career. 

WALK IT ON: Dolphin is not the only former walk-on making an impact for the Huskies in 2023. The current NIU roster includes 21 players who started their NIU careers or currently are playing without a scholarship. The list includes Dolphin and fellow starters Devonte O'Malley (DT), Nate Valcarcel (S), Brock Lampe (FB), Trayvon Rudolph (WR/KR) and George Gumbs (DE) as well as the Huskies' starting specialist crew of Tom Foley (P), Isaac Hatfield (LS) and Kanon Woodill (PK).

TACKLE LEADER: Defensive end Ray Thomas leads the Huskies in tackles with 56 on the season to rank second nationally among all defensive linemen and he has made at least four tackles in every game this year. He is the only FBS defensive lineman to lead his team in tackles on the year. Since NIU began keeping tackle totals in 1971, no defensive lineman has led the Huskies in tackles on the season. Thomas made a career high 11 tackles versus Tulsa, including seven solo stops and four assists, becoming the first Huskie defensive lineman to make at least 11 tackles in a game since 2013 (Ken Bishop, 11 vs. Toledo). 

STEPPING IN: In his first start at linebacker, senior Tyler Jackson made a big impact versus Ball State as he led the Huskies in tackles with 10 and contributed 1.5 tackles for loss. Jackson, a grad transfer from Lamar University, was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week, the first Huskie defensive player to earn the weekly honor this year, and the fourth NIU player overall. Jackson's 10 tackles are the second-highest total by a Huskie on the season and give him 46 on the year to rank third on the team.  

STEPPING UP: One week after catching a a season-high eight passes for 172 yards at Central Michigan for his first 100-yard receiving game of the season, junior receiver Trayvon Rudolph showed his versatility with 149 all-purpose yards versus Ball State. NIU's leading receiver caught six passes for 57 yards and had three carries for 69 yards last Tuesday, including a 35-yard touchdown run that gave the Huskies a 17-10 lead in the fourth quarter.
  
ALL-PURPOSE: In addition to his team-leading 39 catches for 444 yards, Trayvon Rudolph ranks second on the team with 773 all-purpose yards while his 130 rushing yards (on 16 carries) rank third on the team. The junior has averaged 24.9 yards on seven kickoff returns. He has made at least three catches in each of the last seven games. In 30 career games over three seasons (2020-21-23), Rudolph has 3,192 all-purpose yards, 1,511 receiving on 104 catches, 1,367 on 56 kickoff returns, and 243 rushing on 24 carries. It adds up to an average of 106.4 all-purpose yards per game with 12 touchdowns (2 rushing, 9 receiving, 1 kick return).

NO PASSING ZONE: After Central Michigan threw for only 116 yards on nine-of-16 passing, the Huskies gave up just 115 passing yards on 25 attempts and 15 completions to Ball State. Only ONE of NIU's 10 opponents this season has thrown for more than 168 yards in a game. The Huskies rank third in the FBS in fewest passing yards allowed per game (154.0) and 10th in the country in team passing efficiency defense with a 110.67 mark. The 154.0 passing yards allowed is the fewest by a Huskie defense since the 1982 defense gave up 144.9 passing yards per game.

DIFFERENT DEFENSE: The differences between the Huskie defense of a year ago and the 2023 version have been dramatic and are best explained simply by looking at the numbers. NIU opponents' average of 323.1 yards per game is the lowest for a Huskie defense since 2008 (298.5 yards/game). 
 
