Football | August 25

DeKALB, IL - It is not easy to replace three of the top five tacklers from a year ago for the Northern Illinois University football team's group of linebackers, but head coach Thomas Hammock said Friday following practice that he likes how the room has rebuilt itself in the offseason.
 
"I like the group," said Hammock. "We made some good decisions as far as adding guys to that group. They have come here and exceeded our expectations. I'm excited to see that group play collectively. We feel we have five or six guys that can help us win."
 
The Huskies' leading returning tackler in the linebacker group is junior Jaden Dolphin (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West). Last season, Dolphin was fourth on the team with 52 tackles and added two tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. He had a season-high 16 tackles in last season's matchup against Central Michigan. Dolphin looks to make a greater impact this season as he moves to inside linebacker.
 
"As soon as I got here, it was pretty obvious we were going to move Jaden inside," said linebackers coach Adam Breske. "We told him to wrap his arms around the mike position and run with it. There's a lot of leadership to that position and a lot of calls to be made, and he's done a good job and turned himself into a true inside linebacker."
 
Another player making a position move is junior Devin Lafayette (Brunswick, Ga./Brunswick), who will be primarily a linebacker in 2023. Lafayette had 44 tackles in 2022 with an interception, a forced fumble, and two tackles for loss.
 
"We moved Devin in the summer and knew he could help us at the will linebacker," Breske said. "Devin's a really smart football player and he's working on getting his timing down being that much closer to the ball."
 
Two veteran transfers were added to the group in seniors Tyler Jackson (Alief, Texas/Lamar) and DaRon Gilbert (Detroit, Mich./Lafayette). Jackson comes to NIU after starting 22 games at Lamar from 2019-22. He was a Second Team All-Southland Conference selection last season after leading the Cardinals with 98 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss. Gilbert played four seasons at Lafayette and was a First Team All-Patriot League pick for the Leopards last season after recording 54 tackles.
 
"They're going to be all over the field," said Breske. "They've been great additions to the room. They're both mature and have played a lot of football in their careers. Getting them plugged into our room and NIU has been pretty easy."
 
The linebacker group will also be instrumental on special teams, led by juniors Joey Rattin (Palatine, Ill./Upper Iowa) and Quinn Urwiler (Mooseheart, Ill./North Dakota). Redshirt-Freshman Jake Gassaway (Omaha, Neb./Millard South) and redshirt-sophomore Ryan King (Wildwood, Mo./Chaminade College Prep) will also be key contributors.
 
"Linebackers have to be all over the field on special teams," Breske said. "Being the special teams coordinator, you have to look for body types and energy and effort, and that has to come from the linebacker room and I'm glad those guys are all over the depth chart."
 
NIU held its first practice in preparation for next Saturday's season opener at Boston College Friday morning inside the Chessick Practice Center. Hammock liked the intensity of the practice, especially from his futures team.
 
"I really liked the way the futures team came out," Hammock said. "They're guys that can still get on the bus so they competed. Every rep matters for them too. We evaluate every snap at practice and I liked their intensity. When the futures team has great intensity it makes the practice better, because it forces the offense and defense to match that."
 
The Huskies are back on the practice field on Saturday, August 26 at 2:30 p.m. at Huskie Stadium.
 
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.
 
--NIU--