By Lady Houston

Huskies Headed to Alabama for Rematch with Arkansas State in Camellia Bowl

NIU Makes 12th Bowl Appearance in Last 16 Seasons in Montgomery

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOTBALL 2023 CAMELLIA BOWL MEDIA GUIDE

https://niuhuskies.com/documents/2023/12/15/FB23_-_NIU_Camellia_Bowl_Guide_-_ALL.pdf

 DOG TREATS  

• For the 12th time in the last 16 years, the NIU Huskies are “bowling” as they take on Arkansas State in the 2023 Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The game is a rematch of the 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, which the Huskies won 38-20. That game marked NIU’s last bowl victory.
• NIU clinched its bowl berth with a 37-27 win at Kent State on Thanksgiving Weekend to finish the regular season with a 6-6 record. NIU won five of its last seven games with five of NIU’s six losses on the season coming by a total of 22 points.
• Led by first team selections Nolan Potter (OT) and Antario Brown (RB), five Huskies were named to the 2023 All-MAC team by league head coaches. James Ester (DT) and JaVaughn Byrd (CB) both earned second team selections, while wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph made the third team.
• NIU is 2-1 all-time in games played in Alabama and has come away with wins its last two visits – a 19-16 upset win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2003 and the 38-20 bowl win over Arkansas State in Mobile. The Huskies’ lost at Auburn, 31-14, in 2000.
• The Huskie defense has made one of the most significant turnarounds in the nation, holding seven opponents to two touchdowns or less, including a 24-0 shutout of Western Michigan.
• NIU ranks sixth nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (164.6/game), 11th in pass efficiency defense (114.35) and 21st in total defense (316.9 yards/game), just one season removed – and with seven returning starters on defense – from its 2022 final rankings of 100th, 125th and 79th, respectively.
• Senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi wraps up a seven-year collegiate career in Montgomery after four years at Michigan State and three with the Huskies. Lombardi has started 29 games under center for NIU and will leave as one of the Top 10 passers in school history.
• With 68 stops on the season, defensive end Ray Thomas leads all FBS linemen in total tackles and is the only defensive lineman to lead his team in tackles. No defensive lineman has ever led NIU in tackles for a season (records since 1971).
• The “Voice of the Huskies” – radio play-by-play broadcaster Bill Baker – will retire following the 2023 football season, his 44th behind the mic for NIU. The Camellia Bowl game will mark Baker’s 520th – and final –  NIU football broadcast.
• Since 2008 every freshman class has left NIU with at least one MAC Championship. The Huskies’ five MAC Championship game wins are more than any other current league member and NIU has made a record nine appearances in the game.
• Of the 85 scholarship players on NIU’s 2023 roster, 21 came to NIU as walk-ons. The group includes 2023 Burlsworth Trophy nominee and team captain Jaden Dolphin (LB). as well as starters Nate Valcarcel (S), Devonte O’Malley (DT), Brock Lampe (FB) and Trayvon Rudolph (WR/KR).

NIU FACTS  
Location: DeKalb, Illinois
Founded: 1895
Enrollment: 15,649
Affiliation: NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision
Conference: Mid-American (West Division)
Colors: Cardinal and Black
Nickname: Huskies
Mascot: Mission (live); Victor E. Huskie (costume)
Stadium: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf /23,595
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-2-5
First Year of Football: 1899
2022 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 3-9/2-6/6th
All-Time Record: 610-527-51
Last Bowl Game: 2021 Tailgreeter Cure Bowl (Coastal Carolina 47, NIU 41)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 15th
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 9, 2021
MAC Championships, Last: 6, 2021
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 49/27
Starters Returning: 17 (8 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialist)
Starters Lost: 11 (4 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)

RED WOLVES FACTS  
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Butch Jones (Ferris State, 1990)
Record at Arkansas State/Years: 11-25/3
Career Record/Years: 95-79/14
2023 Record: 6-6
Conference Record/Finish: 4-4/T-2nd, West
Location: Jonesboro, Ark.
Enrollment: 14,109
Conference: Sun Belt
Colors: Scarlet and Black
Stadium: Centennial Bank Stadium
Surface/Capacity: Field Turf/30,382
President: Dr. Charles L. Welch
Athletic Director: Jeff Purinton
Athletics Website: AStateRedWolves.com
Twitter: @AStateFB