Total Defense Passing Efficiency Defense Passing Yards Allowed Scoring Defense
2022  395.7 157.47 252.8 32.8
      National Rank 79th 125th 100th 114th
2023  323.1 110.67 154.0 22.7
      National Rank 22nd 10th 3rd 44th
Difference -72.6 yds/g -46.8 -98.8 yds/g -10.1 pts/g

LOW SCORING: Ball State became the sixth NIU opponent this season to score two or less touchdowns as the NIU defense limited the Cardinals to an opening drive touchdown, a field goal one minute before halftime and 10 fourth quarter points - with both scores coming after NIU turned the ball over on its half of the field. NIU has held four of its six MAC opponents to two TDs or less as Ohio and Eastern Michigan both managed just one touchdown and two field goals, while Akron scored two touchdowns in a Huskie blowout win. Southern Illinois totaled 14 points on two TDs, while Tulsa defeated the Huskies with two touchdowns, two field goals and a safety.    

PICKED: NIU's nine interceptions on the season are the most by a Huskie defense since 2017. Safety Nate Valcarcel leads the Huskies with three INTs, while cornerback JaVaughn Byrd and safety Cyrus McGarrell have each picked off two passes. The last time NIU had three or more players with multiple interceptions was 2017. The Huskies' season-high three INTs versus Ohio (by Valcarcel, McGarrell and Byrd) came on three consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter. It was the first time in 70 games that the Huskies intercepted three or more passes. 

TURNOVER TALK: The Huskies have been on the wrong end of a 6-0 turnover count in the last two games - committing five fumbles and an interception - while neither Central Michigan nor Ball State turned the ball over.  This season, NIU is 0-3 when it loses the turnover battle (vs. SIU, CMU, Ball State), 3-0 when it wins the turnover battle (vs. Akron, Ohio, EMU) and 1-3 when the turnovers are even (W over Boston College, L vs. Nebraska, Tulsa, Toledo).  

SECOND HALF TEAM: Especially in its six Mid-American Conference battles, NIU has been a second half team. NIU has outscored its opponents in five of six MAC games with the only exception last week versus Ball State. The Cardinals became the first MAC team to score on NIU in the fourth quarter in four games with 10 fourth-quarter points, aided by a pair of Huskie fumbles. NIU has outscored its MAC foes 107-54 in the second half with a 53-17 margin in the fourth quarter. Ball State and Toledo are the only league teams to score in the final period this year. 

GROUP EFFORT: While just 16 different players have started games for the NIU defense and 12 have accounted for 104 (of 110) starts, the Huskie defense has relied on its depth in 2023. As many as 23 different players are rotating into the game, including 10 defensive linemen, four linebackers, five safeties and four cornerbacks. Fifteen different Huskies have collected tackles for loss, eight have been in on a sack and another 13 have pass break-ups. Through nine games, 21 players have made at least 10 tackles and 16 have accrued 20 or more stops. Versus Akron, 31 different Huskie players were credited with tackles. 

CLOSE CALLS: With Ball State earning a three-point win on a last second field goal last week at Huskie Stadium, seven of NIU's 10 games in 2023 have been decided by one score or less. In 54 games under Thomas Hammock since 2019, 33 games, including 23 Mid-American Conference contests have been one score affairs. Included in those 33 games are three overtime games. 

YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS: While NIU's 2023 roster is filled with experience, a handful of youngsters have played their way into contributing roles. At receiver, redshirt freshman Jalen Johnson has made 15 catches while playing in eight games with his first career touchdown at Toledo, while fellow redshirt freshman receiver Dane Pardridge scored his first touchdown on a six-yard reception at Central Michigan. Pardridge, who has seven catches, took over punt return duties with the injury to Kacper Rutkiewicz. On the offensive line, Evan Malcore has seen extensive playing time and started four of NIU's last five games at left tackle. On defense, redshirt cornerbacks Jacob Finley and Amariyun Knighten are the only freshmen to see time. The duo has combined for 39 tackles, 24 by Finley, who has started eight games. 

LEAD DOG: Antario Brown has rushed for 916 yards on 155 carries with seven touchdowns on the season to account for 57 percent of the Huskies' rushing yards. Brown has three 150-plus yard rushing games on the season and gained a season and career high 280 yards versus Akron, which still ranks as the second-highest total in a FBS game this year. He ran for 152 yards on just 16 carries at Toledo and gained 167 yards on 22 carries at Central Michigan. Entering the weekend games, Brown ranked 16th nationally and second in the MAC in rushing yards, 30th (3rd MAC) in yards per carry with 6.15 and 30th (3rd MAC) in rushing yards per game with 91.6.

