2017 NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY HUSKIES 2017 SCHEDULE 12 Friday, Nov. 24, 2017-11 AM CT GAME Mount Pleasant, Mich. Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255) TV RADIO Day, Date Opponent (TV) Time (CT) Fri., Sept. 1 BOSTON COLLEGE (CBSSN) L, 23-20 Sat., Sept. 9 EASTERN ILLINOIS (ESPN3) W, 38-10 Sat., Sept. 16 at Nebraska (FS1) W, 21-17 Sat., Sept. 30 at San Diego State (CBSSN) L, 34-28 Sat., Oct. 7 KENT STATE* (Homecoming) W, 24-3 Sat., Oct. 14 at Buffalo* (ESPN3) W, 14-13 Sat., Oct. 21 at Bowling Green* (ESPN3) W, 48-17 Thur., Oct. 26 EASTERN MICHIGAN* (CBSSN) W, 30-27 (OT) Thur., Nov. 2 at Toledo (ESPNU)* L, 27-17 Thur., Nov. 9 BALL STATE (CBSSN)* W, 63-17 Wed., Nov. 15 WESTERN MICHIGAN* (ESPN2) W, 35-31 Fri., Nov. 24 at Central Michigan* (CBSSN) 11 a.m. Sat., Dec. 2 MAC Championship (ESPN) 11 a.m. Ford Field, Detroit, Mich. *Mid-American Conference Game; All Times Central. HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS Head Coach...Rod Carey Record at NIU/Years... 44-22/5th Career Record/Years... 44-22/5th Alma Mater/Year...Indiana/1993 Basic Offense/Defense...Multiple/4-3 First Year of Football... 1899 All-Time Record...579-486-51 2016 Record/MAC Record/Finish...5-7/5-3/3rd West MAC Championship Appearances, Last... 7, 2015 Bowl Appearances (Major College)... 11 Last Bowl Game... 2015 SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl...Boise State 55, NIU 7 Letterwinners Returning/Lost...50/31 Starters Returning... 15 (5 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialist) Starters Lost... 12 (5 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist) NIU FACTS Location...DeKalb, Illinois Founded... 1895 Enrollment...19,015 Affiliation...NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Conference...Mid-American (West Division) Colors...Cardinal and Black Stadium... Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium Surface/Capacity... FieldTurf /23,595 Acting President...Dr. Lisa Freeman Assoc. VP/Athletic Director... Sean T. Frazier Alma Mater, Year... Alabama 92 Ticket Information...815-753-PACK (7225) Address...1525 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, IL 60115 HUSKIE BITES NIU Huskies (8-3, 6-1 MAC) Head Coach: Rod Carey (44-22, Fifth Season) The NIU Huskies close out the 2017 regular season with a Black Friday match-up versus MAC West foe Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant; NIU can claim a share of the MAC West Division title with a win, and win it outright with a win and a Western Michigan victory over the Rockets. NIU will play in a bowl game for the ninth time in the last eight seasons and the first time since 2015. The Huskies have won at least eight games for the seventh time in the last eight years. CMU has played the role of Huskie nemesis of late, with wins over NIU in each of the last three years, and four victories in the last six seasons dating back to 2011. Defensive end Sutton Smith, one of 18 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award as the nation s top defender, put together a dominating performance versus Western Michigan with 2.5 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and his second touchdown on a fumble recovery and return. One week after breaking the NIU single season record for tackles for loss, Smith added the single season mark for quarterback sacks. His 27.5 tackles for loss (2.5/game) and 13 sacks (1.18/game) rank first and third in the FBS, respectively. In his five seasons at the helm of the Huskie program, Head Coach Rod Carey has led NIU to a 32-7 regular season record versus MAC foes for an.820 winning percentage, and a 44-22 (.667) overall mark. Senior tailback Jordan Huff ran for a career high 185 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns to lead the Huskie offense versus WMU in weather made for rushing. For his career, Huff is averaging 6.58 yards/carry. Senior safety Jackson Abresch became just the third player in FBS history - and the first since 1997 - to score two touchdowns on blocked punts in the same game versus Ball State. NIU has blocked four punts in 2017 and leads the FBS in that category. NIU Huskies @NIUAthletics niuhuskies @NIUAthletics niuhuskiesdotcom NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies 1 VS Central Michigan Chippewas (7-4, 5-2 MAC) Head Coach: John Bonamego (20-17, Third Season)
WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE MONDAY MAC COACHES TELECONFERENCE The final regular season MAC Coaches Call is this Monday; hear Rod Carey from 8:46-8:54 a.m. (CT). Replay available Monday on GetSomeMACtion.com. For schedule and media call-in number, contact NIU or the Mid-American Conference. NIU WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE NIU s weekly press conference prior to the Central Michigan game will take place Tues., Nov. 21 at 12:15 p.m. in the McCareins Auditorium (2nd floor) of the Yordon Center. Telephone access for press conferences in the Yordon Center is available. Contact NIU for the number. Quotes and video from the press conference will be uploaded to NIUHuskies.com. NIU PLAYER & COACH AVAILABILITY This week, Huskie players and coaches are available for interviews on Monday and Tuesday (AM) according to their meeting and class schedules. Contact the NIU Athletics Communications Office to arrange in-person or phone interviews with Huskie players. Please provide 24-hour notice for phone or in-person requests. Contact Joe Summins (players) or Donna Turner (coaches) to arrange interviews. PRACTICE COVERAGE NIU will practice on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Weekday practices are held in the evenings in Huskie Stadium and/or the Chessick Practice Center. Media are asked to remain in the end zone and to inform NIU Athletics Communications in advance if you plan to attend. Video shooting times may be limited. INFORMATION, VIDEO & PHOTO REQUESTS To be added to the NIU AthComm e-mail distribution list (media only), contact Donna Turner. Contact Joe Summins to request photos and/or video. Information on all MAC teams, including releases, depth charts and photos, are available online at CollegePressBox.com. NIU ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS Donna Turner, Associate Athletic Director... (FB Primary Contact)... donnaturner@niu.edu...815-753-9513 (o); 815-793-5474 (c) Joe Summins, Dir. of Communications...jsummins@niu.edu (FB Secondary)...815-753-9539 (o); 630-965-5213 (c) Jeremy Reid, Director of Communications... jreid1@niu.edu...815-753-3706 (o); 716-867-1908 (c) Hannah Ossman, Graduate Assistant... hossman@niu.edu...815-753-9572 (o) Brett Tudela, Athletics Comm. Asst....btudela1@niu.edu... 312-720-1445 (c) Sam Viebrock, Athletics Comm. Asst.... sviebrock@niu.edu... 630-457-0115 (c) 2017 NIU FOOTBALL SENIOR SALUTE Seventeen NIU players will play the final regular season game of their Huskie careers Friday at Central Michigan, including 14 who have played a major role in Huskie fortunes during their time at NIU. The senior class enters Friday s game with 32 career wins over the last four years, three bowl appearances (including 2017), two MAC Championship game appearances and one MAC title, in 2014. The group includes 10 defenders, five offensive players and two specialists. NAME POS ARRIVED GP/GS HIGHLIGHTS Jackson Abresch S 2013 26/0 2 TDs off block punts; 2 INTs, 41 tackles Mycial Allen S 2013 51/23 2-yr starter; 133 tackles; 6 INTs Chad Beebe WR 2013 43/13 1,510 all-purpose yds; rcvr, ret, holds Christian Blake WR 2014 45/20 76 catches, 918 yards, 12.1 avg., 6 TDs Christian Hagan K 2014 43/- 290 pts; 164-167 PATs; 42-63 FGs Jordan Huff TB 2013 45/9 6.6 rush avg; 2,119 rush yards, 20 TDs Bobby Jones IV LB 2014 47/21 2-yr starter; 214 tackles, 7.5 sacks William Lee DT 2013 51/28 durable NT, 80 tackles, 6 sacks, 8.5 TFL Shawun Lurry CB 2014 48/30 2015 All-American; 3-yr starter; 14 INTs; 31 PBUs; holds NIU INT return records Mayomi Olootu CB 2014 42/7 55 tackles, 11 PBUs, 4 INTs Josh Orne K 2013 29/- back-up punter, kicker, holder; 57.1 avg. 114 KOs, first punts last week Jonathan Parker CB 2017 11/0 Grad transfer; 5 KOR, 4 tackles Jimmy Russell S 2014 10/0 Special teams contributor from DeKalb Joe Sanders DE 2016 22/5 33 tackles, 4 TFL in two seasons Alex Schwab LB 2014 35/5 84 tackles, 42 in 2017, 6.5 TFL Kelly Weese WR 2017 1/0 Grad transfer saw first action vs. Ball St. Shane Wimann TE 2013 50/30 TE TD record holder with 17; 64 catches 630 yards; top blocker RED & BLACK FRIDAY: NIU is 6-1 in games on Black Friday and have won five in a row. The Huskies have won the last five day-after-thanksgiving contests, including a 31-21 win at Kent State last season. NIU s only loss on the Friday after Thanksgiving came Nov. 27, 2009 when the Huskies lost to Central Michigan, 45-31. MAC WEST CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIO: The Huskies are still alive for the MAC West title and a trip to Detroit for the 2017 MAC Championship game with a win and a Toledo loss to Western Michigan. Toledo owns the tie breaker by virtue of its head-to-head victory over the Huskies. If both teams win on Friday, NIU will claim at least a share of the MAC West title. BOWL-ELIGIBLE HUSKIES: With eight wins on the season, NIU is bowl eligible for the ninth time in 10 seasons and will play in a bowl for the 12th time as an FBS team. The Huskies appeared in eight straight bowl games from 2008-15, including the 2013 Discover Orange Bowl. MOST FREQUENT FOE: The Huskies have played Central Michigan 52 times since 1939, more than any other current NCAA FBS team. The Chippewas lead the alltime series 28-23-1. In 31 games as MAC opponents, owns a 16-15 advantage over NIU. The Huskies are 9-17 in Mt. Pleasant and have lost four of their last five games at Kelly-Shorts Stadium. The last NIU win at Central Michigan was a 38-24 victory in 2013, which is also the last win for NIU in the series. THE LAST TIME WE MET: Central Michigan escaped DeKalb with a 34-28 victory in triple overtime on Oct. 15, 2016 as CMU quarterback Cooper Rush hit tight end Tyler Conklin on the first play of CMU s third overtime possession. Rush threw for a game-high 254 yards and two touchdowns as the Chippewas won their third straight game in the series. Aregeros Turner led the way for NIU with a pair of touchdowns, including a 53-yard touchdown run. HUSKIES IN THE MAC: NIU is 146-98-2 all-time in MAC play and 110-53 (.675) in league action since 1997, when NIU rejoined the league. Since 2010, NIU is 54-8 and has recorded three undefeated campaigns and two one-loss seasons in league Notes continued on Page 4 2 NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies
NIU Head Coach Rod Carey 2017 HUSKIE COACHING STAFF 2017 NIU FOOTBALL Now in his fifth season leading the NIU football program, Head Coach Rod Carey has seen the Huskies achieve at the highest levels both athletically and academically, while ensuring that NIU s long-standing winning tradition continues. Carey s 44-22 record as NIU s head coach and.667 winning percentage rank the Midwest native among the best to ever lead the Huskies as he is fourth on NIU s alltime lists both in wins and winning percentage and last week tied Jerry Pettibone for fourth place on the list of all-time NIU games coached. Carey also is climbing the Mid-American Conference coaching charts as his overall win percentage puts him in the Top 10 in the league all-time. With a 32-7 record (.820) in MAC games, Carey is 20th all-time in league victories and needs one MAC win to tie his mentor, former Indiana, Miami (Ohio) and NIU coach Bill Mallory. The Huskies victory at Nebraska this year gives the former Big Ten center (Indiana 93) a 4-1 record at NIU versus teams from that league with the only loss a seven-point decision at No. 1 Ohio State in 2015. Under Carey, NIU has claimed three MAC West titles and won the 2014 MAC Championship. Overall, the Huskies have played in the league title game five times, with three wins, since Carey arrived in DeKalb as NIU s offensive coordinator in 2011. He also was a part of five of NIU s MAC-record eight consecutive bowl appearances between 2008-15. NIU posted a perfect 12-0 regular season record in 2013 behind quarterback Jordan Lynch, who Carey helped develop into the first Heisman Trophy finalist in NIU and MAC history. The Huskies spent 12 weeks in the Top 25 rankings and went on to the MAC Championship game. Carey was named the MAC Coach of the Year, and was a semifinalist for the Maxwell Football Club Coach of the Year Award. Lynch is one of six NIU players to achieve All-America recognition under Carey, while five Huskies have been drafted, including wide receiver Kenny Golladay, the record-setting receiver who was a third-round selection of the Detroit Lions in 2017. In all, 16 Huskies who played for Carey at NIU have gone on to play professional football, including San Francisco 49ers 2014 first round draft pick Jimmie Ward and New Orleans Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis. Cornerback Shawun Lurry became the sixth NIU player to be named an All-American under Carey s guidance when he earned first team honors from the FWAA in 2015. Huskies won the Vern Smith Award, presented annually to the MAC MVP, in each of Carey s first three years. Over a four-month period in the fall of 2012, Rod Carey went from coaching NIU s offensive line, to offensive coordinator of one of the most explosive offenses in the country, to head coach of the first Mid-American Conference team to play in a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) bowl game. Carey s promotion to head coach was announced on December 2, 2012, just minutes before NIU earned a historic bid to face Florida State in the 2013 Discover Orange Bowl. NIU became the first MAC team to play in a BCS game. Carey joined the Huskies in 2011 after three seasons leading the offensive line at North Dakota. Prior to that, he spent the 2007 season at Illinois State. From 2000-06, Carey served on the coaching staff at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where he was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. In all, Carey coached 26 all-conference selections and seven All-Americans during his time at UW-Stout. Carey began his collegiate coaching career at Minnesota (1998-99). Off.Coord./Asst. HC/TEs/FBs...Mike Uremovich... Field Defensive Coord./Safeties...Kevin Kane... Coaches Booth Quarterbacks...Craig Harmon... Coaches Booth Defensive Line/Recruiting Coord....Brett Diersen... Field Offensive Line/Run Game Coord.... Joe Tripodi... Field Linebackers... Jeff Knowles#... Field RBs...Jordan Lynch#... Field WRs... Steve Crutchley#... Field Cornerbacks...Melvin Rice... Field Director of Sports Performance... Brad Ohrt... Field FOLLOW THE HUSKIES TV: NIU-CMU ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK The NIU-CMU game will air on CBS Sports Network, marking the Huskies fifth appearance on the network, and eighth network TV showing, in 2017. Find the CBSSN channel in your area by using the Channel Finder at CBSSportsNetwork.com. CBSSN does not stream or offer games via mobile app. Ben Holden (play-by-play), David Diehl (color analyst) and Erik Coleman (sidelines) call the game. RADIO: NIU SPORTS NETWORK The NIU Sports Network broadcast for the CMU game begins at 10:30 a.m. CT, 30 minutes before kickoff. The game will be carried on NIU network affiliates WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 (DeKalb), AM 560 The Answer (Chicago) and SportsFan Radio AM 1330 (Rockford). Hear the broadcast online via NIU All-Access (subscription), and on mobile devices via TuneIn. Download the app free and find the NIU Huskies channel. Bill Baker is in his 38th season as the radio play-by-play Voice of the Huskies. Color analyst Mark Lindo joins him for the 32nd season, while Brian Sleik fills in on the sidelines for Andy Garcia INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW The final regular season Inside Huskie Football Radio Show is set for Monday, Nov. 20 at Noon at Fatty s Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy). Listen live with the TuneIn app; hear it Monday at 7 p.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb, 8 pm Mondays on 560 AM The Answer in Chicago and Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on SportsFan Radio 1330 AM in Rockford. Hear from host Bill Baker, NIU Head Coach Rod Carey, Huskie players and athletic department guests. NIU WEEKLY RADIO SHOW Due to the Thanksgiving holiday and travel schedules, there is no NIU Weekly Radio Show this week. The final edition for 2017 airs next Friday, Dec. 1 at 10 p.m. CT in Chicago on AM 560 The Answer, Saturday at 8:30 a.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb and on SportsFan Radio AM 1330 in Rockford at 6:30 a.m. Hosts are Andy Garcia and Sean T. Frazier, NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics. The 30-minute show features interviews with football coach Rod Carey, other NIU head coaches and guests. NIUTUBE (HUSKIE ALL-ACCESS) See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features, Huskie Olympic sports and special events. Hear all NIU live radio broadcasts, including football and basketball games and NIU radio shows. Purchase a daily, monthly or annual subsciption. Go to NIUHuskies.com for rates and information. GETTING SOCIAL Twitter: @NIUAthletics, @NIUScores, @NIU_Football Facebook: NIU Huskies, NIU Football Instagram: niuhuskies, niufootball YouTube: niuhuskiesdotcom See NIU Athletics social media hub online to see all of the Huskie team and coaching staff accounts. NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies 3
