(Photo Credit: Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Harrison Waylee, WR Tyrice Richie, WR/KR Trayvon Rudolph, OC Brayden Patton, OG John Champe, OT Marques Cox, DE Michael Kennedy, DE Pierce Oppong, DE Raishein Thomas, DT James Ester, LB Kyle Pugh, LB Nick Rattin, LB Daveren Rayner, CB Jordan Gandy, CB Dillon Thomas, FS Devin Lafayette, SS Jordan Hansen, PK John Richardson, and PT Matt Ference.
Key Players Departing:
QB Ross Bowers, TE Daniel Crawford, OG Benn Olson, OT Cole Webster, and DT Weston Kramer.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: RB Antario Brown (Savannah, Georgia), RB Tajheem Lawson (Chicago Heights, Illinois), LB Akanimo Asuquo (Forney, Texas), QB Ethan Hampton (Aurora, Illinois), WR George Gumbs (Chicago, Illinois), OT Luke Pinnick (State Center, Iowa), DL Jalonnie Williams (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), CB JaVaughn Byrd (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), OT Drew Hoth (Cedar Falls, Iowa), and S Brian Whitsey (Chicago, Illinois).
2020 Results:
G01 BUFFALO L 30-49
G02 CENTRAL MICHIGAN L 10-40
G03 at Ball State L 25-31
G04 at Western Michigan L 27-30
G05 TOLEDO L 24-41
G06 at Eastern Michigan L 33-41
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 0-6 (6th in MAC West)
Home: 0-3
Away: 0-3
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 0-6
Non-MAC: 0-0
Head Coach: Thomas Hammock
Northern Illinois: 5-13
Career: 5-13
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Harrison Waylee (107 car., 456 yards, 4.3 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Tyrice Richie (53 rec., 597 yards, 11.3 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored: Eric Collins/Tyrice Richie (4)
Sacks: Devonte O’Malley (2)
Tackles: Jordan Gandy (41)
Interceptions: Jordan Hansen (2)
Pass Deflections: Jordan Gandy (7)
Tackles For Loss: Kyle Pugh (3.5)
Forced Fumbles: Michael Kennedy/Zhamaine March/Devonte O’Malley (1)
Kick Returns: Trayvon Rudolph (30 ret., 689 yards, 23.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Cole Tucker (2 ret., 8 yards, 4.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: John Richardson (7-9 fg/fga., 78%, 14-14 xp/xpa., 35 pts.)
Punting: Matt Ference (31 punts, 1308 yards, 42.2 avg., 7 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 12 Rocky Lombardi (RS JR/TR)
RB: 30 Harrison Waylee (FR)
WR: 15 Cole Tucker (RS JR)
WR: 3 Tyrice Richie (RS SR/TR)
WR: 85 Trayvon Rudolph (FR)
TE: 83 Liam Soraghan (RS JR)
LT: 70 Marques Cox (RS SO)
LG: 76 John Champe (FR)
OC: 58 Brayden Patton (RS SR)
RG: 65 Logan Zschernitz (RS FR)
RT: 69 Nolan Potter (RS SO)
KR: 85 Trayvon Rudolph (FR)
PK: 39 John Richardson (RS SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 54 Jalen Pinkney (JR/TR)
DT: 1 James Ester (RS FR)
DT: 91 Jeffrey Griffin (RS SO)
DE: 4 Raishein Thomas (FR)
LB: 11 Kyle Pugh (RS SR)
LB: 38 Nick Rattin (SO)
LB: 1 Lance Deveaux (RS SR)
CB: 14 Jordan Gandy (SO/TR)
CB: 15 Dillon Thomas (RS JR)
FS: 3 Devin Lafayette (FR)
SS: 7 Jordan Hansen (FR)
PR: 15 Cole Tucker (RS JR)
PT: 36 Matt Ference (SR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/04 at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | First meeting between schools.
09/11 WYOMING COWBOYS | Northern Illinois lost (34-40) the only prior meeting between schools in 2016.
09/18 at Michigan Wolverines | Northern Illinois lost (17-33) the only prior meeting between schools in 2005.
09/25 MAINE BLACK BEARS | First meeting between schools.
10/02 EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES | Northern Illinois leads the series 33-16-2. The Huskies are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series win (36-23 OT) was in 2018.
10/09 at Toledo Rockets | Northern Illinois trails the series 16-32. The Huskies are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series win (31-28) was in 2019.
10/16 BOWLING GREEN FALCONS | Northern Illinois trails the series 10-12. The Huskies are 4-2 since 2011, and they won (48-17) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
10/23 at Central Michigan Chippewas | Northern Illinois trails the series 24-31-1. The Huskies are 3-7 since 2011, and their last series win (24-16) was in 2018.
11/03 at Kent State Golden Flashes | Northern Illinois leads the series 21-7. The Huskies are 6-0 since 2011, and they won (24-3) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
11/10 BALL STATE CARDINALS | Northern Illinois leads the series 24-22-2. The Huskies are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series win (24-16) was in 2018.
11/17 at Buffalo Bulls | Northern Illinois leads the series 12-2. The Huskies are 6-1 since 2011, and their last series win (30-29) was in 2018.
11/23 WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS | Northern Illinois trails the series 20-26. The Huskies are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series win (17-14) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 2-6
Non-MAC: 3-1
Overall: 5-7 (6th in MAC West)
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