DOWNTOWN BROWN: Antario Brown, who became the 20th player in NIU history to rush for over 2,000 career yards earlier this season, has 19 career rushing touchdowns. Thirteen of those 19 TDs have come on runs of 35 yards or longer, making his average touchdown run 36.8 yards. In 2023, Brown has scored seven rushing touchdowns - on runs of 66, 58, 46, 50 and 61 yards - along with a pair of two-yard scores. At Akron, he scored from 66, 58, 46 and 50 yards, while his 61-yard touchdown came at Central Michigan. Brown added his first career receiving touchdown - on a two-yard reception - in the season opener at Boston College.       

IRON MAN: Among the Huskies' 14 seniors to be honored Tuesday night, no current player has worn the Huskie jersey longer, or in as many games, as right tackle Nolan Potter. Potter spent a redshirt season on NIU's 2018 MAC Championship team and played in all 12 games on the field goal/PAT unit in 2019. Beginning in the COVID-19 shortened six game season of 2020, Potter has played in 41 of the Huskies' last 42 games with 40 starts. A two-time All-MAC lineman, he has been elected a team captain in each of the last two seasons. 

VETERAN QB: Seventh-year senior Rocky Lombardi plays in his 50th college football game on Tuesday when the Huskies take on Western Michigan. Lombardi played in 22 games and made nine starts in four seasons at Michigan State, including a redshirt season in 2017. The WMU game is his 28th at NIU. All-time, he is 562-of-1,013 passing for 6,943 and 40 TDs. He has also rushed for 696 yards on 227 carries with 14 rushing scores. 

ON THE CHARTS: Based on his NIU games played alone, Rocky Lombardi will leave the Huskies ranked on the Huskie passing charts. Lombardi's 5,041 career passing yards are sixth at NIU all-time, while his 403 completions in 681 attempts rank seventh on the Huskie charts.  

IMPACT RECEIVER: 2023 newcomer Grayson Barnes has had a knack for the long play with nine catches for 208 yards versus MAC opponents. for an average of 23.1 yards per catch with touchdown catches of 34 yards at Akron, 58 yards versus Ohio and 22 yards at Central Michigan. His three catches against Eastern Michigan included a spectacular 26-yard grab on third and 14 to extend NIU's go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. 

HIDDEN VALUE: While his value will not show up in the stats, fullback Brock Lampe has been one of the most versatile - and valuable - players for the Huskie offense in 2023 as a lead blocker, ball carrier and receiver. At Akron, he cleared the way on nearly all of Antario Brown's long touchdown runs. The junior has 12 rushes for 50 yards on the season with eight of his carries coming on third and short and all resulting in a first down or a touchdown. He has seven catches for 87 yards on the year, with three of at least 12 yards, including a season-long 26-yard grab at Toledo. He caught a pair of passes for 17 yards last week versus Ball State.

GOING LONG: In MAC play, NIU has recorded 26 plays of 25 yards or longer after just five long plays in the Huskies' four non-conference games. Over the last six games, the Huskies have 11 rushing, 10 passing and five returns of 25-plus yards by 11 different players in MAC games with Trayvon Rudolph's 35-yard touchdown run versus Ball State the latest addition to the list. Rocky Lombardi has hit five different receivers with at least one 25-yard pass; safety Nate Valcarcel has both a long fumble (50 yards) and interception (33) return, while Trayvon Rudolph's five long plays include three catches, two at CMU, a 36-yard rush and a 48-yard kickoff return. NIU has scored 11 touchdowns on long plays over the last five games and has 12 on the year. (See box page 4) adding four - on two runs and two passes - for a pair of TDs at Central Michigan. 