Arkansas State Schedule & Results

  NIU-ASU FACTS  
Overall: NIU leads 7-1
In DeKalb: NIU leads 3-1
In Jonesboro: NIU leads 3-0
Neutral Site: NIU leads 1-0
Streak: NIU, 2
Last Meeting: NIU 38, ASU 20 – 1/8/2012 (Mobile, Ala.)
First Meeting: NIU 35, ASU 0 – 10/13/1990 (H)

  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES  
WATCH: THE CAMELLIA BOWL ON ESPN, ESPN+ AND THE ESPN APP

• Watch the Camellia Bowl on ESPN, and streaming on the ESPN App and on ESPN+.
• The ESPN App is 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 a monthly or annual basis.
• Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst) will call the game with Ashley Stroehlein on the sidelines.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage for the Arkansas State game begins 90 minutes before kickoff, at 9:30 a.m. (CT), on 94-9 WDKB in DeKalb with the Toyota Pre-Game Tailgate Show.
• Coverage on NIU network affiliate SportsFan AM 1330 in Rockford and on The Varsity Network app begins 30 minutes before the game, at 10:30 am (CT).
• Hear the broadcast on mobile devices via the free NIU Huskies mobile app or The Varsity Network app.
• The Camellia Bowl will mark the final broadcast for “Voice of the Huskies” Bill Baker as he wraps up his 44th and final season at NIU. (see note) Analyst Mark Lindo has been alongside for 39 seasons. Andy Garcia is in his 11th year on the sidelines and moves into the booth next year.

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN AND WATCH

• The Camellia Bowl game can be heard on ESPN Radio.
• Mike Couzens will handle the play-by-play call with analyst Charles Arbuckle
• Watch the Arkansas State-NIU game on ESPN Desportes with Guillermo Celis (pxp) and Alex Pombo (analyst) on the call.

NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE

• Throughout the year, watch highlights, interviews with Huskie head coaches, administrators and more on NIU Weekly on the NIU Athletics Official YouTube Channel.
• Andy Garcia hosts the 30-minute show which includes all the latest news and updates from Huskie Athletics.
• This season Huskie legend Bill Baker joined Garcia for a special “Looking Back with Bill Baker” segment.

NIU ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, game highlights, the NIU Weekly show and more.
• Subscribe 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 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.

NEWS & NOTES  

BOWLING IN ‘BAMA: The NIU football program makes its 20th bowl appearance and its 15th as a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team in the 2023 Camellia Bowl. In its last bowl appearance, NIU dropped a 47-41 decision to Coastal Carolina in the 2021 Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida. NIU’s last bowl victory came in the 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, where the Huskies defeated Camellia Bowl foe Arkansas State, 38-20, on January 8, 2012.

ELEVATOR SEASON:  The 2023 NIU Football campaign has seen its ups and downs. After the season-opening overtime “Boneyard” Win over Boston College, the Huskies dropped their next three non-conference contests and a two-point decision at MAC West foe Toledo before rebouding to win its next three games. A pair of tight losses at Central Michigan and in last second fashion to Ball State followed, before NIU came back to shut out Western Michigan and clinch its bowl berth at Kent State. The Huskies won five of their last seven games and lost five games by a total of 22 points.

HUSKIE BOWL FACTS:  NIU will be playing in its 12th bowl game in the last 16 seasons dating back to a 2008 Independence Bowl appearance. NIU is 4-10 (FBS) and 5-14 overall in bowl games. The Huskies appeared in a MAC-record eight consecutive bowl games from 2008-15 and NIU’s 12 bowl appearances since 2008 and 14 since 2003 lead all MAC teams (see chart page 5). The Huskies’ modern bowl history began at the California Bowl when the 1983 MAC Champions earned a 20-13 win over Cal State Fullerton. NIU has won at least six games 18 times since 2000, but were not selected for a bowl in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 (with 10 wins!) and 2005 (despite playing in the MAC Championship game).

HAMMOCK’S BOWL HISTORY: NIU head coach Thomas Hammock, a Huskie alum, never had the opportunity to play in a bowl game during his playing days at NIU (1999-2002), but has coached in nine bowl games during his college coaching career, including two Rose Bowls during his time at Wisconsin, in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl as a NIU assistant and as head coach of the 2021 Huskies in the Cure Bowl.

SERIES HISTORY: NIU and Arkansas State meet for the ninth time in the Camellia Bowl and will play in a postseason bowl game in Alabama for the second consecutive game. The Huskies are 7-1 all-time versus the Red Wolves. The teams met annually from 1990-96, including three times (1993-95) as members of the Big West Conference.  NIU won the first five games between the teams, shutting out ASU in 1990 and 1992. Arkansas State defeated the Huskies in 1995 in DeKalb, 28-21.

