Huskies Hit the Road to Eastern Michigan

By Illinois Digital News On Oct 12, 2022

HUSKIE BITES

NIU plays its third road game in the last four weeks Saturday when the Huskies take on Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti.

The Eagles are NIU’s oldest MAC foe as the series dates back to 1927. The Huskies own a 34-16-2 advantage in the all-time series and are 20-4 versus the Eagles since 1998.

The Huskies fell to Toledo, 52-32, at home last Saturday and have lost five consecutive games. In his third start, NIU back-up quarterback Ethan Hampton was intercepted four times with two of the INTs returned for touchdowns. NIU trailed 45-7 through three quarters before scoring 25 points in the final period.

NIU attempted four onside kicks and three two-point conversions in the fourth quarter versus Toledo, recovering two of the kicks and scoring on two of the two-point PATs.

The Huskies have attempted more onside kicks – seven – than any team in the FBS and have recovered four.

One week after he ran for a career high 230 yards on 30 carries with three touchdowns at Ball State, running back Harrison Waylee caught a career best 10 passes for 96 yards versus Toledo to set a new school record (in NIU’s FBS history) for most catches by a running back in a game.

NIU’s 25-point fourth quarter versus Toledo – a result of three touchdowns, a field goal and two two-point PATs – was the Huskies’ highest single quarter output since 2015.

NIU head coach Thomas Hammock, a two-time first team CoSIDA Academic All-American at NIU who rushed for over 1,000 yards in both 2000 and 2001, was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame last weekend during the school’s 115th Homecoming. He joined fellow Huskie football alums Chad Spann (2007-10) and Chandler Harnish (2008-11) in the 2022 class.

Chicago Heights native Kyle Pugh has made NCAA FBS history as he is back for his eighth season as a member of the NIU football team. Pugh saw his 2017 and 2019 seasons cut short, missed 2021 with a knee injury sustained in the spring, and earned the COVID-19 “re-do” for 2020. The two-time All-MAC (2018, 2020) linebacker currently ranks third on the team with 37 tackles.

NIU FOOTBALL FACTS
Head Coach:Thomas Hammock (NIU ’02)
Record at NIU/Years: 15-23/4th
Career Record/Years: Same
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-2-5
First Year of Football: 1899
2021 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 9-5/6-2/1st
All-Time Record: 602-517-51
Last Bowl Game: 2021 Tailgreeter Cure Bowl (Coastal Carolina 47, NIU 41)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 14
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 9, 2021
MAC Championships, Last: 6, 2021
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 52/15
Starters Returning: 22 (8 offense, 13 defense, 1 specialist)
Starters Lost: 7 (3 offense, 2 defense, 2 specialists)

EASTERN MICHIGAN FACTS
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Chris Creighton (Kenyon, 1991)
Record at Eastern Michigan/Years: 41-59/9th
Career Record/Years: 180-105/26
2021 Record: 7-6
Conference Record/Finish: 4-4/T-4th-West
Location: Ypsilanti, Mich.
Enrollment: 16,324
Conference: Mid-American
Colors: Green and White
Stadium: Rynearson Stadium
Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf/30,200
President: James M. Smith, Ph.D.
Athletic Director: Scott Wetherbee
Athletics Website: EMUEagles.com
Twitter: @EMUAthletics

EMU Schedule & Results

NIU-EMU SERIES
Overall: NIU leads 34-16-2
In Ypsilanti: NIU leads 16-8-1
In DeKalb: NIU leads 18-8-1
In MAC Games: NIU Leads 26-6-2
Streak: NIU, 1
First Game: 1927 – EMU 25, NIU 6 (A)
Last Game: 2021 – NIU 27, EMU 20 (H)

FOLLOW THE HUSKIES

TV: NIU-EASTERN MICHIGAN ON ESPN+

The NIU-Eastern Michigan game will be streamed on ESPN+, accessible via the ESPN App available on both iOS and Android devices, desktop and TV-connected devices (e.g. Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV).

Subscriptions to ESPN+ are available on both a monthly and annual basis and can be used on up to five streaming devices simultaneously.

Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (color analyst) will be on the call for ESPN+ Saturday.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage for the Eastern Michigan game begins 90 minutes before kickoff, at 1 p.m. (CT), on 94-9 WDKB with the Toyota Huskie Nation Pre-Game Party.

Coverage on WDKB, as well as NIU network affiliates AM 560 The Answer (Chicago) and SportsFan AM 1330 begins 30 minutes before the game, at 2 pm (CT).

Hear the broadcast online via Huskie All Access, and on mobile devices via the FREE NIU Huskies mobile app or The Varsity Network app.

Bill Baker is in his 43rd season as the radio play-by-play “Voice of the Huskies.” Color analyst Mark Lindo is alongside for the the 37th consecutive season, while Andy Garcia is in his 10th season on the NIU sidelines.

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show every week at 1 p.m. in the Novak Room at Fatty’s Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy).

Shows will take place on Thursdays in September and October prior to Saturday games.

Listen live on 94-9 WDKB FM in DeKalb and on the NIU Huskies or The Varsity Network mobile apps. Hear the show on the same day at 6 p.m. on SportsFan AM 1330 in Rockford.

Host Andy Garcia chats with NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock each week, along with Huskie players and special guests.

NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE

The show features weekly interviews with NIU football personnel, including head coach Thomas Hammock, as well as NIU administrators, coaches and student-athletes from other sports programs.

Watch new episodes on the NIU Athletics YouTube Channel each week.

The show is hosted by Andy Garcia.

NIU ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE

See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features, highlights of past games and more.

Subscribe for FREE and click the bell to be notified every time NIU posts a new video.

Search “NIU Athletics” on YouTube or go to YouTube.com/NIUAthleticsOfficial.

Archived videos and highlights, replays of some of the greatest games in school history and special features are also available 24/7 on YouTube.

NIU HUSKIES MOBILE APP

Download the free NIU Huskies mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Link to the NIU radio broadcasts, live stats, complete team rosters, digital game programs and more.

Connect to the NIU social media channels and sign up for notifications on any Huskie team.

NOTING NIU

HIT THE ROAD, PACK: NIU heads back out on the road for the third time in the last four weeks and is on the back side of a stretch that will see the Huskies play four of five games on the road. The 2022 schedule features just one home game – last week’s contest versus Toledo – for NIU between September 17 and November 2.

SERIES HISTORY: NIU holds a 34-16-2 advantage in the all-time series with EMU and is 20-4 versus the Eagles since 1998. The Huskies are 16-8-1 in games played in Ypsilanti. NIU broke Eastern Michigan’s two-game winning streak in the series last year with a 27-20 win in DeKalb. The Eagles are NIU’s oldest MAC foe as the series goes all the way back to 1927, with annual meetings from 1947-1961 before becoming league opponents. The teams then played every year from 1977-87, and have now met in each of the last 26 seasons since NIU came back to the MAC in 1997. The Huskies are 26-6-2 versus Eastern Michigan in their two stints in the MAC.

THE LAST TIME: NIU’s defense set up a pair of early touchdowns with a fumble recovery and an interception return score to take a 17-0 first half lead, and Antario Brown gained 101 yards on 16 carries in the second half to lead NIU to a 27-20 Homecoming win over Eastern Michigan in DeKalb. The Huskies gained 242 rushing yards on 55 carries while holding the Eagles to 38 yards on 24 carries thanks to five sacks. EMU narrowed the Huskies lead to seven points in the second half three times, the last with 1:12 remaining.

LAST WEEK: Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell intercepted NIU quarterback Ethan Hampton four times, returning two for touchdowns, to help the Rockets to a 35-7 halftime lead that UT extended to 45-7 through three quarters before the Huskies stormed back with 25 fourth-quarter points in a 52-32 loss. Harrison Waylee caught 10 passes for 96 yards and Antario Brown added 84 rushing yards with a touchdown, as the Huskies owned the statistical edge in nearly every category except the turnover tally.