2017 TEAM STATS COMPARISON Huskies Category Chippewas 30.7 Points/G 29.5 45 (16-23) TDs (Rush-Pass) 44 (17-23) 231 First Downs 204 395.2 Total Yards/G 392.6 191.8 Rush Yards/G 144.4 203.4 Pass Yards/G 248.3 22 Turnovers Lost 22 28:58 Time of Possession/G 28:27 (74-175) 42% 3rd Down Conversions (49-155) 32% (5-11) 45% 4th Down Conversions (6-14) 43% 36.4 Net Punting Avg. 37.4 21.7 Kickoff Return Avg. 21.7 5.1 Punt Return Avg. 5.7 70-59.2 Penalties-Yards/G 67-59.8 (33-40) 82% Red Zone Scores (31-40) 77% (26-40) 65% Red Zone TDs (25-40) 63% 19.9 Points Allowed/G 27.0 24 (10-11) TDs Allowed (Rush-Pass) 37 (23-12) 178 First Downs Allowed 215 322.7 Total Yards/G Allowed 389.1 109.8 Rush Yards/G Allowed 195.5 212.9 Pass Yards/G Allowed 193.6 (53-184) 29% 3rd Down Conv. Allowed (62-176) 35% (7-14) 50% 4th Down Conv. Allowed (9-19) 47% 20 Turnovers Gained 29 BY THE NUMBERS.288 Third down conversion percentage for NIU 2017 opponents, which would be a school record.667 Rod Carey s winning percentage as a head coach 2 TDs scored by Jackson Abresch vs. Ball State on blocked punt returns, tying an NCAA record 6.58 Career yards per rush by Jordan Huff, ahead of the school record of 6.56 by his coach, Jordan Lynch 7 TD catches by Shane Wimann in 2017, breaking the tight end school single season record 18 School record tackles for loss by NIU vs. Ball State 27.5 Nation-leading tackles for loss total by NIU sophomore defensive end Sutton Smith 32 Wins for the 2017 senior class to date 37 Consecutive starts for NIU junior offensive tackle Max Scharping 39 Net rushing yards NIU allowed Buffalo, including just one in the second half 51 Career games played by defenders William Lee and Mycial Allen, most on the team 88 Straight PATs hit by kicker Christian Hagan 100 Tackles for loss by NIU in 2017, four away from the school record 448 Career interception return yards for Shawun Lurry ON THE WATCH Five 2017 Huskies were named to one or more of the preseason Watch Lists released by members of the National College Football Awards Association. Shawun Lurry, CB, Sr....Jim Thorpe Award...Bronko Nagurski Award Max Scharping, LT, Jr.-R...Outland Trophy...Wuerffel Trophy Luke Shively, C, Jr.-R... Rimington Trophy Sutton Smith, DE, So.-R...Bednarik Award Shane Wimann, TE, Sr.-R...Mackey Award 2017 NIU FOOTBALL play, winning six-straight division championships during that stretch. The Huskies are in their 32nd season as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 2017-18, including an initial stint in the league from 1975-85. MIDWEEK MACTION: With its 35-31 win over Western Michigan last week, NIU improved to 19-3 in league games played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays since 2010. Toledo and Ohio are the only two schools to defeat the Huskies during midweek MACtion. The Huskies also fell to the Rockets last year at Guaranteed Rate Field on Nov. 9, while Ohio scored a 26-21 win over NIU on Nov. 24, 2015 at Huskie Stadium. SUTTON SEMIFINALIST: NIU defensive end Sutton Smith has been named one of 18 semifinalists for the 2017 Chuck Bednarik Award as the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. The first Bednarik Award semifinalist in school history, Smith is the lone MAC representative, and one of two players from Group of 5 schools, among the 18 Bednarik semifinalists this year. More than half (27.5) of the redshirt sophomore s 53 tackles have gone for a loss in 2017. SUTTON ON THE SACK: Sutton Smith recorded two-and-half sacks last week versus Western Michigan to give the Huskie defensive end 13 on the season, breaking the NIU record for sacks in a season. The previous school record of 12 was held by Larry English (2007) and Scott Kellar (1984). Smith s 13 sacks are the most by any player in the FBS this season. NATIONAL LEADER: Sophomore Sutton Smith recorded a career-high 5.5 TFLs versus Western Michigan, and leads the country with an average of 2.5 per game and 27.5 total. With a pair of tackles for loss against Ball State, the Huskie defensive end broke the school single season record, which had stood at 20 since 1984. Smith made five tackles for loss in the season opener versus Boston College; he recorded a season-best three sacks against Kent State. SUTTON ON THE SCORE: Sutton Smith scored his second touchdown of the season on a fumble return when he scooped up a WMU fumble and sped 58 yards down the sideline, giving the Huskies a 21-14 lead in the second quarter. Smith s scoop and score was his second of the season, as he also scored on a 16-yard strip, steal and score at Bowling Green. Prior to that, the last time NIU had scored on a fumble return was on Nov. 18, 2008 versus Kent State. IN A HUFF: Jordan Huff came up big on Senior Night versus Western Michigan as he ran for a 31-yard touchdown on the Huskies first offensive play of the game and continued to power the NIU offense all night, finishing with a career high 185 yards on 25 carries. He scored again on a 14-yard run in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28 and averaged 7.4 yards per rush on the day. Huff seemed to get stronger as the game went on with 74 rushing yards in the fourth quarter as the Huskies sealed the win with a 5:21 yard drive to close out the game. LINING IT UP: The Huskie offensive line which, by the way, features NO seniors led the way to Huff s 185-yard effort and to the Huskies 191.8 rushing yards/game average in 2017. For the second time this season, NIU also did not give up a sack in its game versus Western Michigan. ON THE BRINK: In the past two games, sophomore tight end Mitchell Brinkman has made his presence felt with a pair of touchdown catches, including the gamewinner from 26-yards out versus Western Michigan. Brinkman has just four catches on the season, with two going for scores. The 26-yard reception was the longest of his career. COMEBACK ABILITY: For the second time this season, NIU came back to win a game in the fourth quarter when the Huskies scored a touchdown with 6:20 to play and then ran out the clock with a final drive to defeat Western Michigan, 35-31. NIU led at the half, but fell behind 28-21 in the third quarter and again 31-28 in the final period. NIU s 30-27 overtime victory over Eastern Michigan was the first win for the Huskies this season when trailing heading into the fourth quarter as NIU came back from a 24-10 deficit to tie the game in regulation. 4 NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies
BLOCK PARTY: The Huskies lead the nation in blocked kicks with six and are tied for first in blocked punts with four. NIU blocked at least one punt in three straight games with one each against Eastern Michigan and Toledo, and two versus Ball State, all by different players. NIU also blocked a field goal at Nebraska and another against Eastern Michigan. The school record for punt blocks in a season is six, set in 2010. Player Block Type Opponent William Lee Field Goal Nebraska TEAM Field Goal Eastern Michigan Mitchell Brinkman Punt Eastern Michigan Jackson Abresch Punt Toledo Trayshon Foster Punt Ball State Jauan Wesley Punt Ball State TWICE AS GOOD: NIU s two blocked-punt effort against Ball State marks the first time NIU has blocked multiple punts in a game since Nov. 20, 2010 when they blocked three punts - coincidentally - at Ball State. NIU also returned a punt block for a touchdown in that contest as Jimmie Ward returned Jordan Delegal s first punt block of the game 15 yards for a score. 2017 NIU FOOTBALL and Kyle Pugh, safeties Jackson Abresch, Mykelti Williams and Trayshon Foster and defensive end Josh Corcoran each have one. TE FOR THE TD: Shane Wimann caught his team-leading seventh touchdown pass of the season on a four-yard shovel pass from Marcus Childers in the first quarter versus Ball State to set a new NIU record for most touchdown catches by a tight end in a season. Wimann broke his own record of six touchdown receptions set last year, while his 17 career scores are also a Huskie tight end record. Wimann is the only player on the current roster to have caught a touchdown pass from each of the last five NIU starting quarterbacks. PLAYING LIKE A SENIOR: Shane Wimann s 12-yard reception on third and seven in the fourth quarter against Western Michigan was his only catch of the game, but it kept a drive alive that allowed NIU to score the game-winning touchdown. It was also the Huskie tight end s singleseason best 29th catch in a year of career bests. The senior caught a career-high six passes for 37 yards at Toledo, tallied a career high 70 yards - on four catches - against Eastern Michigan with a career-long 50 yard grab in the contest. The Wisconsin Dells native has 278 yards receiving on the season IN THE NCAA RECORD BOOKS: Jackson Abresch scored a pair of touchdowns on NIU s two blocked punts versus Ball State to become just the third player in NCAA history to score twice off