Football | August 19

DeKALB, IL – If there is one position group on the 2025 Northern Illinois University football team that feels almost brand new, it is the wide receiver group. Of the 13 receivers on the roster only three played in a game for the Huskies in 2024. However, a young group of returners looking to make their mark and some impact transfers are looking to contribute to the NIU passing attack.
 
"We feel like we have a top five that can give us different attributes, give the quarterback options, and make plays on the ball. There are some other pieces that can fill some specialty roles," said head coach Thomas Hammock.
 
"We've been focused on the details, being brilliant in the basics," wide receivers coach Joseph Hawkins said. "When the ball is thrown your way, make the play, get vertical and finish with the ball in your hands. We want to be better with yards after the catch and also perimeter blocking."
 
The Huskies' passing game will have a whole new look and feel and 2025, with having to replace the top nine receivers in yards. NIU retrieved two transfers from the portal for this season in DeAree Rogers (Lexington, S.C./Lenoir-Rhyne) and Gary Givens (Tampa, Fla./Valparaiso). Rogers comes to DeKalb from Lenoir-Rhyne where he had 90 receptions for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns in the last two seasons. He is also a threat in the return game, averaging 22.0 yards per kick return and 11.6 yards per punt return. Givens caught 23 passes as a freshman in 2024 at Valparaiso for 352 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 15.3 yards per catch in 11 games.
 
"We took guys that have been productive in college and that was important for us," Hammock said. "DeAree and Gary have fit right in. They compete at a high level and give us an excellent chance to improve the wide receiver position."
 
NIU's leading returning wideout is sophomore George Dimopoulos (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) who caught six passes for 57 yards while playing in all 13 games last season. Dimopoulos made a name for himself last season by throwing the eventual game-winning touchdown pass and two-point conversion in the 28-20 double overtime win over Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
 
"George has made tremendous strides this fall," Hawkins said. "He's capitalizing on his opportunities. One thing I love about him is his knowledge of the playbook. I feel like I can put him anywhere on the field and he's going to know what to do and execute."
 
The Huskies will also look to a pair of redshirt-freshmen, La'Don Bryant (Savannah, Ga./Benedictine Military School) and Rickey Taylor Jr. (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice), to contribute in the passing game. Bryant played in five games in 2024, catching a 28-yard pass from Josh Holst (Marengo, Ill./Marengo Community) in the bowl game.
 
"We have about eight guys that we'll play, but any of our top five can be a number one receiver," said Hammock. "Josh feels comfortable with them and they have made a lot of plays throughout camp. We have to find creative ways to get them involved in the passing game."
 
NIU opens the 2025 season on Saturday, August 30 at 2:30 p.m. against Holy Cross at Huskie Stadium. Season and single game tickets are on sale now for the 2025 NIU Football season. Season ticket prices for NIU's six 2025 home games begin at as little as $110 each for a general admission ticket. With the purchase of the Huskie 4-Pack (four or more tickets), pay $110 each for a reserved seat in sections A, B or F on the West Side. Reserved west side seats are priced at $152 or $170 with discounts available for NIU alumni, NIU faculty/staff, DeKalb County residents, seniors (62+) and members of the Varsity Club (former student-athletes). Tickets are also on sale for NIU's road games at Maryland and Mississippi State though the NIU Athletics Ticket Office.
  
Purchase tickets for the 2025 NIU Football season anytime online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets. For more information, call the NIU Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225) weekdays between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or email huskiestickets@niu.edu. 
 
--NIU--