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: In their 37th football season as a member of the Mid-American Conference season, NIU is 162-115-2 all-time in league play. The Huskies are 127-70 (.645) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 71-25 (.740) against the MAC with three undefeated campaigns, two one-loss seasons and seven division championships, including a run of six-straight (2010-15). NIU originally competed in the MAC from 1975-85.

NIU ON THE MAC ROAD: The Huskies are 24-12 in conference road games since 2013 and 87-98-1 all-time in league games away from Huskie Stadium. NIU was 3-1 in road conference games a year ago with the lone loss at Kent State. The Eastern Michigan game is NIU’s second league road game this year.

MAC WEST MARK: Since the MAC went to divisional play in 1997, NIU is 78-50 (.609) versus teams from the MAC West, including a 41-19 (.683) mark in the division since 2010. The Huskies went 4-1 against divisional foes a year ago with the only loss in the regular season finale to Western Michigan.

MICHIGAN MEN: NIU’s 2022 roster includes seven players from Michigan. Sixth-year senior tight end Liam Soraghan (Dearborn/Divine Child HS) is the veteran, and defensive tackle and two-year team captain James Ester (Detroit/Cass Tech) is in his fourth season at NIU. Quarterback Dustin Fletcher (Flint/Carman-Ainsworth HS), safety C.J. Brown (Canton/Walled Lake Western HS) and defensive end Ivan Davis (Canton/Plymouth HS) are in their third years at NIU. The Michigan products include redshirt freshmen Jaden Wilson (Detroit/Renaissance HS) and Muhammad Jammeh (Detroit/Renaissance HS). Four of the seven – Soraghan, Ester, Brown and Jammeh – are starters.

FAMILIAR FACES: Several Huskies and Eagles will see familiar faces across the field. Both NIU’s James Ester and Eastern Michigan’s Aaron Jackson are products of Detroit’s Cass Tech although there are no teammates among the Huskies’ remaining Michigan players. However, many of EMU’s Illinois natives played at the same high schools as Huskies, including Mt. Carmel (Michael Kennedy, Justin Lynch), Brother Rice (John Richardson) and Neuqua Valley (Andre Cobb).

FEELS LIKE HOME, BECAUSE IT WAS: NIU quarterback Rocky Lombardi returns to his birthplace with the trip to Eastern Michigan as the Huskie QB was born at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor and spent the first years of his life (1998-2001) in Ypsilanti, where his dad, Tony, was on the staff at Eastern Michigan. In fact, Tony’s tenure at EMU (1997-2000) included two seasons as the defensive coordinator (1998-99) and one game – the 1999 season finale versus, ironically enough, NIU – as the interim head coach. He remained on the staff through the coaching transition and coached the running backs during the 2000 season.

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Senior defensive end Michael Kennedy, who is tied for the team lead in sacks and tackles for loss, is one of six Mid-American Conference players to be named a semifinalist for the 2022 William Campbell Trophy, presented by the National Football Foundation to the top football Scholar-Athlete in the country. Kennedy earned his undergraduate degree in management with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and social responsibility and is currently pursuing his MBA.

HALL OF FAMER: NIU head coach Thomas Hammock is one of three former Huskie football players inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame during Homecoming Weekend in DeKalb on October 7. Hammock gained more than 2,400 rushing yards and was a two-time first team CoSIDA Academic All-American during his NIU playing career (1999-2002). He was joined by fellow running back Chad Spann (2007-10) and quarterback Chandler Harnish (2008-11), who both won the MAC’s Vern Smith (MVP) Award during their time in Cardinal and Black, in NIU’s 2022 Hall of Fame class.

CARDIAC CANINES CONTINUED: In four seasons under Thomas Hammock, 23 of the Huskies’ 37 games, including four of six games in 2022, have been decided by one score (eight points) or less. Last year, 10 of the Huskies’ 14 games came down to one score. The Huskies are 8-6 in one score contests over the last two seasons and are 11-12 in games decided by one score over the last four years. NIU is just as good when the games are closer with a 7-3 record in the last four seasons in games decided by three points or less, including a 4-0 record in those games a year ago.

