Football | August 18

DeKALB, IL - The Northern Illinois University football team's group of cornerbacks is out to prove that is an improved group from a year ago. For junior JaVaughn Byrd (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King), that started with building chemistry in the group.
 
"With all the trials and tribulations our room has been through, we rallied together in camp and found some chemistry and comraderie," Byrd said. "That has translated on the field in making plays every practice."
 
Byrd enters 2023 having played in 22 career games. In eight games last season Byrd made 38 tackles with two tackles for loss and three pass breakups. First-year cornerbacks coach DJ Bland praised Byrd's leadership and experience after practice Friday morning.
 
"He brings a lot of experience," said Bland. "He makes a play when we need a play whether in the passing game or the run game. JaVaughn's not afraid to put his facemask on running backs. He's playing the ball better now and with his knowledge and experience is a leader in our room."
 
The cornerbacks group made their presence known in the 11-on-11 team periods of Friday's practice. Junior Jashon Prophete (Pompano Beach, Fla./Blanche Ely), a contributor on both defense and special teams in his NIU career, had an interception in the first team period of the day. Redshirt-Freshman Jacob Finley (Birmingham, Ala./Hoover) had a key pass breakup late in practice as he continues to make plays in training camp.
 
"He's really grown up," said head coach Thomas Hammock about Finley. "His first game last year was Ball State and that was a rough game. Right now he looks like a totally different player. He looks like a guy that could be an all-conference corner. If he continues with the way he's been playing and how we works, the sky's the limit. We feel like we have four, five guys that can go out there and play at a high level. I've been pleased with how we've been able to implement some transfers in that group and love the way it turned out."
 
Those transfers are redshirt-senior Gabriel Amegatcher (Romeoville, Ill./Nebraska-Kearney) and junior Cam'Ron "Shaad" Dabney (Atlanta, Ga./Kansas). Amegatcher came to DeKalb after appearing in 27 games at Nebraska-Kearney from 2019-22. He started all 11 games in 2022 for the Antelopes, breaking up eight passes and adding a forced fumble and 18 tackles. Dabney played in 23 of 24 games over the last two years at Kansas.
 
"Gabe is a hard worker," said Bland. "He can play both the field and the boundary. Right now he'll show up in all facets of defense and on special teams. You will notice him when he's on the field. If I had to create a player on Madden, it would be him. Shaad has the knowledge coming from Kansas. He's not the biggest guy, but he's one of the smartest guys in the room. He's almost like a coach on the field because of his knowledge of the game."
 
The Huskies also look to redshirt-freshman Amariyun Knighten (Hollywood, Fla./Stranahan) to make a bigger contribution on defense this season. As a true freshman in 2022, Knighten played in four games with 15 total tackles and two pass breakups. He had 10 tackles in his first career start at Ball State last season. All told, Coach Hammock has been pleased with what he has seen from this position group.
 
"I think that position is the most improved on the team," Hammock said. "From day one to now, Coach Bland has done a phenomenal job of building the chemistry and comraderie of that group and they have exceeded my expectations. We have to go out there and show that when it matters."
 
"Our defense has been playing really, really well as a unit. Everybody is doing there 111 and it's been fun to see. If they keep building like they have, I think they can play really well. We have to be able to handle adversity and if we can stick together through that, there's no limit to how well that group will play."
 
The Huskies are back on the practice field on Saturday, August 19 at 11:15 a.m. for their second scrimmage of fall camp.
 
Follow all the action from NIU Football preseason practices, including position previews, videos and more, go to 2023 Preseason Football Camp Central on NIUHuskies.com.
 
Season, single game and mini-plan tickets for the 2023 Huskie home games are all on sale now 24 hours a day, seven days a week online at NIUHuskies.com/myhuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). Season tickets provide the best overall value at as little as $17 per game for general admission seating on the West Side of Huskie Stadium ($102 total). Sit in the same reserved seat for all six games for just $144 (sections A, B, F) or $162 (sections C, D, E). With the addition of the new Homecoming + One option, there are three "Pick Your Pack" mini-plans available, including Saturday Only and MACtion+Saturday four-game plans. See all the ticket prices and options, including premium experiences, here.
 
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