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION: After two seasons playing a hybrid tight end/wide receiver position, redshirt sophomore and former walk-on George Gumbs made the transition to defensive end following 2023 spring practices. He moved into the starting line-up at Akron and through 10 games, leads NIU in sacks (3.5) and ranks second in tackles for loss (5.5) while compiling 31 tackles.  

PORTAL-ING: In 2023, NIU added 16 new transfers to the eight returnees who started their collegiate careers elsewhere. Twenty of the 24 total transfer Huskies have played and 11have started at least one game in 2023. NIU has started as many as five transfers in a game this year. Third-year Huskies Rocky Lombardi (QB) and Nate Valcarcel (S) and first-year linebacker DaRon Gilbert have been the most consistent starters; in all, 11 transfers are listed on NIU's current two-deep. 

BOOMING: Huskie punter Tom Foley averaged a career high 53.2 yards on four punts versus Eastern Michigan, highlighted by a wind-aided 79-yard blast, the longest punt in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season, the third-longest punt in school history and the longest since 1941. The NIU junior earned MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He also had a 50.0 yard average on four punts at Toledo when he was named to the "Ray's 8" weekly honor roll by the Ray Guy Award. Foley is averaging 40.7 yards per punt.   

KANON THE KICKER: Since taking over placekicking duties in game four, sophomore Kanon Woodill has made 9-of-12 field goals, including 6-of-6 in the Huskies' last three home games. Woodill, a walk-on who is a member of the NIU ROTC program, hit all three of his field goal attempts versus Ohio - all in the second half - to earn MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors. His threes turned a 14-13 NIU lead into a 23-13 margin. He was 2-for-2 on field goals versus Eastern Michigan with both tying the game and made his lone attempt last week versus Ball State. 

GAME EXPERIENCE: Overall, the Huskies have fielded one of their most experienced team in years in 2023 with 22 players on the roster who have seen action in at least 30 games during their NIU careers, and another 13 who have played in at least 20 games. There are 12 Huskies who have started 20 or more games. Offensive tackle Nolan Potter (53 games/40 starts) and James Ester (45 games/38 starts) top the list of both games played and starts on either side of the ball and there are nine players who have 40 or more games played at NIU alone.

GRADS: NIU's 2023 roster includes 16 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees  either at NIU or from another institution. The complete list with school and major.

Pos.    Name    School (Earned Degree)    Major
CB Gabe Amegatcher (Nebraska-Kearney) Major: General Studies; Minors: Construction Management, Mathematics
LB Keshon Artis (Virginia Tech) Major: Business Information Technology
TE Chris Carter (Howard) Major: Strategic, Legal & Management Communications
DT James Ester (NIU) Major: Communication, Media Studies
RB Kendrell Flowers (South Carolina State) Major: Family & Consumer Sciences
P Tom Foley (NIU) Degrees: B.S. in Accountancy; M.S. Finance
LB DaRon Gilbert (Lafayette) Major: Economics; Minor: Anthropology & Sociology
LB Tyler Jackson (Lamar) Majors: Industrial Engineering and Business
QB C.J. Jordan (Idaho) Major: Psychology; Minor: Communication
OL J.J. Lippe (NIU) Major: Leadership & Management
QB Rocky Lombardi (Michigan State) Major: History
WR Davis Patterson (Notre Dame College) Major: Strategic Communications & Public Relations
OT Nolan Potter (NIU) Major: Organizational & Corporate Communications
WR Kacper Rutkiewicz (NIU) Major: General Emphasis
DT Demond Taylor Jr. (NIU) Major: Communication, Media Studies
TE Tristen Tewes (NIU) Major: Environmental Studies

STRONG FINISH: With an offensive outburst in the second half, NIU finished the Central Michigan game with 506 total yards for its second 500-yard game of the season. The Huskies' 298 passing yards were a season high while its 208 rushing yards were the second-best total of the season. The Huskies gained 347 yards in the second half alone, 142 rushing and 205 passing, with 28 second-half points to help make up for a 24-3 halftime deficit.