of blocked punts in the same game. Abresch joined Air Force s Frank Staine-Pyne (1997 vs. Hawaii) and Auburn s David Langner (1972 vs. Alabama) as the only FBS players to achieve the rare feat. IN THE HUSKIE RECORD BOOKS: Abresch s first touchdown in the Ball State game, which he picked up and returned 13 yards, was NIU s first touchdown off a blocked punt since Sept. 3, 2011 when Jimmie Ward returned one 14 yards against Army. Abresch tied Ward for career blocked punt returns for a touchdown when he recovered NIU s second blocked punt of the night in the end zone. He is also the first Huskie to block a punt (vs. Toledo) and score a touchdown on a blocked punt since Ward in 2010. FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: Wide receiver Jauan Wesley caught his first career touchdown pass and blocked his first punt in NIU s 63-17 victory over Ball State. Wesley was on the receiving end of a 70-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Santacaterina in the fourth quarter. Two Cardinal possessions later, he blocked Morgan Hagee s punt in the end zone which Abresch recovered for the score. BALL-HAWKING BACKER: Linebacker Jawuan Johnson recorded his team-leading fourth interception of the season when he picked off Ball State s Jack Milas in the third quarter. He is the first Huskie linebacker with at least four interceptions since Tyrone Clark, who finished with a team-best four INTs in 2010. The school record for interceptions by a linebacker is six by Rich Marks in 1972. OPPORTUNISTIC DEFENSE: Jawuan Johnson s third quarter interception versus Ball State ended a two-game interception drought by the Huskies. NIU has 14 INTs on the year, which ranks third in the MAC and 14th in the nation. The Huskie defense tallied its fourth multiinterception game of the season with three at Bowling Green, including Trayshon Foster s first career INT. NIU had three interceptions versus Kent State (Oct. 7) and at Nebraska (Sept. 16) and two against Eastern Illinois (Sept. 9). The Huskies had 14 interceptions all of last season. HUSKIE SEE HUSKIE DO: Nine different Huskie defenders have accounted for NIU s 14 interceptions this season. Linebacker Jawuan Johnson leads the way with four, while safety Mycial Allen and cornerback Shawun Lurry have two each. Linebackers Bobby Jones IV QUARTERBACK COMPARISON: Marcus Childers is the first redshirt freshman to start at least six games at quarterback for NIU since Chandler Harnish in 2008. In his six starts, Childers has out-performed the Huskie great. While Harnish did leave his second start early due to injury, Childers has 24 more carries, thrown for more TDs and yards, and averages more passing yards a game. Harnish averaged just under a yard per carry than Childers and had a better passer efficiency rating, 133.55-130.28. RUSHING PASSING W-L No. Yds. TD Avg. C-A-I Yds. TD Yds/G Harnish (2008) 2-4 67 282 2 4.2 68-119-5 1005 5 167.5 Childers (2017) 5-1 91 318 4 3.4 97-169-2 1181 11 196.8 ALL MY CHILDERS: Marcus Childers became the first Huskie quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in a game since Drew Hare threw four versus Murray State on Sept. 12, 2015 with his career-best four TDs versus Ball State. Childers connected with four different receivers in three quarters of work. Childers finished the game with 141 yards on 10-of-22 passing. WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU: Wide receiver D.J. Brown, who leads NIU with 35 catches on the season, recorded his first 100-yard receiving game when he tallied 104 yards on seven receptions, including a touchdown, against Eastern Michigan. The redshirt junior scored the initial touchdown of the game on a career-long 69-yard pass from Marcus Childers in the second quarter. FOUR OF A KIND: NIU has four receivers with 300 yards or more receiving yards. The last time NIU had that many players with as many receiving yards for the season was in 2011 when Martel Moore, Nathan Palmer, Perez Ashford and Da Ron Brown hit the mark. Spencer Tears leads the way with 420 yards, while Chad Beebe is next with 391, followed closely by Christian Blake with 388. D.J. Brown leads the Huskies in receptions with 35 for 333 yards. Tight end Shane Wimann needs just 22 yards to join the 300-yard club. GOING DEEP: Six Huskie players have caught a pass of 50 yards or longer in 2017, another sign of the depth of the NIU receiving corps. Spencer Tears (81 yards), Chad Beebe (73), Jauan Wesley (70), D.J. Brown (69), Christian Blake (50) and Shane Wimann (50) all have at least one long reception, with Wesley s 70-yarder from Daniel Santacaterina versus Ball State the most recent. NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies 5
2017 NIU FOOTBALL RUSHING TO A RECORD: After averaging 7.4 yards per rush versus Western Michigan, tailback Jordan Huff improved his career average to 6.58 yards a carry, while surpassing the 2,000-yard mark in career yards as his total stands at 2,119 net yards on 322 carries. Huff s yards per carry average would be a new NIU record, surpassing the mark of 6.56 currently held by Huff s position coach, NIU great Jordan Lynch. Garrett Wolfe is next on the list behind Lynch with a 6.40 yard per carry average. THE DEFENSE DOES NOT REST: NIU leads the MAC and ranks 20th in the nation in total defense, allowing an average of 322.7 yards per game. Last year, the Huskies finished the season ranked 98th nationally in total defense, allowing 451.5 yards a game, 128.8 more than the current number. NIU allowed a season-low 131 yards of total offense to Kent State (Oct. 7), the lowest total by an FBS team since Oct. 8, 2011 when the Golden Flashes gained just 64 yards. MODEL OF EFFICIENCY: A key to the Huskies defensive success in 2017 has been its ability to get off the field. NIU ranks eighth in the country and leads the MAC in third down conversion percentage defense as opponents are converting at just a 28.8 percent rate. The Huskies held San Diego State to a season-low 1-of-14 on third down conversions, the Golden Flashes to 2-of-16 and Buffalo to 2-for-14 on third down in consecutive games earlier this year. PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES: The NIU defense s 28.8 third down conversion percentage defense (53-of-184) is the lowest in school history (records dating back to 1986). The previous low by a Huskie defense was 35 percent in 1994, when the Huskies held opponents to 55-of-158 on third down. Last season, NIU s opponents converted 38 percent (70-of-185) of their third down attempts. GETTING OFF THE FIELD: The Huskie defense is tied for third in the country in defensive three-and-outs. Three times this season, NIU has recorded a season-best eight three-and-outs in a game versus Ball State, San Diego State and Kent State. NIU is averaging 6.1 three and outs a game. The Huskies have either forced teams to punt or forced a turnover in the first three plays of a drive in 67 of 165 drives by their opponents. The Huskies also tallied six three-and-outs versus Eastern Illinois, five at Nebraska and four versus both Western Michigan and Boston College. Team (G) Avg. 3 & Outs-Total Drives Pct. of drives 1. Indiana (11) 6.64 73-161 45.3 2. Michigan (11) 6.36 70-134 52.2 3. Texas A&M (11) 6.09 67-152 44.1 NIU (11) 6.09 67-165 40.6 5. Clemson (11) 5.55 61-143 42.7 STOPPING THE RUN: NIU is giving up just 109.8 yards per game on the ground to lead the MAC and rank ninth in the country in rushing defense. That number is the lowest allowed by a Huskie defense since 1963, when NIU gave up just 107.4 yards/game, and is the best rushing defense by NIU as an FBS program. NIU has held five opponents to less than 100 rushing yards, including Buffalo which gained only 39 yards, including just one net yard in the second half. The vaunted rushing attack of Western Michigan was limited to just 110 net yards on 44 carries with MAC leading rusher Jarvion Franklin gaining 115 yards last week, just 23 after the first quarter. AT A LOSS: As a team, the Huskies ranks second in the country in tackles for loss, averaging 9.1 per game. NIU totaled a school-record 18 TFLs against Ball State, the most by any team in the FBS this year. NIU has 100 TFLs on the season, and needs five to break the school record of 104, set in 2008. THREE OF A KIND: The Huskie defense currently has three different defenders with double digit tackles for loss. Sutton Smith leads the way with his school-record 27.5 TFLs, Jawuan Johnson has 12.5, and Bobby Jones IV 11. The last time multiple NIU players finished the season in double digits in tackles for loss was when Alan Baxter (11.5), Sean Progar (10.5), Joe Windsor (10.5) and Tyrone Clark (10) did it in 2012. WORKING ON THE LINE: The NIU defensive line has accounted for 28 of NIU s 38 sacks, 55 of the Huskies 100 tackles for loss and four of NIU s 20 forced turnovers. Ten