2019
• Played in all 12 games, starting eight games at wide receiver.
• Caught 23 passes for 370 yards and two touchdowns.
• Led the Huskies with five receptions for a career-high 112 yards at Utah (9-7); including a 74-yard touchdown catch and run.
• Had his third 100-yard receiving game of his career at Vanderbilt (9-28) with three catches for 100 yards.
• Caught four passes at Miami (10-19).
• Had three receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown at Central Michigan (11-2).
2018
• Ranked third on the team in catches and receiving yards and was second in TD catches.
• Made 37 of his 40 catches in last nine games, and had at least four catches in last five contests.
• Led NIU in receiving in last five games.
• Has caught at least one pass in 24 of his last 25 games played.
• Caught touchdown passes of 13 and 32 yards in the MAC Championship game to lead the Huskie offense versus Buffalo (11-30) and totaled six catches for 73 yards.
• First TD was a one-handed grab while falling backward that was a SportsCenter Top Play.
• Hauled in second TD catch on his fingertips to bring NIU within five points (29-24) at start of fourth quarter.
• Totaled six catches for 50 yards in the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl (12-18) game to lead all Huskie pass-catchers.
• Had six catches for a season-high 84 yards at Western Michigan (11-20) and scored NIU’s first TD on a season-long 58-yard grab.
• Caught five passes for 74 yards vs. Miami (11-14) and drew two pass interference calls in the end zone to set up Huskie TDs.
• Scored his first career rushing touchdown on a five-yard run versus the RedHawks.
• Caught three passes for 34 yards at BYU (10-27).
• Recorded a pair of catches in the Ball State (10-6), Ohio (10-13) and Florida State (9-22) games.
• Had a 14-yard touchdown grab versus Central Michigan (9-15).
• Sat out the first two games of the season due to suspension.
2017
• A third team All-MAC choice by league coaches.
• Only Huskie
to catch a pass in every game.
• Led NIU in catches (43) and receiving yards (528) and tied for second in touchdown catches with four.
• Caught a team-high four passes for 67 yards in the Quick Lane Bowl (12-26).
• Made three catches for 63 yards at Toledo (11-9).
• Grabbed four passes for 40 yards versus EMU (10-26).
• Caught three passes for 42 yards with a 15-yard TD at Bowling Green (10-21).
• Totaled a career-high five catches in three different games - San Diego State (9-30), Buffalo (10-14) and Central Michigan (11-24).
• Scored on a team season-long 81-yard pass vs. San Diego State and recorded his first 100-yard receiving game with 105 yards.
• Opened the scoring versus Kent State (10-7) and Eastern Illinois (9-9) with touchdown catches of 10 and 39 yards, respectively.
2016
• Recorded two tackles on special teams, one solo and one assist.
• Attempted first rush at Ball State (10-1).
• Caught one reception versus Buffalo (10-22) for three yards.
• Appeared in 11 games with one start at wide receiver.
2015
• Redshirted.
High School
• Highly-touted local receiving prospect.
• As a senior, caught 27 passes for 468 yards and six touchdowns.
• Helped H.L. Richards reach quarterfinals of the Illinois 6A playoffs.
• Also rushed for 75 yards and two scores.
• Earned 2014 Chicago Tribune All-State Special Mention honors.
• As a junior, amassed 500 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns.
• Played in the 2013 Illinois 6A state title game with the Bulldogs.
• Also a basketball letterwinner.
Personal
• Born Dec. 19, 1996, in Chicago, Ill.
• Son of Patrice Tears.
• Media Studies major.
TEARS' SINGLE GAME CAREER GAME HIGHS
Carries: 3 (Akron 11-1-18)
Rushing Yards: 10 (Akron 11-1-18)
Rushing Touchdowns: 1 (Akron 11-1-18)
Long Rush: 5 (SDSU 9-30-17, Akron 11-1-18)
Catches: 6 (WMU 11-20-18; Buffalo 11-30-18; UAB 12-18-18)
Receiving Yards: 105 (SDSU 9-30-17)
Receiving Touchdowns: 2 (Buffalo 11-30-18)
Long Reception: 81 (SDSU 9-30-17)
