Career
• Ranks ninth in career carries (600), 11th in career rushing yards (2,911) and seventh in career rushing touchdowns (31) at NIU.
• Totaled nine 100-yard rushing games with all coming in his junior and senior seasons.
• His 34 career touchdowns rank sixth at NIU all-time.
• Valued almost as much for his blocking as his running during his Huskie career; played on special teams even as a senior starter.
2016
• Second team All-MAC selection led the Huskies in rushing with 182 carries for 885 yards and eight touchdowns.
• Averaged 4.9 yards per carry on the year and for his career.
• Caught a career-best 17 passes for 157 yards and a score.
• Started all 12 games at running back and was the Huskies’ most effective blocker from that position.
• Scored five touchdowns against Bowling Green (11-1), tied for the second-highest total in a single game at NIU, to earn MAC West Offensive Player of the Week honors.
• Totaled 134 rushing yards on 26 carries versus BG, one of three 100-yard rushing games on the season.
• Ran for a season-high 153 yards on 21 carries with a score versus Ball State (10-1).
• Scored two rushing touchdowns and recorded a season long 31-yard carry at Kent State (11-25) en route to a 133-yard day on 29 carries.
• Caught a career-best six passes in the season opener at Wyoming (9-3) for 43 yards.
2015
• First Team All-MAC running back.
• Played in all 14 games, starting 12.
• Led NIU in carries (283), rushing yards (1,285) and rushing touchdowns (18).
• His 18 rushing TDs tied for 10th in the FBS.
• Had six 100-yard rushing games.
• Also scored multiple TDs in six contests.
• Led MAC league with 108 points scored and finished second in rushing yards.
• Rushed for a career-high 156 yards with two scores at Buffalo (11-11), earning MAC West Offensive Player of the Week selection.
• Career-high 31 rushes for 149 yards and two TDs vs. Ball State (10-10).
• Scored three touchdowns on the ground in the season opener against UNLV (9-5) and repeated the feat at Miami (10-17).
• Had two TDs and 104 yards rushing at Central Michigan (10-3).
• Tallied 137 yards rushing and a season-best 50 yards receiving on homecoming against Eastern Michigan (10-24).
• Grounded out 87 yards and a score in a key victory at Toledo (11-3).
• Rushed for 78 yards and over four yards-per-carry at Ohio State (9-19).
• Was NIU’s leading rusher in all but two games during the season.
2014
• Played in all 14 games with seven starts.
• Ranked third on the team in carries (113), rushing yards (655) and rushing touchdowns (5).
• Led all NIU tailbacks with a 5.8 yards-per-carry average.
• Scored five touchdowns on the season, including four in the season opener against Presbyterian (8-28).
• Also tallied then-career highs on the ground in attempts (16) and rushing yards (97) versus Presbyterian (8-28).
• Notched his other rushing touchdown at Eastern Michigan (10-25).
• Scampered for a season-long 49-yard rush against Miami (10-18).
• Had at least one carry in every game and toted the ball five or more times in 12 different games.
• Led all tailbacks with 13 receptions, which went for 70 yards in 2014.
• Had five catches for 71 yards with a receiving score at Arkansas (9-20), with a career-long 45-yard reception against the Razorbacks.
2013
• Appeared in four games as a true freshman.
• Carried the ball 22 times for 86 yards and caught a 10-yard touchdown pass.
• Carried the ball nine times for a career-high 39 yards at UMass (11-2).
• Rushed for 35 yards on career-high 10 carries versus Eastern Michigan (10-26) and scored his first career touchdown on a 10-yard reception.
High School
• Two-time all-state, all-area and all-conference running back.
• Ran 146 times for 1,475 yards and 21 touchdowns in his senior season at Aurora Christian.
• Gained 215 yards and scored four touchdowns on 15 carries in the 2012 Illinois Class 3A quarterfinals against Winnebago, with six carries of 20 or more yards.
• Ran for 95 yards on 10 carries in the 2012 Class 3A state championship victory, scoring on runs of 60 and 10 yards to earn the game MVP award.
• Led the team with 119 tackles as a senior, including 11 in the state title game, and was named the team's defensive MVP.
• Rushed for 1,446 yards in 10 games for Burlington Central HS as a junior where he was a three-time team MVP.
Personal
• Born March 28, 1995, in Pomona, Calif.
• Son of Desire and Valerie Bouagnon.
• Leadership and management major.
• Full name is Joel Alexandre Balu Bouagnon and is pronounced Jo-ELL Oll-EX-on Bwon-NYO.
BOUAGNON'S SINGLE GAME CAREER HIGHS
Carries: 31, vs. Ball State, 10-10-15
Rushing Yards: 156, at Buffalo, 11-11-15
Long Rush: 58, at Buffalo, 11-11-15
Touchdowns: 5, vs. Bowling Green, 11-1-16
Receptions: 6, at Wyoming, 9-3-16
Receiving Yards: 71, at Arkansas, 9-20-14
Long Catch: 45, at Arkansas, 9-20-14