VERSATILITY: One week after posting a career high 230 rushing yards on 30 carries at Ball State, running back Harrison Waylee displayed his receiving skills versus Toledo as he led NIU with 10 catches for 96 yards. He is one of only four FBS running backs to catch 10 or more passes in a game this season, joining Northwestern’s Ethan Hall (14 rec.), Mississippi State’s Jo’quavious Marks (11) and Appalachian State’s Nate Noel (10) and is tied for third on the team with 14 receptions for 107 yards. Waylee entered the game with just 13 career catches; his season high for receptions came in 2020 when he caught eight passes for 61 yards.

SCHOOL RECORD ALERT! Harrison Waylee’s 10 catches versus Toledo established a new NIU single game record for receptions by a Huskie running back, recorded since NIU became a “major college” program in 1969. Research revealed that Waylee’s mark broke the previous single game high of eight catches, last accomplished by single season record-holder Justin Anderson versus Southern Illinois on Sept. 8, 2007.

ALL THE WAY(LEE) HOME: Huskie third-year sophomore Harrison Waylee had a career day at Ball State on October 1 with 230 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns all career highs, while his 68-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the longest of his career. Waylee also scored on a 52-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. His 230 yards were the most since quarterback Jordan Lynch ran for 321 yards versus Western Michigan on Nov. 26, 2013. The 230 yards rank as the seventh-most in the FBS this season. He leads NIU, and ranks fourth in the MAC, in rushing with 472 yards.

IN THE CLUB: With the first 200-yard rushing game of his Huskie career, Harrison Waylee became the 18th NIU player all-time to record a 200-yard day. The 230-yard total ranks tied for 23rd all-time at NIU, well short of Garrett Wolfe’s school-record 353-yard game at Ball State on Sept. 30, 2006. In all, the 200-yard mark has been met or surpassed 46 times in NIU history. Waylee’s 1,502 career rushing yards rank 31st on the Huskies’ all-time list.

ONSIDE EXPERT: After attempting four onside kicks – and recovering two – in the fourth quarter alone versus Toledo, the Huskies have attempted and recovered more onside kicks than any FBS team in the country this season. Prior to this year, NIU’s last onside recovery was at Eastern Michigan in 2020. Kicker John Richardson has displayed a wide variety of onside styles, that have helped NIU cover four of NIU’s seven onside kicks this year, well above the 23.8 percent average (between 2014-20) of onside kicks recovered successfully in NCAA football. The game-by-game list:

QUITE A QUARTER: NIU’s 25-point fourth quarter versus Toledo – a result of three touchdowns, a field goal and two two-point PATs – was the Huskies’ highest single quarter output since 2015 when NIU scored 28 points in the second quarter versus Ball State on October 10. The Huskies had the ball for 11:55 in the fourth quarter Saturday as Toledo had just one possession before kneeling in the final 45 seconds. Prior to the Toledo game, NIU had averaged just over seven points in the fourth quarter of its five previous games.

HIGH SCORING: The NIU offense is having one of its more prolific recent scoring years so far in 2022. The Huskies have scored 190 points through five games, averaging 31.7 per contest. That’s the most points through six games for NIU since the 2015 Huskies had 200. A year ago, NIU scored 105 points in its first five games. NIU ranks third in scoring offense in the MAC in 2022 behind Toledo and Ohio.

DON’T RUN ON ME: NIU is second in the MAC in rushing defense, allowing 130.7 rushing yards per game. The Huskies are holding their opponents to just 3.8 yards per rush, while allowing a league-low six rushing touchdowns. Ball State gained just 77 rushing yards, the lowest total by a Huskie opponent since 2021 when Eastern Michigan totaled just 38 yards rushing on 24 carries. The Ball State game marked the 17th time in the last five years the Huskies held an opponent under 100 total rushing yards.

MAKING PICKS: With interceptions by Devin Lafayette and C.J. Brown at Ball State, NIU has five INTs on the season, surpassing the Huskies’ season total from a year ago. Defensive backs have accounted for all five picks in 2022 after making just one interception a year ago. In addition to Brown and Lafayette, cornerback Eric Rogers made a pair of interceptions versus Eastern Illinois and safety Muhammed Jammeh picked off a pass at Tulsa.

