Northern Illinois University Athletics

2016
• Appeared in the last three games of the season at quarterback and started the season finale at Kent State (11-25).
• Threw for 361 yards and a touchdown with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground for the year.
• NIU’s Offensive Player of the Week at Eastern Michigan (11-16) where he ran for 91 yards on 13 carries and threw for 103 yards and a touchdown to lead NIU to a come-from-behind victory.
• Threw for 258 yards and ran for 16 yards and a touchdown in the NIU victory at Kent State.
• Saw his first collegiate action late in the Toledo (11-9) game at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

2015
• Redshirted.
• Listed on the NIU depth chart  in the postseason after injuries at quarterback but didn’t play due in the MAC Championship Game to his own injury.

High School
• Star quarterback at nearby Geneva.
• As a senior, guided the Vikings to the Illinois 7A quarterfinals by passing for 2,443 yards and 23 touchdowns.
• 2014 Upstate Eight River Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year.
• Garnered 2014 first team all-area honors from the Aurora Beacon-News and the Kane Country Chronicle.
• As a junior, threw for 2,266 yards and 27 touchdowns and advanced to the Illinois 7A state playoffs with the Vikings.
• 2013 Daily Chronicle Tri-Cities All-Area and All-Upstate Eight River Conference honoree.
• Also rushed for more than 400 yards and six touchdowns at Geneva.

Personal
• Born Sept. 30, 1996, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Son of Mary Ellen and Michael Santacaterina Sr.
• His father, Michael Sr., played football at Lake Forest College.
• His brother, Michael Jr., was a four-year letterwinner at linebacker for NIU and started 12 times in 2014, helping the Huskies win the MAC West for the fifth consecutive season and a league title.
• His sister, Jackie, recently retired from professional soccer after playing for the Chicago Red Stars. She also played collegiately at Illinois.
• His other sister, Brianna, played played soccer at DePaul.
• His first cousin, Mike Magee, plays for the Chicago Fire and earned Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player award in 2013.
• Intends to major in business.

Santacaterina's Single Game Career Highs
Attempts: 37 (San Diego State 9-30-17)
Completions: 23 (2x) (Eastern Illinois 9-9-17; San Diego State 9-30-17)
Comp %: 68.2 (Nebraska 9-16-17)
Passing Yards: 262 (San Diego State 9-30-17)
Long Pass: 81 (San Diego State 9-30-17)
Passing Touchdowns: 3 (2x) (Eastern Illinois 9-9-17; San Diego State 9-30-17)
Interceptions: 3 (San Diego State 9-30-17)