THE LAST MEETING: After falling behind 13-0 in the first quarter at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, NIU scored the next 31 points en route to a 38-20 GoDaddy.com Bowl win over Arkansas State. NIU quarterbacks Chandler Harnish and JordanLynch combined to throw for 338 yards on 22-of-36 passing. Harnish completed touchdown passes of nine and 43 yards to Perez Ashford and Martel Moore, respectively, while the Huskie defense recovered two ASU fumbles and intercepted three passes.

SUN BELT FOES: NIU is 13-7 all-time versus teams that currently make up the Sun Belt Conference, with Arkansas State and former MAC opponent Marshall the Huskies’ most frequent opponents. In addition to its 7-1 record versus the Red Wolves all-time, NIU is 4-4 against Marshall, with the last meeting in the 2014 Boca Raton Bowl and 1-1 versus Southern Miss. NIU has a bowl win over Troy (in the 2004 Silicon Valley Classic) and a bowl loss to Coastal Carolina (in the 2021 Cure Bowl).

DOGS IN ALABAMA: NIU is 2-1 all-time in games played in Alabama, including a memorable 19-16 upset win over the No. 21 Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa in 2003. The Huskies’ other win in the state came in Mobile in the 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl, a 38-20 win over Arkansas State on January 8 as NIU finished the season with a 11-3 record. NIU fell to No. 20 Auburn, 31-14, on September 23, 2000 in Auburn.

HUSKIE LEGEND: Legendary “Voice of the Huskies” Bill Baker wraps up his 44th and final season as the play-by-play announcer for NIU football and basketball at the Camellia Bowl. The game will mark Baker’s 520th behind the mic at NIU. The Illinois native and United States Air Force veteran has missed just one game since making his NIU debut when the Huskies faced Long Beach State in Anaheim, Calif. on Sept. 5, 1980. He also has called more than 1,200 NIU basketball games – including several years when he called both men’s and women’s games. Baker ranks tied for sixth in longevity for FBS play-by-play voices. He was honored as a finalists for the 2023 Armed Forces Merit Award. A tribute video featuring Baker’s signature “Goodbye Toledo” call can be seen on the NIU Athletics Official YouTube Channel.

PASSING THE TORCH: Bill Baker and Mark Lindo form the longest tenured duo in FBS football as they have called Huskie Football games together for the past 39 seasons. The third member of the broadcast team, Andy Garcia, who currently serves as the NIU sideline reporter, moves into the football play-by-play role next season.

SWEET HOME ALABAMA: NIU’s 2023 roster includes one player – redshirt freshman cornerback Jacob Finley – from Alabama. Finley, who has started eight games and made 30 tackles, 22 solo, with three pass break-ups in 2023, was named one of the Huskies’ Freshmen of the Year at the team’s annual banquet on December 9. Finley came to NIU out of Hoover High School and lists Birmingham as his hometown. He was an All-State corner in Alabama in 2021 and started on Hoover teams that went 11-2 in 2020 and 12-1 in 2021.

ALL-MAC: Five Huskies were named to the 2023 All Mid-American Conference team by league coaches, led by first team selections Nolan Potter and Antario Brown. Potter earned his second consecutive first team nod and the third All-MAC honor of his career. Brown, who ranks second in the MAC in rushing, is NIU’s first first-team running back since 2015. Defensive tackle James Ester and cornerback JaVaughn Byrd made the All-MAC second team with Ester collecting All-MAC honors for the third time in his career. NIU leading wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph made the All-MAC third team.

LEAD DOG: With 159 yards on 18 carries versus Western Michigan, Antario Brown posted his fourth 150-yard rushing game of the season to record the 32nd 1,000-yard rushing season in NIU history. He gained a season and career high 280 yards versus Akron, which still ranks as the second-highest total in a FBS game this year. He ran for 152 yards on just 16 carries at Toledo and gained 167 yards on 22 carries at Central Michigan. Brown’s 1,164 yards, 187 carries and 10 touchdowns are all career highs. He ranks 19th nationally and second in the MAC in rushing yards, 19th (2nd MAC) in yards per carry with 6.22 and 21st (2nd MAC) in rushing yards per game with 97.0.

