DEKALB, Ill. – As a returning first team All-MAC honoree who ranks in the top 15 in program history in career rushing yards (2,523), one spot ahead of his head coach Thomas Hammock (2,432), Northern Illinois University senior running back Antario Brown (Savannah, Ga./Beach) is very much a known quantity in Huskie football circles. But one thing about Brown may be less well known, his nickname. 

Spending time around Brown with his teammates and coaches, it seems clear that his nickname is "AB." During any given practice you will hear numerous people reference him with that name. But another nickname, one that emerged after one particular performance last season is lesser known, but enjoyed by the Savannah, Ga., native. 

That nickname… Slime. 

Where did it come from? Why slime? Those are the obvious questions.

"It's a nickname my teammates gave me," Brown explains. "They said it comes from how I play and from what I did in the Akron game. They said I was formless and slithery, they said I was slipping out of a lot of tackles. I just ran with it, I thought it was a pretty cool nickname, 'Slime Time' 'Slime Brown,' whatever. I think it's a cool nickname."

If any single game earns a player a nickname, why not a 280-yard, four touchdown performance like the one Brown produced last season against the Zips. It was one of the many highlights in a year during which he ran for 1,296 yards on 212 carries, scoring 10 touchdowns. The Huskie senior ranked 16th in the country in yards per game (99.7) and 21st in yards per carry (6.11). He increased that yards per carry mark to an astonishing 8.41 per game in league play, and his return is one of the big reasons Hammock is bullish about his running back group this season, calling it the best of his head coaching tenure.

"I think it is the best group we have had here, and that's saying a lot because we have had a lot of talented players at that position," said Hammock. "The depth, the talent, the guys that have the ability to make plays in the running game and the passing game. You play like you practice and those guys have been practicing exceptionally and I can't wait to watch them."

While Brown may be the headliner, the group features numerous other talented pieces, including a trio that contributed a season ago, led by Gavin Williams (Altoona, Iowa/Dowling Catholic) who rushed for just shy of 500 yards (488) with three touchdowns. The Iowa transfer ran for 5.1 yards per carry and was also a dangerous part of the NIU passing game in 2023, recording 24 receptions for 147 yards. 

Making his transition to running back, Justin Lynch (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel) appeared in five games last season, four regular season contests and the bowl game, while preserving his redshirt. Lynch ran for 84 yards on eight carries against Tulsa. Jaylen Poe (Dallas, Ga./North Paulding) also redshirted last year, but did see time in one game, running for 44 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown, against Western Michigan. 

With all of that depth, the only downside for offensive coordinator/running backs coach Wesley Beschorner is getting everyone enough reps in practice.

"Gavin (Williams) has played a ton of football for us, he is one of our top runners from last season, and one of our top receivers," said Beschorner. "He is super valuable in all the things he does. Jaylen Poe played some snaps last year, Justin Lynch played in four games last year, and then we have some young guys. We will see where they come along. I really like all of them, I wish I could get more reps for everybody but that's not how it goes, we just have to keep everyone healthy."

After practicing indoors on Thursday, the Huskies returned to the Huskie Stadium turf under a cloudless sky on Friday morning. 

"Practice was really good," said Hammock. "Yesterday, the offense got after it and the defense responded today. We did individual drills at the end to get them to focus, when they are tired, on individual fundamentals and techniques. We know a lot of games come down to being able to execute in critical moments, so we want to continue to make that a point of emphasis and hopefully it will pay off in games."

The Huskies open the 2024 season at Huskie Stadium on Saturday, August 31 against Western Illinois. Check out all of the ticket options and buy tickets anytime online at NIUHuskies.com/myhuskies. To request more information and connect with a member of the NIU ticket staff, click here or call the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). Calls received outside of business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm CT) will be returned the next business day.