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2025 NIU Football Roster

Scott Walstrom, NIU
Mark Kuhlmann

25 Jake Gassaway

  • Height 6-0
  • Weight 225
  • Class Redshirt Junior
  • Position Linebacker
  • Hometown Omaha, Neb.
  • High School Millard South

Biography

2024
• Saw action in all 13 games as second team linebacker.  
• Recorded a career high 25 total tackles in his most extensive action as a Huskie with 17 solo stops and eight assists.
• Logged tackles for loss vs. Western Illinois (8/31), Bowling Green (10/12) and Miami (11/19).
• Made a season-best three tackles in six different games with at least one stop 11 times. 
• Credited with his first career quarterback sack at Miami (11/19).
• Totaled three solo tackles versus both Western Illinois and Miami.
• In on three tackles at Notre Dame (9/7) in NIU’s historic win over nation’s third-ranked team. 
• Recovered a fumble in the win over Akron (11/13).
• Notched a pair of solo stops in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win over Fresno State (12/23). 

2023
• Played in nine games, primarily in a special teams role. 
• Saw action in seven consecutive games beginning versus Southern Illinois (9-9) through Eastern Michigan (10-21). 
• Came back to play in the regular season finale at Kent State (11-25) and in the Camellia Bowl win over Arkansas State (12-23). 
• Contributed on the kickoff coverage, kickoff return and punt return units at different times throughout the season. 
• Made a pair of tackles on special teams. 

2022
•    Saw action in the Kentucky (9-24) and Ball State (10-1) games. 
•    Played on the punt return team.
•    Redshirted the season. 

HIGH SCHOOL
Honors and Awards
  • Omaha World Herald Sports All Metro First Team (2021)
  • All-County, All-Region, and All-State (2021)
  • Team Captain (2021)
  • Team MVP (2021)
  • First team all-conference (2021)
  • Third team all-conference (2020)
  • Second team all-conference (2019)
Stats
  • 2021: 72 tackles, 48 solo, 16.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks
  • 2020: 49 tackles, 24 solo, 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks
  • 2019: 71 tackles, 46 solo, 5.0 TFL
Team Record
  • Senior year: 9-3, 2nd in Conference
  • Junior year: 10-2, 2nd in Conference
  • Sophomore year: 10-2, first in Conference
Academics & Involvement
  • Honor Roll member
  • Played basketball and ran track
  • Participated in DECA
PERSONAL
  • Birthday is January 3rd
  • Son of Betsy and Jeff Gassaway
  • Organizational and corporate communications major.

Statistics

Season:
2025

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 2021-22Freshman

    LB
    6'0" 205 lbs
  • 25

    2022Freshman

    Linebacker
    6'0" 205 lbs
    25
  • 25

    2023Redshirt Freshman

    Linebacker
    6'0" 206 lbs
    25
  • 25

    2024Redshirt Sophomore

    Linebacker
    6'0" 225 lbs
    25
  • 25

    2025Redshirt Junior

    Linebacker
    6'0" 225 lbs
    25