DOWNTOWN BROWN: Antario Brown, who became the 20th player in NIU history to rush for over 2,000 career yards during the 2023 season, scored a career high 10 rushing TDs this year, giving him 22 for his career.. Fourteen of his 22 rushing scores have come on runs of 35 yards or longer, making his average touchdown run 34 yards. In 2023, Brown’s 10 rushing touchdowns have been scored on runs of 66 (twice), 58, 46, 50, 61 and 24 yards – along with a pair of two-yard and a one-yard score. At Akron, he scored from 66, 58, 46 and 50 yards, while his 61-yard touchdown came at Central Michigan. The Huskies are 5-1 this season when Brown scores a touchdown.

TACKLE LEADER: Defensive end Ray Thomas not only leads the Huskies in tackles with 68, that total leads all FBS defensive lineman AND he is the only FBS defensive lineman to lead his team in tackles on the year.  Thomas has made at least three tackles in every game this year with a career high 11 versus Tulsa and nine in the regular season finale at Kent State. Since NIU began keeping tackle totals in 1971, no defensive lineman has led the Huskies in tackles on the season. Thomas’ 11 tackles versus Tulsa, including seven solo stops and four assists, were the most by a Huskie defensive lineman since 2013 (Ken Bishop, 11 vs. Toledo).

TRAY’S TOTALS: In addition to his team-leading 46 catches for 504 yards, Trayvon Rudolph ranks second on the team with 900 all-purpose yards while his 176 rushing yards (on 20 carries) are third. The junior has averaged 20.0 yards on 11 kickoff returns. In 32 career games over three seasons (2020-21-23), Rudolph has a team leading 3,319 all-purpose yards with 1,628 receiving on 111 catches, 1,388 on 58 kickoff returns, and 289 rushing on 28 carries. It adds up to an average of 103.7 all-purpose yards per game with 12 touchdowns (2 rushing, 9 receiving, 1 kick return).

VERSATILE: Wide receiver and kick returner Trayvon Rudolph added wildcat quarterback duties in 2023. At Central Michigan, Rudolph caught a season-high eight passes for 170 yards with a 72-yard touchdown and returned a pair of kickoffs for 39 yards. A week later versus Ball State, he gained a season high 69 yards rushing on three carries with a 35-yard rushing TD v while compiling 149 all-purpose yards. He caught five passes, ran three times and completed a pass versus Western MIchigan and totaled 93 yards in four plays at Kent State with a 34-yard rush and a 29-yard reception. In 34 total plays over the last four games of the season, he accounted for 492 yards, including 287 receiving on 21 catches and 115 rushing on seven carries.

QUADRUPLE THREAT?: Versus Western Michigan, Trayvon Rudolph put his passing skills on display as the former Crete-Monee High School quarterback completed a seven-yard pass to Billy Dozier to record his first career passing yards. He has previously thrown five passes on two point conversion attempts, including two this season, converting on a pass to Rocky Lombardi versus Southern Illinois. In 2021, Rudolph attempted three passes on two-point conversion attempts, completing one.

PROPHETE-ABLE: Safety Jashon Prophete has quietly been one of the Huskies most consistent defenders and he put together a pair of strong performances in the NIU’s final two games. Versus Western Michigan. Prophete tied his season highs with five tackles, four solo and a tackle for loss while adding a pass break up. He limited the MAC’s leading receiver in catches per game – Kenneth Womack – to two catches for 24 yards. At Kent State, the junior broke up three passes, the most by a Huskie in a single game this season.  Prophete leads NIU with  four pass break-ups on the year and has made 32 tackles.

HEART AND SOUL: Senior defensive tackle James Ester, a three-year captain, three-time All-MAC choice and two-time Team MVP, has been described as the “heartbeat” of the Huskie defense for his leadership, his loyalty and his work ethic. Ester has put together his most productive season in 2023 with career best numbers in tackles (48) and tackles for loss (6.5). He leads the Huskies in sacks with four. His 42 career starts over the last four seasons are tied for the most on the team.

IRON MAN: Among the Huskies’ 14 seniors, no current player has worn the Huskie jersey longer, or in as many games, as right tackle Nolan Potter. Potter spent a redshirt season on NIU’s 2018 MAC Championship team and played in all 12 games on the field goal/PAT unit in 2019. Beginning in the COVID-19 shortened six game season of 2020, Potter has played in 43 of the Huskies’ last 44 games with 42 starts with 55 total games played as a Huskie. A three-time All-MAC lineman, who earned first team honors in both 2022 and 2023, he has been elected a team captain in each of the last two seasons.

DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE: The differences between the Huskie defense of a year ago and the 2023 version are dramatic and are best explained simply by looking at the numbers. NIU opponents’ average of 316.9 yards per game is the lowest for a Huskie defense since 2008 (298.5 yards/game), while the 21.2 scoring average is the lowest since the 2012 NIU defense which allowed just 19.8 points per game.

NO PASSING ZONE: In 12 games, just two teams – Toledo and Kent State – have thrown for more than 200 yards against the Huskies. NIU ranks sixth in the FBS in fewest passing yards allowed per game (164.6) and 11th in the country in team passing efficiency defense with a 114.35 mark. The 156.5 passing yards allowed is the fewest by a Huskie defense since 2008, when NIU opponents averaged 161.1 passing yards per game. Three teams – Central Michigan (116 yards), Ball State (115) and Tulsa (102) – have totaled less than 120 passing yards against NIU.

SHUT OUT: The Huskies’ 24-0 shut out of Western Michigan on November 14 on Senior Night at Huskie Stadium was NIU’s first since a 49-0 win over Akron on Oct. 26, 2019 in head coach Thomas Hammock‘s first year. NIU held the Broncos to 11 first downs and limited one of the top rushing offenses in the MAC to 24 yards on 18 carries. WMU’s 206 total yards were the fewest allowed by the Huskies this year.

STINGY: Seven of NIU’s 12 opponents in 2023 have been held to less than three touchdowns, including five of the Huskies’ eight MAC opponents. In addition to the shutout win over Western Michigan, the NIU defense limited Ball State to an opening drive touchdown, and the Cardinals’  10 fourth quarter points came after a pair of NIU turnovers on its half of the field. Ohio and Eastern Michigan both managed just one touchdown and two field goals, while Akron scored two touchdowns in a Huskie blowout win. Southern Illinois totaled 14 points on two TDs; Tulsa defeated the Huskies with two touchdowns, two field goals and a safety.

TURNOVER TALK:  This season, NIU is 0-3 when it loses the turnover battle (vs. SIU, CMU, Ball State), 4-0 when it wins the turnover battle (vs. Akron, Ohio, EMU, Kent State) and 2-3 when the turnovers are even (W over Boston College, Western Michigan, L vs. Nebraska, Tulsa, Toledo).

SECOND HALF SUCCESS: Especially in its six Mid-American Conference battles, NIU has been a second half team. NIU outscored its opponents in the second half in seven of its eight MAC games with Ball State the only exception. NIU outscored its MAC foes 144-64 in the second half with a 69-24 margin in the fourth quarter. Ball State, Toledo and Kent State were the only league teams to score against NIU in the final period this year. Ball State’s 10 fourth quarter points came off of a pair of Huskie fumbles.

GROUP EFFORT: Just 16 different players have started games for the NIU defense in 2023 with six players (DL James Ester, DT Devonte O’Malley, DE Ray Thomas, LB DaRon Gilbert, S Jashon Prophete, CB JaVaughn Byrd), starting every game. Still, depth has been a key to the success of the Huskie defense with as many as 23 different players seeing significant snaps. Twenty different Huskies have collected tackles for loss, 12 have been in on at least one sack and another 15 have pass break-ups. Through 12 games, 23 players have made at least 10 tackles and 18 have accrued 20 or more stops. Versus Akron, 31 different Huskie players were credited with tackles.

GOING LONG: In MAC play, NIU has 35 plays of 25 yards or longer after totaling just five long plays in the Huskies’ four non-conference games. Over the last eight games, the Huskies have 15 rushing, 14 passing and six returns of 25-plus yards by 14 different players. Rocky Lombardi has hit eight different receivers with at least one 25-yard pass; safety Nate Valcarcel has both a long fumble (50 yards) and interception (33) return, while Trayvon Rudolph’s eight long plays include four catches, three runs and a 48-yard kickoff return. NIU has scored 13 touchdowns on long plays over the last eight games and has 14 on the year, including two versus WMU. (See box page 4).

CLOSE CALLS: Seven of NIU’s 12 games this season, including four MAC contests, have been decided by one score or less, a trend that has continued throughout Thomas Hammock‘s tenure as head coach. In 56 games under Thomas Hammock since 2019, 33 games, including 23 Mid-American Conference contests have been one score affairs. Included in those 33 games are three overtime games. This year, the Huskies have one-score wins over Boston College in the season-opener in overtime and Eastern Michigan on a late touchdown drive.