TURNOVERS GAINED: With eight turnovers forced (five interceptions, three fumbles) through the first half of 2022 (six games), the Huskie defense is two-thirds of the way to its 2021 total of 12 turnovers gained, which was accomplished in 14 games.

UNEXPECTED TRIO: A trio of somewhat unfamiliar names – although certainly not newcomers – came through with big catches, especially during the Huskies’ fourth-quarter outburst last week versus Toledo. Sophomores George Gumbs, Messiah Travis and Drew Cassens came into the game with a combined two catches for 26 yards on the season, with Gumbs and Travis each accounting for one catch. On Saturday, the three totaled 12 catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Travis caught a career-best six passes for 47 yards and scored his first touchdown since 2020. Gumbs posted career highs in catches (3) and receiving yards (31) and Cassens recorded the first three grabs of his NIU career, the last a four-yard touchdown pass for his first score.

ONE OF A KIND: NIU linebacker Kyle Pugh is the first player in FBS history to play eight years of college football – although due to a series of different injuries, he has not actually played in all eight seasons. Pugh, who is earning his second master’s degree, signed with the Huskies in February 2015 and redshirted as a freshman. Pugh was an all-conference player in 2018 and 2020; he currently ranks third on the team in tackles with 37 while starting every game. His career totals include 223 tackles in 40 games with 13.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. His most successful season was 2018 when he made 106 tackles, 63 solo with five tackles for loss. The Chicago Heights product has been at NIU through three presidential administrations, four bowl games and three MAC Championship games; his freshmen teammates were in sixth grade when he arrived in DeKalb.

REVOLVING SECONDARY: Versus Toledo, the Huskies started its fifth different quartet of players in the secondary, as injuries have kept players out of action at times throughout the season. Last week, NIU welcomed cornerbacks Jordan Gandy and Eric Rogers back to the starting line-up while transfer Jordan White made his starting debut at safety. Of the four starting spots in the NIU secondary, only 2021 All-MAC safety C.J. Brown has started every game. At least three different players – nine in all – have started games at the other three secondary positions. At Ball State, true freshmen Jacob Finley and Amariyun Knighten made their first career starts.

COLE HARD FACTS: Sixth-year senior receiver Cole Tucker, the only active player on the NIU roster to enter the season with at least 20 catches at NIU, has played like the veteran he is with a team-leading 29 catches for 478 yards and three touchdowns. His average of 16.5 yards per catch ranks third in the MAC. Tucker established a new career high for single game receiving yards with 123 at Tulsa. The DeKalb native and Huskie legacy, whose parents Brett and Cindy were NIU football and gymnastics student-athletes, respectively, has caught 139 passes for 1,876 yards in his career to rank No. 12 on NIU’s all-time receiving yards list, the most by a Huskie since current New York Giant Kenny Golladay totaled 2,285 receiving yards (4th all-time at NIU) in 2015-16. He needs 76 yards to move into the Top 10.

IN THE (END) ZONE: Junior wide receiver Kacper Rutkiewicz, a transfer from Illinois State, is tied for the MAC lead in touchdown receptions so far this season with five. In 29 games over three seasons at ISU, Rutkiewicz had just one touchdown catch. He had two touchdown grabs at Ball State to record his second two-touchdown game of the season, and the fourth by a Huskie. Rutkiewicz ranks second on the team in catches (16) and receiving yards (242) and is averaging 15.1 yards per catch.

LYNCH FOR 6: Since making his Huskie debut at Kentucky with 21 yards on seven carries and a two-yard touchdown run, quarterback Justin Lynch has 122 rushing yards on 26 carries to rank third on the team. He scored his second rushing touchdown of the season versus Toledo with a 15-yard run and ran 15 times for 89 yards at Ball State. The Temple transfer and younger brother of NIU All-American and Heisman finalist Jordan Lynch, completed 88-of-154 passes for 839 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions for the Owls last year and ranked second on the team in rushing with 295 yards on 75 carries for an average of 3.9 yards per carry.

