The Best of Northern Illinois University Football (1899-1998)
Fran Cahill, All-Purpose
John Ivanic, PK
OFFENSE
| Pos. | No. | Player | Years Lettered | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown |
| WR | 87 | John Spilis | 1966-68 | 6-4 | 217 | South Holland, IL |
| | NIU's top NFL draft pick (64th player) / College All-Star Game / 22 career TD catches |
| | 6 | Dave Petzke | 1977-78 | 6-1 | 180 | Faribault, MN |
| | Third-Team AP All-America / NCAA 1-A Receiving champ / MAC Player of Year / All-MAC |
| WR | 84 | Hugh Rohrschneider | 1960-63 | 6-6 | 214 | Burlington, IL |
| | Two-time Little All-America & NCAA II Receiving champ / North-South Shrine Game / All-IIAC |
| | 42 | Gary Stearns | 1960-63 | 6-0 | 180 | Freeport, IL |
| | Honorable Mention Little All-America / Record 17 catches vs. Central Michigan / All-IIAC |
| TE | 88 | Jim Hannula | 1977-80 | 6-6 | 235 | Elgin, IL |
| | NFL draft pick / All-MAC & All-MAC Academic / MAC Punting champion |
| | 85 | Ken Moore | 1974-76 | 6-3 | 226 | Chicago, IL |
| | NFL draft pick / All-America Bowl / All-MAC / MAC Player of Week |
| OL | 54 | Randy Clark | 1977-79 | 6-3 | 235 | Mount Prospect, IL |
| | NFL draft pick & All-Pro / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC |
| | 78 | Dan Rosado | 1977-79 | 6-3 | 252 | Canton, GA |
| | "Late" pro career with Houston (USFL & NFL), Miami (NFL), San Diego (NFL) |
| OL | 71 | Scott Bolzan | 1980-83 | 6-5 | 269 | South Holland, IL |
| | NFL draft pick / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC / Cal Bowl captain |
| | 77 | Dale Berman | 1958-59 | 6-0 | 220 | Grand Ridge, IL |
| | First-Team All-IIAC / Called "best O-line player and technician" in Fletcher era |
| OL | 76 | Todd Peat | 1983-86 | 6-2 | 294 | Champaign, IL |
| | NFL All-Rookie & draft pick / Third-Team AP All-America / Two-time All-MAC |
| | 33 | Tego Larsen | 1936-38 | 6-1 | 185 | DeKalb, IL |
| | IIAC Player of Year / Two-time All-IIAC / Played service ball at Fort Knox |
| OL | 77 | Ted Karamanos | 1984-87 | 6-2 | 260 | Oak Lawn, IL |
| | NFL free agent / Honorable Mention AP All-America / Team MVP |
| | 77 | Rich Barrent | 1979-82 | 6-4 | 243 | Clinton, IA |
| | USFL Draft pick / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC |
| C | 50 | Eric Wenckowski | 1988-90 | 6-3 | 268 | Franklin Park, IL |
| | NFL free agent / Honorable Mention Football News All-America |
| | 50 | Bob Evans | 1960-63 | 5-10 | 190 | DeKalb, IL |
| | Honorable Mention All-America / Snapped for College Hall of Fame QB George Bork / All-IIAC |
| QB | 11 | George Bork | 1960-63 | 6-1 | 178 | Mount Prospect, IL |
| | Icon of 1963 National Champs / First 3,000-yard passer in NCAA / College FB Hall of Fame |
| | 7 | Stacey Robinson | 1988-90 | 6-1 | 189 | Danville, IL |
| | Honorable Mention All-America / Set eight NCAA marks / NCAA 1-A Scoring champ |
| FB | 31 | Mark Kellar | 1971-73 | 6-0 | 232 | Carpentersville, IL |
| | NFL & WFL draft pick / NCAA 1-A Rushing champ / North-South Shrine Game / MAC Player of Week |
| | 45 | Adam Dach | 1988-91 | 6-0 | 206 | Rockford, IL |
| | Honorable Mention Football News All-America / NFL free agent |
| HB | 42 | LeShon Johnson | 1992-93 | 6-0 | 201 | Haskell, OK |
| | NFL draft pick / 6th in Heisman voting / Unanimous First-Team All-America / NCAA Rushing champ |
| | 34 | Reino Nori | 1932-35 | 5-6 | 155 | DeKalb, IL |
| | NIU's first NFL player / College All-Star Game / NIU's Best Player (1899-1949) / Won 17 letters |
| PK | 1 | Vince Scott | 1980-83 | 5-7 | 160 | DeKalb, IL |
| | NFL free agent / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC / beat Kansas with FG |
| | 84 | John Ivanic | 1987-90 | 5-9 | 165 | Moline, IL |