VETERAN QB: Senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi wraps up his seven-year college career in Montgomery. The Camellia Bowl game versus Arkansas State will be his 52nd college football game, including 22 games and nine starts in four seasons at Michigan State from 2017-20. He has played 29 games at NIU with 28 starts over the last three seasons. All-time, he is 580-of-1,048 passing for 7,218 yards and 41 TDs. He has also rushed for 747 yards on 243 carries with 16 rushing scores, giving him 7,965 yards of total offense and 57 touchdowns accounted for at two schools.

ON THE CHARTS: Rocky Lombardi will leave NIU ranked on the Huskie passing and total offense charts. Lombardi’s 5,316 NIU career passing yards are sixth at NIU all-time, while his 421 completions in 716 attempts are both seventh. His average of 183.3 passing yards per game is currently second. He ranks eighth in total offense yards with 5,897 and has been responsible for 46 touchdowns (30 passing, 16 rushing), 11th all-time.

STEPPING IN: In his first start at linebacker, senior Tyler Jackson led the Huskies in tackles with 10 and contributed 1.5 tackles for loss. Jackson, a grad transfer from Lamar University, was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week, the first Huskie defensive player to earn the weekly honor this year. Jackson is tied for second on the team with 55 tackles, 28 solo. He earned the “Most Inspirational Award” at the 2023 team banquet.

KANON THE KICKER: Since taking over placekicking duties in game four, sophomore Kanon Woodill has made 11-of-15 field goals, and was 7-of-7 in the swirling winds of Huskie Stadium. Woodill, a walk-on who is a member of the NIU ROTC program, hit all three of his field goal attempts versus Ohio – all in the second half – to earn MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors. His threes turned a 14-13 NIU lead into a 23-13 margin. He was 2-for-2 on field goals versus Eastern Michigan and made single threes in the Ball State and Western Michigan games. Woodill made at least one field goal in every game except the Akron contest (a 55-14 NIU win) and was nine-of-10 from inside 40 yards.

LONG TIME COMING: Redshirt freshman Dane Pardridge made one of the biggest plays of the Western Michigan game with a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown to earn MAC West Specialist of the Week honors. Late in the third quarter, Pardridge caught a Broncos’ punt on the run, saw an opening to the right, then cut back to the left into wide open space as he raced 55 yards for a touchdown. The score was NIU’s first punt return for a touchdown (not off of a blocked punt) since Perez Ashford had a 44-yard score on Oct. 24, 2009, at Miami (Ohio), a stretch of 183 games.

THE PARDRIDGE FAMILY RETURNS: Dane Pardridge, who took over punt return duties after the injury to starter Kacper Rutkiewicz at Akron, scored on just his seventh career punt return. However, he is not the first Pardridge to score a return touchdown for NIU as Dane’s father, Curt, scored on a 94-yard kickoff return versus Iowa on Sept. 21, 1985. Curt, was a four-year letterwinner at wide receiver and running back for the Huskies from 1982-1985 who was then drafted in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the (then) San DIego Chargers. His 94-yard kickoff return TD still ranks as the 11th-longest in school history.

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: NIU senior defensive tackle James Ester was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation award which annually recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation and is selected from across all divisions of college football. A three-time All-MAC selection and three-year team captain with 120 career tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss and nine sacks, Ester earned his bachelor’s degree in communications last May with a 3.333 GPA and is currently pursuing his master’s in sport management.

WORTHY NOMINEE: Linebacker Jaden Dolphin was this year’s Huskie nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is presented to the most outstanding FBS player who began his career as a walk-on. Dolphin, one of five players selected as a permanent team captain in 2023, is tied second on the team with 55 tackles and his 37 solo stops lead NIU. The Des Plaines, Ill. (Maine West HS) product who was an IHSA All-State tight end AND defensive end, walked on to the NIU team in 2020 as a safety and has played in 42 games with 146 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five pass break-ups in his Huskie career.

WALK IT ON: Dolphin is not the only former walk-on making an impact for the Huskies in 2023. The current NIU roster includes 19 players who started their NIU careers or currently are playing without a scholarship. The list includes Dolphin and starters Devonte O’Malley (DT), Nate Valcarcel (S), Brock Lampe (FB) and Trayvon Rudolph (WR/KR) as well as the Huskies’ starting specialist crew of Tom Foley (P), Isaac Hatfield (LS) and Kanon Woodill (PK).

SENIOR NIGHT WIN: NIU celebrated Senior Night on Tuesday, November 14 versus Western Michigan with a 24-0 win for its first shut out since 2019. Antario Brown scored on runs of one and 66 yards and Dane Pardridge scored on a 55-yard punt return to provide more than enough points for the Huskie defense, which held the Broncos to 11 first downs and 24 rushing yards on 18 carries in a dominating performance.