different defensive linemen now have recorded at least one sack this season with four of NIU s five sacks versus Western Michigan and six of seven versus Ball State were made by linemen. Sophomores Ben LeRoy (DT) and Smith, and redshirt freshman Jack Heflin (DT), who came up with his first career tackle for loss versus WMU, are all first-time starters. SACK STREAK: Sutton Smith, who else, extended the NIU defense s sack streak to 21 games when he took down WMU quarterback Reece Goddard on the Broncos third offensive play last week. The Huskie team s sack streak dates back to the Huskies Sept. 17, 2016 contest against San Diego State. The 2017 Huskies lead the MAC and rank third in the country with 3.45 sacks a game. SACK ATTACK: Twice this season, NIU s defense has recorded seven sacks in a game, reaching the mark against both Ball State and Kent State. Seven sacks are the most recorded by a Huskie defense since Sept. 14, 2013 when NIU amassed nine at Idaho. SACK-SATIONAL DEFENSE: NIU s 38 sacks this season rank third alltime in school history. The school record for sacks in a season is 47 set in 2002. The Huskie defense is three sacks away from surpassing the 2012 team to move up to second on the list. SCORE (ANOTHER) ONE FOR THE DEFENSE: Sutton Smith s 58-yard fumble return touchdown was the Huskies fourth defensive touchdown of the year, giving NIU its most defensive touchdowns scored since 2001, when NIU returned four interceptions for touchdowns. The Huskies rank fifth in the country and second in the MAC in defensive scores. Sutton Smith s 16-yard fumble return for a touchdown at Bowling Green, and a pair of interception return scores by Shawun Lurry and Jawuan Johnson at Nebraska account for the defensive TDs. TURNING OVER POINTS: The Huskies have converted 12 of the 20 turnovers forced on the season into 75 points after the addition of Sutton Smith s 58-yard fumble return touchdown versus Western Michigan. Last season, NIU tallied just 33 points off 15 turnovers. NIU has turned three fumble recoveries into touchdowns either on the actual recovery itself, or subsequently by the offense. In addition to its two INT return touchdowns, the Huskies have come up with touchdowns on three succeeding drives. CONSISTENT CHRISTIAN: Christian Hagan, who has hit 88 straight point-after attempts, including a season-high nine against Ball State, moved up to seventh on NIU s all-time scoring list with five PATs versus Western Michigan. The Huskie senior surpassed NIU Hall of Fame tailback Michael Turner with 290 points, and now needs just five points to move past Jordan Lynch on the list. Hagan also moved past Chris Nendick to rank second on the Huskies all-time list for career PATs made, although he is not within reach of all-time leader Mathew Sims (196). Hagan is fourth on NIU s list for most points kicking, tied for fourth in field goal attempts (63) and fifth in field goals made (42). SPECIAL FORCES: NIU freshmen punter Matt Ference is averaging 40.8 yards a punt and has landed 24 punts inside the 20-yard line. Last season, NIU totaled only eight punts inside the 20 while averaging 38.1 6 NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies
CAREER GAMES PLAYED/STARTED Name, Pos. Class GP GS Jackson Abresch, S Sr.-R 26 - Mycial Allen, S Sr.-R 51 23 Chad Beebe, WR Sr.-R 43 13 Christian Blake, WR Sr. 45 20 Mitchell Brinkman, TE So. 19 6 Dale Brown, OL Jr.-R 22 - D.J. Brown, WR Jr. 36 8 Drequan Brown, DE Jr.-R 11 - Adam Buirge, S So.-R 20 - Marcus Childers, QB Fr.-R 10 6 Josh Corcoran, DE Jr. 36 16 Herlandez Corley, DT Jr.-R 12 - Jaquis Covington, DB So.-R 1 - Daniel Crawford, TE So.-R 21 2 Lance Deveaux Jr., LB So. 18 2 Jalen Embry, CB Jr.-R 11 - Matt Ference, P Fr. 11 - Aaron Fischer, FB Jr.-R 16 - Trayshon Foster, S So.-R 22 2 Ryan Graham, QB Jr.-R 19 9 Andrew Gregory, LB Fr.-R 2 - Ezekiel Gueths, OL Fr.-R 2 - Christian Hagan, K Sr. 43 - Tre Harbison, RB Fr.-R 8 - Ty Harmston, TE Jr.-R 19 - Isaac Hawn, OL Fr. 11 4 Jack Heflin, DT Fr.-R 11 11 Jake Hlava, DT So.-R 4 - Jordan Huff, TB Sr.-R 45 9 Vince Hughes, OL So-R 3 - Tifonte Hunt, CB Jr.-R 17 - Daniel Isom, CB So. 10 6 Jawuan Johnson, LB Jr.-R 28 14 Bobby Jones IV, LB Sr.-R 47 21 Marcus Jones, TB Jr. 24 3 Antonio Jones-Davis, LB So.-R 19 - Marcus Kelly, DT So.-R 7 - Weston Kramer, DT Fr. 11 - William Lee, DT Sr.-R 51 28 Ben LeRoy, DT So. 19 11 Corey Lersch, LB Fr.-R 2 - Matt Lorbeck, DE Fr. 10 - Shawun Lurry, CB Sr. 48 30 Josh Mailloux, OL So.-R 1 - Dwayne Milton, TB Jr.-R 19 - Tommy Mister, TB Jr.-R 22 2 Mayomi Olootu, CB Sr. 42 7 Benn Olson, OL Fr.-R 3 - Josh Orne, K Sr.-R 29 - Andrew Parchment, WR Fr.-R 8 - Jonathan Parker, TB Sr.-R 11 - Brayden Patton, OL Fr.-R 3 - Kyle Pugh, LB So.-R 14 4 Ryan Roberts, OL So.-R 23 7 Jimmy Russell, S Sr.-R 10 - Ezra Saffold, WR Sr. 25 - Hayden Sak, LS Jr. 35 - Joe Sanders, DE Sr.-R 22 5 Daniel Santacaterina, QB So.-R 9 5 Max Scharping, OL Jr.-R 37 37 Alex Schwab, LB Sr.-R 35 5 Luke Shively, OL Jr.-R 30 23 Albert Smalls, CB Jr.-R 40 22 Sutton Smith, LB So.-R 23 11 Trequan Smith, S So.-R 11 6 Jordan Steckler, OL So.-R 23 19 Spencer Tears, WR So.-R 22 10 Maximilian Thrower, TE Fr.-R 1 - Maalik Todd, WR Jr.-R 3 - Nathan Veloz, OL So.-R 13 11 Austin Warner, OL Fr.-R 3 - Devin Webster, DT Jr. 9 - Kelly Weese, WR Sr.-R 1 - Jauan Wesley, WR Jr.-R 11 - Mykelti Williams, S So.-R 11 11 Shane Wimann, TE Sr.-R 50 30 Quintin Wynne, DL So.-R 21 1 2017 NIU FOOTBALL yards per punt. The last Huskie punter to average more than 40 yards a punt was Tyler Wedel, who posted a 41.7-yard average in 2014. PINNING THEM DEEP: Of NIU punter Matt Ference s 24 punts that have dropped inside the 20-yard line, 15 have landed on or inside the 10-yard line, including two against Ball State. Ference and the NIU punt team placed a season-high three punts on or inside the 10-yard line at Nebraska and at San Diego State. Back-up punter Josh Orne, called on to rugby punt on a windy night versus Western Michigan, saw one of his first two career punts drop inside the 10 as well. FINISHING THE JOB: With its 63-17 victory over Ball State, NIU has won 52 of 53 games when carrying a lead into the fourth quarter. The Huskies took a 49-17 lead into the final quarter of play against the Falcons. The last NIU loss when leading after three quarters was a 31-24 setback to Toledo at Guaranteed Rate Field on Nov. 9, 2016. The Huskies led the Rockets, 21-17, after three quarters. WORKING OVERTIME: NIU improved to 7-4 in overtime games with its 30-27 comeback win over Eastern Michigan on October 26 as the Huskies rallied for a 14-point fourthquarter deficit. It is the Huskies only overtime game of the season to date. Last year, NIU played in a school-record three overtime contests, including two triple OT games. QUARTER-BLAKE: Christian Blake s 10-yard completion to Marcus Childers at Toledo was his second pass completion of the season and third of his career. He completed a pass to Ryan Graham in the season opener against Boston College and is 2-for-3 with 17 yards passing this season. Blake is the first Huskie wide receiver with two completions in a season since Britt Davis in 2005, who also went 2-for-3 passing. FOUR FOR 100: D.J. Brown became the fourth Huskie receiver this season to record a 100-yard receiving game with 104 yards versus Eastern Michigan, joining Chad Beebe who tallied 124 yards at Bowling Green, and Christian Blake and Spencer Tears, who recorded 160 and 105 yards, respectively, at San Diego State. It s the first time in NIU s FBS history that four different Huskie receivers have tallied a 100-yard receiving game in the same season. In 2015, three different Huskies (Kenny Golladay, Tommylee Lewis and Jawaun Brescacin) each had 100-yard receiving games. WHAT ARE YOU DRIVING AT?: NIU scored its fourth touchdown of the game against Bowling Green on a six-play, 95-yard scoring drive, culminating in a Marcus Childers to Chad Beebe 73-yard touchdown strike. It was the longest scoring drive of the season and the longest since the Huskies marched 96 yards for a touchdown in a 43-39 victory over Eastern Illinois on Sept. 21, 2013. SUDDEN SMITH: Sutton Smith became the first Huskie since Craig Rusch in 2008 to return a fumble for a touchdown when he ripped the ball out of Bowling Green running back Andrew Clair s hands and ran it 16 yards for the score. Rusch recovered a fumble and ran it back 60 yards at Kent State on Nov, 18, 2008. THREE FOR THREE: Marcus Childers became the third quarterback to start a game for NIU this season when he took the first snap at Buffalo and has now started six straight games for the Huskies. It is the third-straight year the Huskies have started at least three different quarterbacks. In 2015, Drew Hare, Ryan Graham and Tommy Fiedler each started a game for the Huskies, while Hare, Graham, Anthony Maddie and Daniel Santacaterina all started at least one game for NIU in 2016. Graham (1 start) and Santacaterina (4) have the remainder of the starts this year. RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Shawun Lurry added to his school record for career interception return yards when he took the pitch from Jawuan Johnson, on Johnson s third quarter interception against Ball State. Lurry collected another 13 return yards, adding to his 45-yard and 87-yard returns versus Kent State and Nebraska, respectively. He ranks fifth in the nation with 145 interception return yards this season and has 448 in his NIU career to rank as the NCAA active career leader. Lurry set the NIU single season record in 2015 with 273 interception return yards. GETTING THE POINT: The three points scored by Kent State were the fewest allowed by a Huskie defense in a MAC game since NIU shut out Massachusetts on Nov. 3, 2012. It s the fewest in a game overall since a 55-3 victory over Presbyterian on Aug. 28, 2014. NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies 7