DOMINATING SECOND HALF D: The Huskies won the Ohio game with a dominant defensive performance in the second half, including three fourth-quarter interceptions. Ohio scored 13 points, gained 12 first downs and totaled 188 yards of offense in the opening half. After halftime, the Bobcats made three first downs, did not score and gained just 66 yards on 22 plays, including 14 yards on six rushing plays.

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: The Huskie offense had a breakout game with 55 points, 571 yards of total offense and 380 rushing yards at Akron on October 10. NIU's 55 points were the most scored by a Thomas Hammock led Huskie team, and the most since NIU scored 63 points versus Ball State (11-9-17) in a 63-17 win. NIU's 380 rushing yards versus the Zips were the most by a Huskie team in 109 games, since a 433-yard day versus Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 18, 2014, a 51-41 NIU win.  

RECORD BREAKER: With an average of 21.5 yards on 13 carries (280 yards) at Akron, Antario Brown broke the 34-year-old NIU record for the highest yards per rush in a single game (minimum 10 carries). The previous record of 17.6 was set by quarterback Stacey Robinson versus Cincinnati (11-18-89) with 281 yards on 16 carries and five touchdowns in a 56-3 NIU win. Brown's 160-yard second quarter ranks as the second-most yards gained in a quarter by a Huskie, trailing only a 173-yard quarter (2nd) by Robinson versus Fresno State (10-6-90). He became just the sixth player in NIU history to run for 280 or more yards in a single game, joining Jordan Lynch, Garrett Wolfe, LeShon Johnson, Michael Turner and Robinson.

SAFETY DANCE: Former walk-on Nate Valcarcel recorded a turnover in four consecutive games with three interceptions and a fumble recovery between the Tulsa and Ohio games. He made his first career interception in the first quarter at Tulsa, had a 50-yard fumble recovery and return for a touchdown at Toledo, recorded his second INT in the second half at Akron. and picked off another pass versus the Bobcats. His three interceptions on the season are the most by a Huskie since Juwuan Johnson picked off five passes in 2017.    

LONGEST DRIVE: Trayvon Rudolph's six-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter versus Tulsa came on the 20th play of a drive that began 11 minutes and three seconds earlier. The drive still ranks as the longest in FBS this year in terms of number of plays, and is the third-longest in time . Quarterback Ethan Hampton led the 75-yard drive, that included 15 rushing and five passing plays. 

FILLING THE BONEYARD: With its 27-24 overtime win over Boston College in the 2023 season opener, NIU earned its 18th "Boneyard Win," defined as wins over prominent opponents and teams from leagues now designated as "Power 5." The Boneyard tradition began in 1983 and NIU has collected 10 Boneyard Wins in the last 15 years, including in back-to-back games versus ACC opponents and in 2017 at Nebraska. All-time, the Huskies have Boneyard Wins over teams from the ACC (4), SEC (1), Big 12 (5) and Big Ten (7), as well as over independent BYU. 

LEADERS OF THE PACK: Five players were named 2023 permanent team captains. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi, offensive tackle Nolan Potter, safety C.J. Brown, linebacker Jaden Dolphin and defensive tackle James Ester were chosen in voting by the Huskie team. Lombardi and Ester were named captains for the third consecutive season, while Potter is in his second year in the role. They will be joined by a different teammate selected each game.

DOGS IN OT: NIU's season opening win at Boston College in overtime marked the Huskies' 10th OT win, improving its all-time overtime record to 10-5. The Huskies have won five of their last six overtime games after its four-game winning streak in OT was snapped at Ball State last year. NIU is 4-3 in overtime games on the road and is 1-0 in neutral site OT games. The Huskies have won three of four overtime games versus non-conference opponents and are 7-4 when MAC games go to extra periods.  

 
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