STRONG FINISH: With an offensive outburst in the second half, NIU finished the Central Michigan game with 506 total yards for its second 500-yard game of the season. The Huskies’ 298 passing yards were a season high while its 208 rushing yards were the second-best total of the season. The Huskies gained 347 yards in the second half alone, 142 rushing and 205 passing, with 28 second-half points to help make up for a 24-3 halftime deficit.

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: The Huskie offense had a breakout game with 55 points, 571 yards of total offense and 380 rushing yards at Akron on October 10. NIU’s 55 points were the most scored by a Thomas Hammock led Huskie team, and the most since NIU scored 63 points versus Ball State (11-9-17) in a 63-17 win. NIU’s 380 rushing yards versus the Zips were the most by a Huskie team in 109 games, since a 433-yard day versus Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 18, 2014, a 51-41 NIU win.

RECORD BREAKER: With an average of 21.5 yards on 13 carries (280 yards) at Akron, Antario Brown broke the 34-year-old NIU record for the highest yards per rush in a single game (minimum 10 carries). The previous record of 17.6 was set by quarterback Stacey Robinson versus Cincinnati (11-18-89) with 281 yards on 16 carries and five touchdowns in a 56-3 NIU win. Brown’s 160-yard second quarter ranks as the second-most yards gained in a quarter by a Huskie, trailing only a 173-yard quarter (2nd) by Robinson versus Fresno State (10-6-90). He became just the sixth player in NIU history to run for 280 or more yards in a single game, joining Jordan Lynch, Garrett Wolfe, LeShon Johnson, Michael Turner and Robinson.

DOMINATING SECOND HALF D: The Huskies won the Ohio game with a dominant defensive performance in the second half, including three fourth-quarter interceptions. Ohio scored 13 points, gained 12 first downs and totaled 188 yards of offense in the opening half. After halftime, the Bobcats made three first downs, did not score and gained just 66 yards on 22 plays, including 14 yards on six rushing plays. It was the Huskies’ first three interception game in 70 games (at Bowling Green, 10/21/17).

RETURN OF THE BACK: With players who are taking a redshirt season eligible to play in bowl games, the NIU depth chart for the Camellia Bowl includes running back Justin Lynch, who played in the first four games of the season for the Huskies and rushed for 96 yards on 11 carries with a rushing touchdown and a passing TD before electing to redshirt in order to develop at the running back position. Lynch, a former quarterback recorded runs of 30 and 29 yards versus Tulsa, the latter for a touchdown. He finished the game as NIU’s leading rusher with 84 yards on eight carries. He completed a touchdown pass to Antario Brown in NIU’s win at Boston College. Lynch is averaging 8.7 yards per carry.

REUNITED: Three former Huskie teammates will be reunited in Montgomery as NIU head coach Thomas Hammock (1999-2002), defensive ends coach Travis Moore (2001-04) and Arkansas State defensive line coach Vinson Reynolds (2000-03) all played for the Huskies under NIU Hall of Fame coach Joe Novak. Reynolds was a first team All-MAC defensive end as a senior who helped lead the Huskies to wins over Alabama, Maryland and Iowa State alongside fellow defensive lineman Moore.

CHANGES AFOOT: During his pre-bowl conference (watch on the NIU Athletics Official YouTube Channel), head coach Thomas Hammock announced that during the 2023 season, there was a change in duties among the Huskie offensive staff with running backs coach Wesley Beschorner taking over as offensive coordinator at the beginning of the conference season while Eric Eidsness continues to work with the NIU quarterbacks.

MAC MOVES:  Beginning in 2024, the Mid-American Conference will follow the trend in college football to do away with its divisional set-up that saw NIU face Eastern, Western and Central Michigan, along with Ball State and Toledo, on an annual basis while taking on three teams from the East Division each year. Instead, each team in the league will have two permanent opponents and the remainder of the schedule will be filled on a year-to-year basis. The Huskies’ permanent opponents are Toledo and Bowling Green.

ON THE MIC: NIU quarterback Rocky Lombardi, a 2017 Iowa state wrestling finalist, stepped into a new role as the analyst for the NIU-Cal Baptist wrestling dual on Friday, December 15. Lombardi, who finished his senior season at Valley High School in Iowa with a 38-2 record, took second at 220 pounds in the 2017 Iowa Class 3A state championships in a controversial decision. Lombardi’s highlights include a three-second pin in December 2016 (see it on YouTube).