2017 NIU FOOTBALL NO PASSING ZONE: Kent State s 29 yards passing were the fewest passing yards allowed by the Huskies since Sept. 26, 2015 when NIU held Boston College to 92 yards passing. Conversely, NIU s 64 passing yards versus Western Michigan was its lowest total since Dec. 23, 2015 when the Huskies threw for just 38 yards versus Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl. MAC 2017 BOWL TIE-INS PRIMARY Raycom Camellia Bowl Montgomery, Ala. Saturday, Dec. 16, 7 pm vs. Sun Belt CONVERTING INTs INTO TDs: With his 87-yard interception return for a touchdown at Nebraska, Shawun Lurry tied the school record for career interception returns for a touchdown with two. His first came in the 2015 MAC Championship game against Bowling Green (Dec. 4) when he ran a Matt Johnson pass back 64 yards for a score. MAKING HISTORY: The NIU defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a game for the first time in school history in its victory at Nebraska. Shawun Lurry ran the first interception of the day back 87 yards in the first quarter, while Jawuan Johnson followed suit with a 25-yard INT return score for a 14-0 NIU lead. ADDING TO THE BONEYARD: NIU improved to 15-61-1 all-time versus teams that were in an autonomous conference (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC & Pac-12) at the time the Huskies played them with its 21-17 victory at Nebraska. Of those 15 wins, nine have come in the last 15 years, beginning with NIU s 42-41 victory over Wake Forest Aug. 29, 2002. The Huskies have played a team from one of those five conferences 34 of the last 35 years, with the exception in 2016. Bahamas Bowl Friday, Dec. 22, 11:30 am Famous Idaho Potato Friday, Dec. 22, 3 pm Dollar General Saturday, Dec. 23, 6 pm SECONDARY Frisco Bowl Wednesday, Dec. 20, 7 pm Boca Raton Bowl Tuesday, Dec. 19, 6 pm Nassau, Bahamas vs. Conference USA Boise, Idaho vs. Mountain West Mobile, Ala. vs. Sun Belt Frisco, Texas Boca Raton, Fla. FROSH FACES: NIU has played 10 redshirt and four true freshmen this season. Linebackers Andrew Gregory and Corey Lersch and offensive lineman Ezekiel Gueths all saw their first action of the season at Bowling Green, while tight end Maximilian Thrower played versus Ball State. They join fellow redshirt freshmen Marcus Childers (QB), Tre Harbison (TB), Jack Heflin (DT), Andrew Parchment (WR), Benn Olson (OL) and Austin Warner (OL) in seeing their first playing time this year. True freshmen Matt Ference (P), Isaac Hawn (OL), Matt Lorbeck (DE) and Weston Kramer (DT) have all played important roles, Ference (P) as the starting punter, Kramer and Lorbeck in the defensive line rotation and Hawn seeing series at offensive tackle. PLAYING TIME: With the victory over Ball State well in hand, NIU was able to play 72 different players in the game, including four who saw the first playing time of their careers, even if it was not at their normal position. One of the biggest cheers on the sideline came when graduate transfer wide receiver Kelly Weese, in at cornerback when NIU went back on defense after its unexpected blocked punt touchdown, made a tackle on Ball State s last drive. GRADUATION SUCCESS: The Huskie football program continues to rank among the MAC and FBS best with a Graduation Success Rate of 84 percent in the latest report issued by the NCAA in November. That mark is good for second in the MAC, one percentage point behind Miami (Ohio). NIU remains one of the FBS top football programs in graduating its student-athletes as the 84 percent mark tied for 20th among all NCAA Division I FBS schools. REVOLVING RETURNERS: Following in the footsteps of Aregeros Turner and Tommylee Lewis, a duo who rewrote the Huskie career kickoff return record book, NIU has used a revolving set of deep men on kickoff return in 2017. Receivers Christian Blake, Chad Beebe and D.J. Brown, running backs Jordan Huff and Jonathan Parker, and defensive back Jalen Embry have all taken a turn, with Beebe and Brown handling the assignment of late. In the last three games, Beebe is averaging 25.1 yards on 11 kickoffs after returns of 49 and 35 yards versus Western Michigan. UTILITY PLAYER: Senior receiver Chad Beebe showcased another skill in his repertoire when the senior added kickoff return duties beginning in the Eastern Michigan game. Already serving as the team s punt return man and holder on PATs and field goals, Beebe s yards per catch average of 15.0 leads NIU in 2017, he is averaging 25.1 yards on kickoff returns and 4.1 yards on 13 punt returns. REGULAR SEASON FINALE: NIU is coming off its longest break since September with the nine-day span between the WMU game on Wednesday, Nov. 15 and the Black Friday contest at Central Michigan on November 24. Quick Lane Bowl Tuesday, Dec. 26, 4:15 pm HUSKIES IN THE PROS Detroit, Mich. The list of NIU s former players currently on an active rosters in either the NFL or CFL stands at seven. Cornerback Rashaan Melvin is having the best season to date of any NIU pro as the former Huskie walk-on is starting for the Colts. National Football League Detroit Lions...Kenny Golladay (WR) Indianapolis Colts...Rashaan Melvin (CB) New Orleans Saints... Tommylee Lewis (WR) San Francisco 49ers...Jimmie Ward (S) Tennessee Titans...Tim Semisch (TE) - PS Canadian Football League Calgary Stampeders...Juwan Brescacin (WR) Hamilton Tiger-Cats... Courtney Stephen (S) Toronto Argonauts... Ken Bishop (DT) MAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Eight Huskies have earned 10 MAC West Player of the Week honors in 2017 with Sutton Smith adding his third defensive honor versus Western Michigan. NIU has twice had two players honored in the same week. Overall, the Huskies honors have been spread among the offense (twice), defense (five times) and special teams (three times). Name Pos. Award Week Jawuan Johnson LB Defense Nebraska (9-16) Christian Blake WR Offense San Diego State (9-30) Matt Ference P Specialist San Diego State (9-30) Sutton Smith DE Defense Kent State (10-7) Bobby Jones LB Defense Buffalo (10-14) Christian Hagan K Specialist Bowling Green (10-21) Marcus Childers QB Offense EMU (10-26) Sutton Smith DE Defense EMU (10-26) Jackson Abresch S Specialist Ball State (11-9) Sutton Smith DE Defense WMU (11-15) 8 NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies
CENTRAL MICHIGAN FACTS 2016 Record... 6-7 MAC Record/Finish...3-5/5th (West) Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year)... John Bonamego... (Central Michigan/1987) Record at Central Michigan/Years...13-13/3rd Career Record/Years...13-13/3rd Location...Mount Pleasant, Mich. Enrollment...27,069 Conference...Mid-American Colors... Maroon and Gold Stadium...Kelly/Shorts Stadium Surface/Capacity... FieldTurf /30,255 President... Dr. George E. Ross Athletic Director...Dave Heeke Athletics Website... www.cmuchippewas.com Twitter... @CMUAthletics Ticket Information...888-347-3872 Central Michigan Athletic Communications Name...Contact Information Jim Knight...jim.knight@cmich.edu... (734) 678-9794 2017 CENTRAL MICHIGAN SCHEDULE Day, Date Opponent (TV) Time (CT) Thurs., Sept. 1 RHODE ISLAND (ESPN3) W, 30-27 (3OT) Sat., Sept. 10 at Kansas (FSN) W, 45-27 Sat., Sept. 17 at Syracuse (ACC) L, 41-17 Sat., Sept. 24 MIAMI (OHIO) *(ESPN3) L, 31-14 Sat., Oct. 1 at Boston College (ACC) L, 28-8 Sat., Oct. 8 at Ohio * (ESPN3) W, 26-23 Sat., Oct. 15 TOLEDO * (ESPN3) L, 30-10 Sat., Oct. 22 at Ball State* (ESPN3) W, 56-9 Thurs., Oct. 29 at WMU * (ESPN2) W, 35-28 Fri., Nov. 4 EMU * (CBSSN) W, 42-30 Tues., Nov. 15 at Kent State * (ESPN2) W, 42-23 Tues., Nov. 22 NIU * (CBS) 11:00 a.m. *Mid-American Conference Game; All Times Central NIU-CMU SERIES HISTORY Overall...CMU leads 28-23-1 In DeKalb, Ill....NIU leads 14-11-1 At Mount Pleasant, Mich....CMU leads 17-9 In MAC Games...CMU leads, 16-15 Streak... CMU, 3 First Meeting... Sept. 30, 1939; CMU 6, NIU 0 (A) Last Meeting...Oct. 15, 2016; CMU 34, NIU 28 3OT (H) Series History:...