(Photo Credit: NIU Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
QB Ethan Hampton, QB Rocky Lombardi, RB Antario Brown, WR Kacper Rutkiewicz, OC Pete Nygra, OG John Champe, OG JJ Lippe, DE Raishein Thomas, DT James Ester, DT Devonte O’Malley, LB Jaden Dolphin, CB Javaughn Byrd, NB Devin Lafayette, LS CJ Brown and PT Tom Foley.
Key Players Departing:
RB Nevan Cremasscoli, RB Harrison Waylee, WR Shemar Thornton, WR/PR Cole Tucker, OG Logan Zschernitz, OT Marques Cox, OT Nolan Potter, DE Izayah Green-May, DE Michael Kennedy, LB Kyle Pugh, LB Nick Rattin, LB Daveren Rayner, CB Jordan Gandy, CB Eric Rogers, RS Jordan White, KR Mason Blakemore and PK John Richardson.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: LB Keshon Artis (Virginia Tech transfer), RB Gavin Williams (Iowa transfer), TE Grayson Barnes (Sacramento, California), CB Cam’Ron Dabney (Kansas transfer), OT Thomas Paasch (Green Bay, Wisconsin), PK Jake Seibert (Ohio State transfer), OT Michael Jimmar (Plainfield, Illinois), ATH Mahki Rolle (Miami, Florida), QB Mason Kidd (Lawrenceville, Georgia) and OT Jacob Welch (McHenry, Illinois).
2022 Results:
G01 @ Eastern Illinois W 34-27
G02 @ Tulsa L 35-38
G03 VANDERBILT L 28-38
G04 @ #8 Kentucky L 23-31
G05 @ Ball State L | 2OT 38-44
G06 TOLEDO L 32-52
G07 @ Eastern Michigan W 39-10
G08 @ Ohio L 17-24
G09 Central Michigan L 22-35
G10 @ Western Michigan W 24-21
G11 MIAMI (OH) L 23-29
G12 AKRON L 12-44
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 3-9 (6th in MAC West)
Home: 1-5
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 2-6
Non-MAC: 1-3
Head Coach: Thomas Hammock
Northern Illinois: 17-28
Career: 17-28
Bowls: 0-1
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Rocky Lombardi (50-75, 645 yards, 66.7 avg., 8.6 avg., 5 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Antario Brown (110 car., 689 yards, 6.3 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: Kacper Rutkiewicz (26 rec., 432 yards, 16.6 avg., 6 TD)
TD’s Scored: Antario Brown/Kacper Rutkiewicz (7)
Sacks: Devonte O’Malley (5.5)
Tackles: CJ Brown (76)
Interceptions: 4 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections: CJ Brown (5)
Tackles For Loss: Raishein Thomas (9)
Forced Fumbles: James Ester (2)
Kick Returns: Kacper Rutkiewicz (1 ret., 14 yards, 14.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Kacper Rutkiewicz (1 ret., 3 yards, 3.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Tom Foley (47 punts, 1917 yards, 40.8 avg., 15 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 12 Rocky Lombardi (RS SR/TR)
RB: 1 Antario Brown (JR)
WR: 9 Davis Patterson (RS SR/TR)
WR: 85 Trayvon Rudolph (RS JR)
WR: 8 Kacper Rutkiewicz (SR/TR)
TE: 11 Chris Carter (RS JR/TR)
LT: 60 Evan Buss (JR)
LG: 79 JJ Lippe (RS JR)
OC: 50 Pete Nygra (RS SO)
RG: 76 John Champe (JR)
RT: 69 Nolan Potter (RS SR)
KR: 85 Trayvon Rudolph (RS JR)
PK: 30 Jake Seibert (RS SO/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 4 Raishein Thomas (JR)
DT: 1 James Ester (RS SR)
DT: 95 Devonte O’Malley (JR)
DE: 97 Roy Williams (SO)
LB: 26 Jaden Dolphin (JR)
LB: 23 DaRon Gilbert (SR/TR)
NB: 24 Jashon Prophete (JR)
CB: 20 Jacob Finley (RS FR)
CB: 2 Javaughn Byrd (JR)
LS: 6 CJ Brown (SR)
RS: 19 Nate Valcarcel (JR/TR)
PR: 8 Kacper Rutkiewicz (SR/TR)
PT: 98 Tom Foley (RS JR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/01 EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS | Northern Illinois leads the series 28-10-1. Last season’s 34-27 win was the first meeting between schools since 2017.
09/10 @ Tulsa Golden Hurricane | Last season’s 35-38 loss was the first meeting between schools.
09/17 VANDERBILT COMMODORES | Northern Illinois trails the series 0-5. Last season’s 18-24 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2019.
09/24 @ Kentucky Wildcats | Last season’s 23-31 loss was the first meeting between schools.
10/01 @ Ball State Cardinals | Northern Illinois leads the series 25-23-2. The Huskies are 7-3 since 2013 and their last series win (30-29) was in 2021.
10/08 TOLEDO ROCKETS | Northern Illinois trails the series 17-33. The Huskies are 6-4 since 2013 and their last series win (22-20) was in 2021.
10/15 @ Eastern Michigan Eagles | Northern Illinois leads the series 35-16-2. The Huskies are 8-2 since 2013 and their last series loss (33-41) was in 2020.
10/22 @ Ohio Bobcats | Northern Illinois leads the series 13-11. The Huskies are 3-2 since restarting the series in 2014 and their last series win (39-36) was in 2019.
11/02 CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS | Northern Illinois trails the series 25-32-1. The Huskies are 3-10 since 2013 and their last series win (39-38) was in 2021.
11/09 @ Western Michigan Broncos | Northern Illinois trails the series 21-27. The Huskies are 6-4 since 2013 and their last series loss (21-42) was in 2021.
11/16 MIAMI (OH) REDHAWKS | Northern Illinois trials the series 9-11. The Huskies are 2-3 since restarting the series in 2014 and their last series win (45-12) was in 2015.
11/26 AKRON ZIPS | Northern Illinois leads the series 11-6. The Huskies are 3-1 since 2013 and their last series win (49-0) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 3-5
Non-MAC: 2-2
Overall: 5-7 (4th in MAC West)
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