REDSHIRT RULE: With any player, even those who are redshirted in 2023, eligible to play in the bowl game, some new faces have a chance to see their first action or to return to action after playing in four games earlier in the season. Among those true freshmen mentioned by head coach Thomas Hammock during his pre-bowl press conference were wide receiver Kyle Thomas, who made a spectacular juggling 45-yard reception at Kent State, defensive lineman Mark Hensley and safety Santana Banner.

HIDDEN VALUE: While his value will not show up in the stats, fullback Brock Lampe has been one of the most versatile – and valuable – players for the Huskie offense in 2023 as a lead blocker, ball carrier and receiver. At Akron, he cleared the way on nearly all of Antario Brown’s long touchdown runs. The junior has 13 rushes for 52 yards on the season with nine of his carries coming on third and short and all resulting in a first down or a touchdown. He has seven catches for 87 yards on the year, with three of at least 12 yards, including a season-long 26-yard grab at Toledo. He caught a pair of passes for 17 yards versus Ball State.

FILLING THE BONEYARD: With its 27-24 overtime win over Boston College in the 2023 season opener, NIU earned its 18th “Boneyard Win,” defined as wins over prominent opponents and teams from leagues now designated as “Power 5.” The Boneyard tradition began in 1983 and NIU has collected 10 Boneyard Wins in the last 15 years, including in back-to-back games versus ACC opponents and in 2017 at Nebraska. All-time, the Huskies have Boneyard Wins over teams from the ACC (4), SEC (1), Big 12 (5) and Big Ten (7), as well as over independent BYU.

DOGS IN OT: NIU’s season opening win at Boston College in overtime marked the Huskies’ 10th OT win, improving its all-time overtime record to 10-5. The Huskies have won five of their last six overtime games after its four-game winning streak in OT was snapped at Ball State last year. NIU is 4-3 in overtime games on the road and is 1-0 in neutral site OT games. The Huskies have won three of four overtime games versus non-conference opponents and are 7-4 when MAC games go to extra periods.

LAND OF LINCOLN LEADERS: Since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program among Illinois’ seven Division I football programs with a winning percentage of .609 in 179 games (109-70). The Huskies are 1-1 versus in-state FBS programs with a 2014 win over Northwestern, which checks in with a .517 winning percentage and a 2010 loss at Illinois (.387). NIU is 4-1 versus in-state FCS opponents over the last 12 seasons, including wins over Illinois State (2019) and Eastern Illinois (2022) under Thomas Hammock. Illinois State ranks second among all Division I state schools in winning percentage with a .591 mark (94-65). Northwestern is third, followed by Southern Illinois (.472), Eastern Illinois (.403), Illinois and Western Illinois (.333).

GRADS: Add junior offensive lineman Logan Zschernitz to the list of NIU graduates as the Wisconsin native earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering this month, while quarterback Rocky Lombardi and offensive tackle Nolan Potter completed their master’s degrees. Lombardi actually earned a pair of master’s degrees – in sport and exercise psychology and in sport management, while Potter added a master’s in sport management.

Pos.    Name    School (Earned Degree)    Major
CB Gabe Amegatcher (Nebraska-Kearney) Major: General Studies; Minors: Construction Management, Mathematics
LB Keshon Artis (Virginia Tech) Major: Business Information Technology
TE Chris Carter (Howard) Major: Strategic, Legal & Management Communications
DT James Ester (NIU) Major: Communication, Media Studies
P Tom Foley (NIU) Degrees: B.S. in Accountancy; M.S. Finance
LB DaRon Gilbert (Lafayette) Major: Economics; Minor: Anthropology & Sociology
LB Tyler Jackson (Lamar) Majors: Industrial Engineering and Business
QB C.J. Jordan (Idaho) Major: Psychology; Minor: Communication
OL J.J. Lippe (NIU) Major: Leadership & Management
**QB Rocky Lombardi (Michigan State) Major: History; M.S. (NIU): Sport and Exercise Psychology AND Sport Management
**OT Nolan Potter (NIU) Major: Organizational & Corporate Communications; M.S.: Sport Management
WR Kacper Rutkiewicz (NIU) Major: General Emphasis
DT Demond Taylor Jr. (NIU) Major: Communication, Media Studies
TE Tristen Tewes (NIU) Major: Environmental Studies
**OL Logan Zschernitz (NIU) Major: Mechanical Engineering

**December 2023 additions.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Huskies will open the 2024 season on August 31, 2024 with a home game against in-state foe Western Illinois.

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