(*MAC game) 1939: CMU 6, NIU 0 (A) 1940: NIU 9, CMU 6 (H) 1946: CMU 58, NIU 7 (A) 1947: NIU 6, CMU 6 (H) 1950: CMU 26, NIU 14 (H) 1951: NIU 26, CMU 13 (A) 1952: CMU 56, NIU 7 (H) 1953: CMU 46, NIU 0 (A) 1954: CMU 46, NIU 7 (H) 1955: CMU 61, NIU 0 (A) 1956: CMU 41, NIU 0 (H) 1957: CMU 52, NIU 13 (A) 1958: CMU 33, NIU 23 (H) 1959: CMU 29, NIU 7 (A) 1960: NIU 36, CMU 15 (H) 1961: NIU 11, CMU 0 (A) 1962: CMU 35, NIU 27 (H) 1963: NIU 27, CMU 22 (A) 1964: NIU 19, CMU 14 (H) 1965: NIU 19, CMU 14 (A) 1966: NIU 20, CMU 13 (H) 1975: CMU 69, NIU 7 (A)* 1976: CMU 31, NIU 9 (H)* 1977: CMU 25, NIU 21 (H)* 1978: CMU 34, NIU 7 (A)* 1979: CMU 31, NIU 11 (A)* 1980: NIU 21, CMU 0 (H)* 1981: CMU 17, NIU 10 (A)* 1982: NIU 19, CMU 13 (H)* 1983: CMU 30, NIU 14 (A)* 1984: NIU 8, CMU 7 (H)* 1985: CMU 30, NIU 21 (A)* 1997: CMU 44, NIU 10 (A)* 1998: NIU 16, CMU 6 (H)* 1999: NIU 31, CMU 27 (A)* 2000: NIU 40, CMU 6 (H)* 2001: NIU 33, CMU 24 (A)* 2002: NIU 49, CMU 0 (H)* 2003: NIU 40, CMU 24 (A)* 2004: NIU 42, CMU 10 (H)* 2005: NIU 31, CMU 28 (A)* 2006: NIU 31, CMU 10 (H)* 2007: CMU 35, NIU 10 (A)* 2008: CMU 33, NIU 30 - OT (H)* 2009: CMU 45, NIU 31 (A)* 2010: NIU 33, CMU 7 (H)* 2011: CMU 48, NIU 41 (A)* 2012: NIU 55, CMU 24 (H)* 2013: NIU 38, CMU 24 (A)* 2014: CMU 34, NIU 17 (H)* 2015: CMU 29, NIU 19 (A)* 2016: CMU 34, NIU 28-3OT (H)* 2017 NIU FOOTBALL THE LAST MEETING Central Michigan 34, NIU 28 (3OT) Oct. 15, 2016 DeKalb, Illinois Huskie Statdium 8,495 Central Michigan quarterback Cooper Rush hit tight end Tyler Conklin on the first play of CMU s third overtime possession to give the Chippewas a 34-28 victory over NIU at Huskie Stadium. Regulation ended in a 21-21 tie after CMU kicker Brian Eavey missed a 33-yard field goal with 16 seconds on the clock. CMU had driven from its 25 to the NIU 15 after the Huskies Aregeros Turner went 53 yards on a jet sweep run to tie the game at 21. Turner appeared to be stopped, but he rolled over the defender and kept going for the game-tying score with 3:43 on the clock. Turner s score came two plays after CMU s Devon Spalding broke a 14-14 tie with a 58-yard touchdown run to give the Chippewas the lead with 4:21 to play. Neither team was able to score in the first overtime period. On NIU s third play, Anthony Maddie s pass was intercepted by CMU s Nathan Ricketts. CMU needed just a score to end the game, however the Huskie defense forced a 35-yard field goal attempt by Eavey that went wide left. In the second overtime, Rush hit Corey Willis from 25-yards out on the Chippewas second play to put CMU ahead 28-21. NIU responded with a Maddie to Bouagnon 13-yard pass to tie the game at 28. In the third overtime, the Huskies netted just eight yards on three plays before Christian Hagan s 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Rush then hit Conklin from 25 yards out on the Chippewas first play to claim their third straight win over NIU. After a scoreless first quarter in which the Huskies Shawun Lurry picked up his first interception of the season to halt CMU s first drive, and saw Hagan tackled on a fake field goal attempt, Central Michigan took a 7-0 lead on an 11-yard pass from Rush to Trevor Thomas with 8:38 to play before halftime. The Huskies responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive for a score. Maddie hit Christian Blake from 17 yards out for the Huskies first score. CMU took a 14-7 lead into halftime on a three-yard run by Jahray Hayes with 42 seconds on the clock. Hayes picked up 27 rushing yards on the drive, which started at the CMU 35-yard line and took 11 plays and 5:48. NIU tied the score with a 13-play, 80-yard drive that took 5:06 off the clock. The Huskies converted three third downs on the drive and Maddie hit Turner from 11 yards out to tie the score. Turner led NIU with 80 rushing yards on four carries while CMU had a pair of 100-yard backs and rushed the ball 50 times in the game. Rush completed 19-of-35 passes for 254 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Kenny Golladay caught seven passes for 70 yards for NIU. Defensively, Ladell Fleming had a pair of sacks. The Huskies forced a season-high three turnovers, equaling its season total entering the game. SCORING BY QUARTERS 1 2 3 4 OT Total Central Michigan 0 14 0 7 13-34 NIU 0 7 7 7 7-28 SCORING SUMMARY CMU - Thomas 11 pass from Rush (Eavey kick), 2nd 8:38 (3-18, 0:59) NIU - Blake 17 pass from Maddie (Hagan kick), 2nd 6:30 (6-75, 2:08) CMU - Hayes 3 run (Eavey kick), 2nd 0:42 (11-65, 5:48) NIU - Turner 11 pass from Maddie (Hagan kick), 3rd 0:31 (13-80, 5:06) CMU - Spalding 58 run (Eavey kick), 4th 4:21 (4-80, 1:57) NIU - Turner 53 run (Hagan kick), 4th 3:43 (2-61, 0:32) CMU - Willis 25 pass from Rush (Eavey kick), 2OT (2-25, 0:00) NIU - Bouagnon 13 pass from Maddie (Hagan kick), 2OT (5-25, 0:00) CMU - Conklin 25 pass from Rush, 3OT (1-25, 0:00) CMU...NIU First Downs (R-P) 24 (12-11)... 16 (7-8) Rushes-Net Yards 50-230...37-174 Passing Yards 254...165 Passes (C-A-I) 19-35-2...18-30-2 Plays-Total Yards 85-484...67-339 Fumbles-Lost 1-1...2-0 Penalties-Yards 4-50...3-26 Kickoff Returns-Yds 4-230... 4-229 Punt Returns-Yds 3-21...0-0 3rd Down Conversions 8-18...4-15 4th Down Conversions 0-0...1-2 Punts-Average 6-38.5... 7-42.7 Possession Time 41:01... 18:59 Sacks By-Yards 0-0...2-17 Red Zone Scores-Chances 2-5...3-6 Team & Individual Statistics Rushing - CMU: Spalding 22-124, Hayes 22-105, Rush 6-1; NIU: Turner 4-80, Huff 8-43, Bouagnon 10-31, Maddie 12-28, Golladay 1-3, Team 1-(-2), Hagan 1-(-9). Passing - CMU: Rush 19-35-2, 254; NIU: Maddie 18-30-2, 165. Receiving - CMU: Willis 6-66, Chapman 4-43, Conklin 3-38, Childress 1-38, Crouch 1-34, Rice 1-12, Thomas 1-11, Spalding 1-6 Bacci 1-6; NIU: Golladay 7-70, Blake 3-38, Bouagnon 3-20, Turner 2-16, Wimann 1-10, Brown 1-8, Brinkman 1-3. Tackles - CMU: Ricketts 9, Fountain 9; NIU: Jones 10, Payton 8, Folliard 8. NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies 9
2017 NIU FOOTBALL GAME NOTES NOV. 24 VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN PLAYERS TO WATCH 15 SUTTON SMITH DE 6-0 225 So.-R Saint Charles, Mo. Francis Howell HS 73 MAX SCHARPING OT 6-6 312 Jr.-R 2L Green Bay, Wis. Southwest HS Year G/GS Solo Asst. Total TFL QS FF-FR PD 2017 11/11 36 17 53 27.5 13.0 3-3 3 Career 23/11 42 26 68 29.5 14.0 3-3 3 Broke the NIU record for sacks in a season with 2.5, added to his tackles for loss mark with 5.5 and scored his second fumble return touchdown of 2017 vs. Western Michigan. Scored on a 58-yard fumble return. Leads the FBS in tackles for loss with 2.5/game, ranks third in sacks with 1.18/game (13) and is second in fumble recoveries (3). One of 18 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award as FBS outstanding defensive player. Broke the NIU record for TFLs in a season with two vs. Ball State and added a sack. Made three TFLs vs. Eastern Michigan with a sack, six stops to earn MAC West Defensive POTW honors for second time. Named to USA Today Midseason All-America team, AP Midseason second team and called FBS Most Pleasant Surprise by SI.com. Scored on a strip, steal and 16- yard score at Bowling Green. Forced 3 fumbles (vs. E. Illinois, Buffalo, BG). Made a career-high 10 stops to go with 4 TFLs and 3 sacks vs. Kent to earn MAC West Defensive Player of the Week. Totaled 1.5 sacks and TFLs at Buffalo. Wrecked havoc at Nebraska with 3.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, a pass break-up and 6 tackles. Tallied 5 tackles for -23 yards, a sack and 6 stops vs. Boston College. Year G/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD Lg 2017 11/9 29 278 9.6 7 50 Career 50/28 64 630 9.8 17 50 35 SHANE WIMANN TE 6-4 252 Jr.-R 2L Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Wisconsin Dells HS With team-leading seven TDs, has broken NIU record for TD catches by a tight end in a season. Broke mark on a four-yard grab vs. Ball State. 