RAYNER SHINES: Sophomore linebacker Daveren Rayner leads NIU and ranks 16th nationally in tackles per game with 10.0 after making nine stops in each of the last two games to total 60 on the year. Rayner posted his third double-digit tackle game of the year at Kentucky with 10 stops and added a sack to earn MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors. He has surpassed his previous single season career high in tackles (29 in 2021). The Indianapolis native has 10 more solo tackles – 26 – than any other Huskie defender and is tied for second on the team with two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.

PLAYING SAFE(TY): In his third season at NIU, 2021 All-MAC safety C.J. Brown has been involved in two of NIU’s turnovers this season with a fumble recovery and 12-yard return versus Vanderbit and an interception and 29-yard return at Ball State. He has already surpassed his 2021 total for pass break-ups with three to lead NIU, and ranks second on the team with 44 tackles. In 26 career games, he has 164 tackles, 83 solo with four tackles for loss, two interceptions and five pass break-ups.

DOG TREATS: The 14 consecutive completions by quarterbacks Rocky Lombardi and Ethan Hampton (seven each) to start the Vanderbilt game fell one short of the unofficial NIU record of 15 set by Dan Nicholson versus Southern Illinois on Sept. 8, 2007. Versus Vanderbilt, NIU’s first incompletion did not occur until 10:08 of the third quarter. … last year, the Huskies had just one game (Central Michigan) in which they did NOT commit a turnover; they have two such games already this season (Eastern Illinois, Kentucky) … at Kentucky, wide receiver Shemar Thornton became the first NIU non-quarterback to throw a touchdown pass since 2019 vs. Western Michigan when he hit a wide open Tristen Tewes for a three-yard TD in the second quarter … in that game, Tewes became the first NIU tight end to catch two touchdown passes in a game in 70 games, since Shane Wimann had a pair of TD catches at San Diego State in 2017 … cornerback Eric Rogers became the first Huskie to earn MAC Player of the Week honors after picking off a pair of passes in the 2022 season opener versus Eastern Illinois, becoming the first Huskie with two INTs in a game since Jalen McKie versus Akron in 2018.

FRESH FACES: Twelve players, including eight true freshmen and four redshirt freshmen, have made their NIU debuts in 2022 with cornerbacks Jacob Finley and Amariyun Knighten (at Ball State) the first true freshmen to start a game this year. Running back Jaiden Credle earned his first carries at Ball State, running six times for 27 yards. Other true freshmen to see action include linebackers Jake Gassaway, Nick Alvarado, Rashon Myles, and safety Trey Porter on special teams, and Roy Williams at defensive end. Redshirt freshman Isaac Hatfield has been NIU’s starting long snapper.

NEW TO NIU: Seven players who transferred to NIU this year have seen action in 2022. Wide receivers Shemar Thornton (FIU) and Kacper Rutkiewicz (Illinois State), defensive end Izayah Green-May (Wisconsin) and safety Jordan White (Youngstown State) have all startyed games. Rutkiewicz and Thornton rank second and third on the team, respectively, in receptions. Green-May ranks second on the team in tackles for loss and White made six tackles in his first start versus Toledo. Transfer QB Justin Lynch (Temple) ranks third on the team in rushing, while Quinn Urwiler (North Dakota) and Joey Rattin (Upper Iowa) have contributed on special teams.

STREAK BUSTED: The Huskies’ double overtime loss at Ball State on October 1 broke NIU’s four-game winning streak in overtime games that dated back to Oct. 15, 2016, a 34-28 home loss to Central Michigan in three overtimes. The OT win streak began later that season – on Nov. 16, 2016 – with a 31-24 win at Eastern Michigan and included wins over the Eagles in each of the next two seasons. NIU won at Buffalo, 33-26, in overtime last year for its fourth straight win in extra time. All-time, the Huskies are 9-5 in overtime games, including a 6-4 mark in MAC regular season contests.