| | WLAF free agent / Honorable Mention All-America / beat Wisconsin with FG |
| All- | 22 | Fran Cahill | 1948-51 | 6-2 | 192 | Utica, IL |
| Purp. | NIU's first NFL draft pick / Two-time All-IIAC / Set school's game TD catch record (4) |
| | 20 | Jack Dean | 1961-64 | 5-8 | 166 | DeKalb, IL |
| | NFL free agent / IIAC Player of Year / Two-time All-IIAC / Team captain |
Jerry Meyers, DL
Frank Lewandoski, LB
The Best of Northern Illinois University Football (1899-1998)
DEFENSE
| Pos. | No. | Player | Years Lettered | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown |
| DL | 63 | Larry Brink | 1945-47 | 6-4 | 210 | Foley, MN |
| | NFL free agent / NIU's first All-Pro / Three-time First-Team All-IIAC / Team captain |
| | 86 | Cary Caliendo | 1987-90 | 6-4 | 242 | Brookfield, WI |
| | Honorable Mention Football News All-America / Career tackle for loss leader (53) |
| DL | 39 | Doug Bartlett | 1983-86 | 6-3 | 245 | Springfield, IL |
| | NFL draft pick / Two-time Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC |
| | 79 | Jerry Meyers | 1973-75 | 6-5 | 265 | Chicago, IL |
| | NFL draft pick / All-Time Huskie Stadium Team / Team Captain |
| DL | 99 | Scott Kellar | 1982-85 | 6-3 | 263 | Roselle, IL |
| | NFL draft pick / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC / MAC Player of Week |
| | 67 | Max Gill | 1979-82 | 6-2 | 248 | Merrillville, IN |
| | NFL free agent / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC / Jefferson Trophy nominee |
| DL | 78 | Hollis Thomas | 1993-95 | 6-1 | 319 | St. Louis, MO |
| | NFL All-Rookie & free agent / First-Team All-Big West Conference |
| | 78 | Steve O'Malley | 1982-85 | 6-3 | 257 | Oak Forest, IL |
| | NFL & USFL draft pick / All-Time Huskie Stadium Team / MAC Player of Week |
| LB | 50 | Frank Lewandoski | 1976-79 | 6-2 | 220 | Muskegon, MI |
| | NFL free agent / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC / NIU record 616 career tackles |
| | 60 | Mike Henigan | 1960-63 | 5-10 | 210 | DeKalb, IL |
| | Mineral Water Bowl Outstanding Lineman (1963) / All-IIAC / Team captain |
| LB | 55 | Larry Clark | 1970-72 | 6-1 | 220 | Winnebago, IL |
| | NFL draft pick & free agent / School's No. 3 career tackler (446) / Team captain |
| | 55 | Mike Terna | 1977-80 | 6-2 | 210 | Wheaton, IL |
| | USFL free agent / Honorable Mention AP All-America / MAC Player of Year / All-MAC |
| LB | 11 | Bob Gregolunas | 1973-75 | 6-1 | 208 | Calumet City, IL |
| | NFL draft pick / School's initial First-Team All-MAC player / Team captain |
| | 40 | Clarence Vaughn | 1983-84, 1986 | 6-0 | 202 | Chicago, IL |
| | NFL draft pick / Only Northern Illinois player with two Super Bowl rings (XXII & XXVI) |
| DB | 14 | Tom Beck | 1959-61 | 5-10 | 167 | Chicago, IL |
| | College FB Hall of Fame / NIU's best two-way player / Little All-America / All-IIAC |
| | 27 | Jeff Sanders | 1982-83 | 5-6 | 165 | Kansas City, KS |
| | CFL free agent / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC / MAC Player of Week |
| DB | 36 | Brett Tucker | 1985, 1987-89 | 6-0 | 193 | Sycamore, IL |
| | NFL draft pick / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-Time Huskie Stadium Team |
| | 43 | Dan Meyer | 1964-66 | 5-10 | 160 | Arlington Heights, IL |
| | NIU's career (16) & game (4) interception leader / All-IIAC / Team MVP and captain |
| DB | 12 | Dave Petway | 1977-80 | 6-2 | 206 | Chicago, IL |
| | NFL free agent / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC / Longest TD in NIU history (100 yards) |
| | 21 | Lee Hicks | 1981-84 | 5-9 | 190 | Rockford, IL |
| | All-MAC / MAC Player of Week / All-Time Huskie Stadium Team / Team captain |
| DB | 22 | Rich Marks | 1971-73 | 6-1 | 201 | Chicago, IL |
| | NFL draft pick / All-Time Huskie Stadium Team / Team captain |