12-yard reception vs. WMU converted an important third down. Led NIU with a career-high six catches (37 yards) at Toledo. Scored in four straight games (Kent State, Buffalo, BGSU, EMU). Career-long 50-yard catch at EMU set up critical score; made four receptions for career-high 70 yards. Owns NIU career record for scores by a TE. 8-yard TD at Bowling Green was one of 3 catches. Scored on a 34-yard grab at Buffalo, and totaled 4 for 50 yards. Had a 25-yard TD vs. Kent State and 4 grabs for 53 yards. Caught TD passes vs. Eastern Illinois, Boston College with 4 catches vs. BC. Has a catch in 10 of 11 games. Excellent blocker. NFF Scholar-Athlete Award semifinalist. On the John Mackey Watch List. Year G/GS Solo Asst. Total TFL INT-Yds PBU 2017 11/11 11 8 19 4.5 2-145 4 Career 49/30 82 34 116 7.5 14-448 31 19 SHAWUN LURRY CB 5-8 170 Sr. 3L W. Palm Beach, Fla. W.T. Dwyer HS The nation s active career leader in interception return yards (448) is currently fourth in INTs (14) and in career passes defended (45). Ranks fifth in the country in INT return yards with 145 after picking up 13 vs. Ball State on a lateral. Tied for fourth all-time at NIU in interceptions with 14 and is fourth with 31 career pass break-ups. Has a career-high 4.5 tackles for loss in 2017. Made three solo tackles with one for loss and broke up a pass vs. Ball State. Added one TFL among his three stops at Toledo. Returned interception vs. Kent State 45 yards. Scored on an 87-yard INT return at Nebraska to give NIU a 7-0 lead. Top tackle game came at San Diego State with 3 solo stops, two for loss. Added a half TFL vs. Kent State. Started 37 consecutive games, every game of his NIU career. Leader and top player on the offensive line. Led the way to Jordan Huff s team season and career best 185-yard rushing game vs. WMU. Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District team for the second straight year. On the Outland Trophy Watch List; Wuerffel Trophy nominee. Cleared the way for four 100-yard rushing games by NIU backs, including at Nebraska and San Diego State. Huskies are averaging 395.2 yards per game with a season-best 577, including 388 rushing, at Bowling Green. Earned his undergraduate degree with a 3.99 GPA in kinesiology. Year G/GS Solo Asst. Total TFL QS TO 2017 11/11 45 43 88 11.0 4.0 1 Career 47/23 122 92 214 20.0 7.5 2 Year G/GS Solo Asst. Total TFL QS FF-FR INT 2017 11/11 47 33 80 12.5 2.0 2-1 4 Career 28/14 73 51 124 20.5 3.0 2-3 5 6 BOBBY JONES IV LB 6-0 220 Sr.-R 3L Miami Gardens, Fla. Monsignor Pace HS Leads NIU in tackles with 88. Third on NIU team in solo stops and second in sacks. NIU s leading tackler vs. Toledo (9 tackles), EMU (7) and WMU (8). Registered 9 tackles, two for loss, with a sack, at Bowling Green. Named MAC West Player of the Week vs. Buffalo with 2 sacks and 6 tackles. Picked off his first career pass and had 8 tackles, 2 for loss and a sack vs. Kent. Led NIU with 14 stops, 5 solo, at Nebraska. Made a career-high 16 tackles vs. BC, 10 solo and 2 for loss. 7 JAWUAN JOHNSON LB 6-0 218 Jr.-R 2L East St. Louis, Ill. New Boston [Texas] HS Leads NIU with four interceptions, the most by a Huskie linebacker since 2010. Made seven stops, six solo, vs. WMU. Picked off his fourth pass and made 6 tackles, one-half for loss, vs. Ball State. Second on the team in tackles and tackles for loss. Has 3 doubledigit tackle games. Forced a fumble and tallied 6 stops vs. Toledo with a TFL. Recorded 6 tackles with a sack, 2 TFLs and a pass break-up vs. EMU. His 11 stops, 1.5 for loss, led NIU at Bowling Green; added a fumble recovery. Made a fourth-quarter INT to stop a Buffalo drive. Recorded a career high 12 stops vs. Kent with a sack, 2 TFLs and a pickoff. Scored on a 25-yard INT return at Nebraska and tallied 9 stops with a TFL to earn MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors. Made 10 stops with 3 TFLs vs. BC. 72 JORDAN STECKLER OG 6-4 311 So.-R 1L Two Rivers, Wis. Two Rivers HS One of NIU s most consistent linemen as starter at left guard. Helped lead the way for Jordan Huff s career-best 185 yard game vs. Western Michigan and Huskies did not surrender a sack for the second time this year. NIU gained season-high 577 yards, including 388 rushing, at BG. Blocked for four 100-yard rushing games by Huskie backs, including at Nebraska and San Diego State. NIU is averaging 395.2 yards of offense and 30.3 points per game. Played every meaningful snap as he and Max Scharping do not rotate out. 10 NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies
2017 NIU FOOTBALL GAME NOTES NOV. 24 VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN 23 JORDAN HUFF TB 5-11 224 Sr.-R 3L Mobile, Ala. St. Paul s Episcopal HS PLAYERS TO WATCH 4 CHRISTIAN BLAKE WR/KR 6-1 181 Sr. 3L Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Cardinal Gibbons HS Rushed for a career-high 185 yards on 25 carries to lead NIU offense vs. Western Michigan. Scored two TDs, including 31-yard run on first offensive play. Scored twice vs. Ball State on a 24-yard catch and a 35-yard run. Totaled 57 rushing yards on six carries. Has four TDs in last two games after missing the Year G/GS Rush Yds. Avg. TD Lg Rec Yds. Avg Lg 2017 8/6 116 692 6.0 4 35 5 44 8.8 24 Career 44/9 322 2,119 6.6 20 87 19 129 6.8 30 10 D.J. BROWN WR 5-9 188 Jr. 2L N. Little Rock, Ark. N. Little Rock HS Year G/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD Lg Rush Yds. Avg TD Lg 2017 11/7 35 333 9.5 2 69 20 95 4.8 1 11 Career 36/7 44 424 9.6 2 69 38 189 5.0 2 23 BG, EMU and Toledo games due to injury sustained at Buffalo. Caught his first career TD pass on a twoyard grab vs. Kent. Ran for 148 yards on 25 carries at San Diego State. Gained 105 yards on 16 carries at Nebraska and scored the game-winning touchdown from two yards out. His 6.6 career rushing average would be an NIU record. Has seven career 100-yard games. Ranks 16th on the NIU career rushing chart. Totaled 2,664 career all-purpose yards. 15 MARCUS CHILDERS QB 6-2 205 Fr.-R Adairsville, Ga. Adairsville HS Is 5-1 since taking over starting QB role at Buffalo. Led NIU to two fourth-quarter comeback wins, including vs. WMU where he hit TE Mitch Brinkman with 26-yard go-ahead TD pass with 6:20 to play. Ran for 43 yards and a TD on 10 carries. Threw careerhigh 4 TD passes in 10 completions vs. Ball State in less than three quarters. Also had a career-long 32- yard run. Completed 103-of-180 passes (.572) as a starter. Has 14 passing and five rushing TDs on the year. Threw for career high 278 yards vs. EMU. Threw 3 TD passes vs. Kent State and at Bowling Green with a career long 73-yarder in the BG game. Ran 27 times for 79 yards at Buffalo. Scored rushing TDs vs. San Diego St., Buffalo, EMU and Toledo. Saw action in 4 games before taking over as starter and played most of Kent State game. Year G/GS Rush Yds. Avg. TD Lg Comp-Att-Int Pct. Yds TD Lg 2017 10/6 120 441 3.7 5 32 117-203-3 57.6 1,312 14 73 Scored his first rushing TD of 2017 on a six-yard run vs. Ball State. Leads NIU with 35 catches. Matched his career-high with 7 grabs vs. EMU and tallied his first 100-yard receiving game (104). Scored on a careerlong 69-yard catch and run. Totaled 5 receptions for 53 yards at Buffalo and rushed 9 times for 44 yards. Caught 3 passes for 18 yards at Nebraska. Made 7 catches for 88 yards vs. Eastern Illinois, with a 41-yard grab. Scored on a 15-yard grab vs. Boston College. Averaging 4.8 yards/rush with 20 carries, most by any WR. Year G/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD Lg 2017 11/11 34 388 11.4 4 50 Career 46/20 76 918 12.1 6 51 Year G/GS Solo Asst. Total TFL PBU INT 2017 11/11 52 14 66 1.0 5 1 Tied for second on team in catches and TDs. Has a catch in 10 of 11 games, including one vs. WMU. Added three carries for 16 yards and a third down conversion run. Caught his fourth TD pass on a 19-yard reception vs. Ball State. Completed his second pass of the season at Toledo, hitting QB Marcus Childers for 10 yards, and caught two passes for 16 yards. Made 3 grabs for 39 yards vs. EMU. Caught career high 12 passes for 153 yards and TDs of 34 and 10 yards at San Diego State. Earned MAC West Offensive Player honor with a season-long 50-yard catch. Caught an 18-yard TD pass vs. Eastern Illinois. Completed a 13-yard pass to QB Ryan Graham vs. BC. Year G/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD Lg 2017 11/11 34 420 12.4 4 81 Career 22/11 35 423 12.1 4 81 14 SPENCER TEARS WR 6-0 191 So.-R 1L Robbins, Ill. H.L. Richards HS Leads NIU in receiving yards and is second in catches and TDs. Only Huskie to catch a pass in every game this year. Made 3 catches for 63 yards at Toledo. Grabbed 4 passes for 40 yards vs. EMU. Caught 3 passes for 42 yards with a 15-yard TD at Bowling Green. Tied career high with 5 catches at Buffalo. Scored on a team season-long 81-yard pass vs. San Diego St. and totaled 5 catches for 105 yards. Opened the scoring versus Kent State and Eastern Illinois with TDs of 10 and 39 yards, respectively. 8 MYKELTI WILLIAMS S 6-1 205 So-R. TR Indianapolis, Ind. Warren Central/Iowa Western First-year Huskie ranks third on the team in tackles and is first in solo stops with 52. Tied for team lead with eight tackles, seven solo, vs. WMU. Totaled 5 solo stops vs. Ball State. Leads NIU in pass breakups with 5 after adding one at Toledo along with six tackles. Five of his 6 stops at Bowling Green were solo. Made 7 tackles, all solo, at Buffalo. Four of his 5 tackles vs. Kent were solo. Made 6 tackles with a TFL at SDSU. Tallied a career-high 10 stops, 9 solo, at Nebraska. Picked off a pass vs. Eastern Illinois. Redshirted at Notre Dame as a true freshman. NIUHuskies.com Twitter: @NIUAthletics Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies 11