TIGHT END TDS: Drew Cassens became the third Huskie tight end to catch a touchdown pass this season with all three players scoring for the first time. Sixth-year senior tight end Liam Soraghan scored his first career touchdown versus Eastern Illinois on a 13-yard catch. He came into the year with four career receptions for 24 yards and has four catches for 43 yards in 2022, and added a two-point conversion catch versus Toledo. Tristen Tewes had a pair of TD receptions – including one from wide receiver Shemar Thornton – at Kentucky and finished the game with a career high six catches for 37 yards. Tight ends have accounted for four TDs in 2022. A year ago, Miles Joiner scored the only two touchdowns by a tight end.

LAND OF LINCOLN LEADERS: Since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program among the state of Illinois’ seven Division I (3 FBS & 4 FCS) football programs with a record of 101-60 for a winning percentage of .627. No other team in the state has won more than 85 games with Northwestern checking in with a 83-72 (.535) record and Illinois at 58-92 (.387). Since 2010, the Huskies are 1-1 versus their fellow in-state FBS programs with a 2014 win over Northwestern and a 2010 loss at Illinois. NIU is 4-1 versus in-state FCS opponents over the last 12 seasons, including the opening week win over Eastern Illinois. NIU has made nine bowl game and eight MAC Championship game appearances in the last 12 years.

EARNED IT: Since Thomas Hammock‘s arrival at NIU in 2019, 21 players have earned scholarships after arriving at NIU as walk-ons, including 19 players on the 2022 roster and eight – fully one third – of the Huskies starters on offense, defense or special teams. Of those 19, 15 are from the state of Illinois. The group joins a long and distinguished list of NIU players from the past that arrived as walk-ons including 2010 MAC MVP Chad Spann, who will be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend, and recently retired NFL defensive back Rashaan Melvin. See the complete list of current former walk-ons in the column to the left.

TESTED: NIU tested itself during non-conference play by taking on SEC teams Vanderbilt and No. 8 Kentucky in back-to-back weeks after opening with in-state rival Eastern Illinois at home, followed by a game at Tulsa out of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). NIU played consecutive games versus Southeastern Conference teams for the first time in school history and this year marked just the second time the Huskies faced two SEC teams in a season (1994).

LEAD DOGS: Six players were elected team captains for 2022 by their teammates. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi, linebacker Nick Rattin and defensive tackle James Ester (DT) were named captains for the second straight season. Linebacker and eighth-year senior Kyle Pugh, offensive tackle Nolan Potter and sophomore defensive back Jashon Prophete were also chosen.

STAFF DIVERSITY: One of 14 African-American men to lead a FBS program, Thomas Hammock‘s staff reflects the university’s and NIU Athletics’, commitment to diversity. Of the 10 full-time assistant coaches on staff, seven are minorities, which ranks tied for second among all FBS schools. NIU’s staff includes six African-American coaches and one Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. The six African-American coaches are tied for second-most in FBS. Last year, NIU won the NCAA/MOAA Diversity and Inclusion Award for the second time. The top four (credit: the University of Colorado):

Team	Minority Asst. Coaches	Breakdown
Hawai’i	8	4 P, 2 Asian/P, 1 AA, 1 Asian
Miami (Fla.)	8	5 AA, 2 H, 1 P
NIU	7	6 AA, 1 H/P
Virginia	7	7 AA

(AA—African American, include bi-racial; H—Hispanic; ME—Middle Eastern; P—Polynesian, includes Pacific Islanders and native Hawaiians).

GRADS: NIU 2022 roster includes 13 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees – either at NIU or from another institution, and one who already has two degrees. Huskie eighth-year senior Kyle Pugh has both an undergraduate and a graduate degree as he works on his second graduate degree. Transfers Miles Joiner, Rocky Lombardi, Izayah Green-May, Kaymar Mimes and Shemar Thornton all came to NIU with degrees from their previous institutions. In addition to Pugh, Brett Bostad, Marques Cox, Jeffrey Griffin Jr., Michael Kennedy, Nolan Potter, Liam Soraghan and Cole Tucker are already Huskie alumni.

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