| | 47 | Al Eck | 1958-60 | 5-11 | 180 | Palatine, IL |
| | Two-time Little All-America / All-IIAC / No. 2 in NIU career interception yards (221) |
| P | 93 | Tom Wittum | 1969-71 | 6-0 | 185 | Round Lake, IL |
| | NFL draft pick & two-time All-Pro / All-Time Huskie Stadium Team |
| | 9 | Todd Van Keppel | 1981-84 | 6-3 | 198 | Valparaiso, IN |
| | NFL free agent / Honorable Mention AP All-America / All-MAC / MAC Punting champ |
Ret-
Spec. | 38 | Rodney Taylor | 1985-88 | 5-7 | 163 | Davenport, IA |
| | All-Time Huskie Stadium Team / No. 5 in career all-purpose yardage (3,654) |
| | 3 | Deon Mitchell | 1995-98 | 5-10 | 179 | Ft. Wayne, IN |
| | NFL free agent / No. 1 in career all-purpose yardage (4,732) / Set six NIU KO return marks |
All-Century Team: The Next 100
1899-1929 Era:
Bill Anderson, HB (1910-12)
Clarence "Boots" Cannon, HB (1916, 1920-21)
Wes Concidine, E (1924-27)
Navarre Edwards, HB (1909)
Charles "Wix" Garner, QB (1920)
Sanford Givens, HB (1900-02)
Victor Kays, FB (1899-1901)
John McNamara, G (1927-30)
Jack Mustapha, QB (1929-30, 1933)
John "Red" Pace, E (1929-32)
James Sawyer, E (1910-11)
Kennard Seyller, QB (1913-14)
Leland Strombom, HB (1927-30)
1930-39 Era:
Roy "Flip" Allen, E (1935-38)
Ed Behan, E (1938-41)
Elzie Cooper, E (1934-35)
Chet Davis, HB-QB (1935-38)
Lou DeRango, G (1935-37)
Howard Fletcher, T (1938-39)
Karl Hein, T (1933-36)
Bill Howard, T (1932-35)
Ollie Krahenbuhl, FB (1937-40)
Robert Price, E (1938-40)
Alex Saudargas, G (1934-37)
Leonard Skoglund, E (1932-34)
Sam Smith, QB (1938-41, 1946)
Frank Stegman, T-C (1937-40)
John Young, E (1936-39)
1940-49 Era:
Ed Arquilla, G (1941-42, 1946)
Bob Brigham, FB (1947-49)
Duane Cunz, G (1941, 1946)
Bob Duffield, FB-T (1940-42, 1946)
John Farney, HB (1940-42)
Don Fortunato, QB (1946-48)
Bob Fowlie, C (1947-49)
Harry Henigan, FB (1942, 1946-47, 1949)
Floyd Hunsberger, HB (1947-49)
Toimi Jarvi, QB (1938-41)
Ed Mascal, T (1940, 1946)
Bill Minnihan, LB (1946-49)
Jim Patterson, T (1939-41)
Warren Reitzel, G (1946-47)
Dick Williams, E (1944, 1948)
1950-59 Era:
George Acker, G (1949-51)
Julius Brasini, E (1948-51)
Lew Flinn, QB (1957-59)
Bill Graham, HB (1951-54)
Alex Gulotta, G (1954-57)
Bob Heimerdinger, QB (1948-51)
Al Jones, FB-HB (1949-51)
Wes Luedeking, HB (1953-54, 1956)
Jim McKinzie, E (1951-52)
Gil Memmen, C-T (1948-51)
Dan Mojica, HB (1950-51)
Jack Pheanis, FB (1950-52)
Bob Soltis, HB (1956, 1959-60)
Ernie Wickstrom, HB (1949-50)
1960-69 Era:
Ron Christian, QB (1963-65)
Dan DeVito, DHB (1968-70)
Jim Faggetti, LB (1966-68)
Dave Herstedt, T (1962-64)
John Lalonde, FB (1968-70)
Lynn McCann, DT (1961-64)
Dave Mulderink, T (1960-62)
Tom Rosenow, T (1965-67)
Bob Stark, E (1964-65)
Dave Weisendanger, OT (1968-70)
1970-79 Era:
Mike Chelovich, OG (1978-81)
Steve Claussen, TE-DE (1976-79)
Jerry Golsteyn, QB (1973-75)
Willie Hatter, SE (1970-72)
Pete Kraker, QB (1976-78)
Jerry Latin, TB (1972-73)
John Nokes, DE (1970-72)
Don Palochko, OG (1974-76)
Allen Ross, TB (1977-80)
1980-89 Era:
Ron Delisi, LB (1986-89)
Brian Glasgow, TE (1979-82)
Tim Griffin, LB (1982-85)
Ted Hennings, DT (1986-89)
Jim Latanski, TE (1977-80)
Curt Pardridge, SE (1982-85)
Mike Pinckney, WR (1979-80)
Darryl Richardson, TB (1982-85)
Pete Roth, TB-FB (1981-82, 1984)
Gary Schlinger, DE (1981-84)
Marshall Taylor, QB (1985-88)
Tim Tyrrell, QB (1982-83)
1990-98 Era:
Steve Henriksen, LB (1988, 1990-91)
Mitch Jacoby, TE (1993-96)
Gerald Nickelberry, LB (1991-94)
Tim O'Brien, OG (1990-93)
Chris O'Neal, C (1993-94)
Raymond Roberts, TE (1990-93)
C. J. Rose, DE (1992-95)
Derek Sholdice, OT (1992-95)
Mike Sutherland, C (1993-95)
Charles Talley, TB (1993-96)
Scott Van Bellinger, DE (1988-91)
Larry Wynn, FLK (1989-92)
