Northern Illinois University Athletics

2018
• Played in four games with two starts while preserving his redshirt season.
• Missed the first four games of the season with a foot injury.
• Came back briefly versus Eastern Michigan (9-29), then sat out the next three games.
• Started and made his first catch of the year in opening series at Akron (11-1) with a 13-yard grab.
• Caught two passes for 24 yards and provided solid blocking for two 100-yard rushers in win over Toledo (11-7).
• Made a big impact in MAC Championship win over Buffalo with career high three catches for 42 yards in his second start.
• Season-long 24-yard reception helped set up Huskies’ first score, and recorded an 11-yard catch on NIU’s game-winning drive.   

2017
• NIU’s second tight end often played alongside starter Shane Wimann and made four starts. 
• Caught four passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns, with a catch in four different games. 
• His 26-yard touchdown against Western Michigan was the game-winning score with 6:20 left on the clock in the fourth quarter. 
• Made another touchdown grab with a five-yarder against Ball State in the Huskies’ 63-17 win. 
• Special teams stalwart blocked a punt with 3:07 to play that allowed NIU to come back and tie the Eastern Michigan (10-26) game to send the game to overtime. 
• Named to the Academic All-MAC team. 

2016
• Recorded his first action as a Huskie versus San Diego State (9-17) as a reserve tight end, and made his first career start against Western Illinois (9-24).
• Caught one pass versus Central Michigan (10-15) for three yards.
• Effective as a blocker in NIU's two tight end sets as the Huskies ranked 16th
• Finished the season with three starts in eight games played.

High School
• Helped Lewis Central earn a trip to the Iowa 4A state quarterfinals.
• Selected All-State by the Des Moines Register, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier and The Gazette in Cedar Rapids.
• Made 36 catches for 570 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior followed by 31 caught passes for 453 yards and five scores as a senior.
• Coached by Jim Duggan.

Personal
• Born Feb. 4, 1998 in Omaha, Neb.
• Son of Matt Brinkman and Carrie Brinkman
• Business Administration major.

Brinkman's Single Game Career-Highs
Catches: 3 vs. Buffalo (MAC Championship), 11-30-18
Receiving Yards: 42 vs. Buffalo (MAC Championship), 11-30-18
Touchdowns: 1 (2x) (Ball State 11-9-17; Western Michigan 11-15-17)
Long Gain: 26 (Western Michigan, 11-15-17)