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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Northern Illinois

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03/02/23 - Nolan Potter, rSr/2024, Northern Illinois + More +

The Mid-American Conference has released NIU football's 2023 schedule, featuring their homecoming opponent, the Ohio University Bobcats. The Huskies' first four games on the schedule all feature opponents outside of the MAC. NIU will visit Boston College on Sept. 2 for their first matchup of the season and their first home game will be against Southern Illinois University on Sept. 9. NIU will take on its biggest opponent this season in their third game against the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers on Sept. 16 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Huskies will close out their non-conference schedule with a home matchup against the University of Tulsa on Sept. 23, which will be the Huskies' second matchup against Tulsa in two years. NIU's final eight games of the season will all be against MAC opponents - four road games and four home games. Three of the home games featured opponents will be Eastern Michigan University, Ball State University and Western Michigan University. - NIU Northern Star

rSr/2024

OT Nolan Potter, Northern Illinois
News Source: NIU Northern Star
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01/20/23 - Gavin Williams, rSr/2025, Northern Illinois + More +

Five new football players started classes earlier this week and officially joined the Huskies via the transfer portal, NIU announced on Wednesday. One of two former Power 5 players coming onboard, Williams had 43 carries for 138 yards and no touchdowns last year. He had 65 carries for 305 yards the year before and is still searching for his first career touchdown. - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

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RB Gavin Williams, Northern Illinois
News Source: DeKalb Daily Chronicle
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12/17/22 - Michael Kennedy, rSr/2023, Northern Illinois + More +

2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM: Down Lineman - Michael Kennedy, Northern Illinois,...DeVonte O'Malley and Michael Kennedy each earned the first All-MAC recognition of their careers after tying for the team lead in quarterback sacks with five-and-a-half each. O'Malley made a career-high 36 tackles, more than doubling his previous season best, and ranked second on the team in tackles for loss with seven while starting every game at defensive tackle. In his sixth and final season on the roster, Kennedy established new single season highs for sacks and tackles for loss (6.5) while adding 32 tackles. - Northern Illinois Football

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OLB Michael Kennedy, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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12/17/22 - Logan Zschernitz, rSr/2025, Northern Illinois + More +

2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM: Offensive Lineman - Logan Zschernitz, Northern Illinois,...Nolan Potter and Logan Zschernitz led a Huskie offensive line that ranked first in the MAC and 11th in the country in fewest sacks allowed while clearing a path for the No. 2 rushing offense in the league. A redshirt junior, Potter collected first team honors in 2022 after being named to the All-MAC second team a year ago, while Zschernitz' repeated as a third team selection. Both Potter and Zschernitz earned the recognition despite missing time during the Huskies' MAC schedule due to injury. - Northern Illinois Football

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OG Logan Zschernitz, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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12/17/22 - James Ester, rSr/2024, Northern Illinois + More +

2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM: Down Lineman - James Ester, Northern Illinois,...Ester, who has started 28 consecutive games for the Huskies over the last three seasons, made 28 tackles in 2022 with six tackles for loss. He tied O'Malley for the team lead in quarterback hurries, forced a pair of fumbles and intercepted a pass in the end zone at Eastern Michigan for his first career touchdown. - Northern Illinois Football

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DT James Ester, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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12/17/22 - Devonte OMalley, rSr/2025, Northern Illinois + More +

2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM: Down Lineman - DeVonte O'Malley, Northern Illinois,...DeVonte O'Malley and Michael Kennedy each earned the first All-MAC recognition of their careers after tying for the team lead in quarterback sacks with five-and-a-half each. O'Malley made a career-high 36 tackles, more than doubling his previous season best, and ranked second on the team in tackles for loss with seven while starting every game at defensive tackle. In his sixth and final season on the roster, Kennedy established new single season highs for sacks and tackles for loss (6.5) while adding 32 tackles. - Northern Illinois Football

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DT Devonte OMalley, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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12/17/22 - Nolan Potter, rSr/2024, Northern Illinois + More +

2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM: Offensive Lineman - Nolan Potter, Northern Illinois,...Nolan Potter and Logan Zschernitz led a Huskie offensive line that ranked first in the MAC and 11th in the country in fewest sacks allowed while clearing a path for the No. 2 rushing offense in the league. A redshirt junior, Potter collected first team honors in 2022 after being named to the All-MAC second team a year ago, while Zschernitz' repeated as a third team selection. Both Potter and Zschernitz earned the recognition despite missing time during the Huskies' MAC schedule due to injury. - Northern Illinois Football

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OT Nolan Potter, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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12/04/22 - Gavin Williams, rSr/2025, Northern Illinois + More +

Iowa running back Gavin Williams plans to enter the transfer portal, he said in a tweet Friday afternoon. "To my teammates, coaches and training staff, thank you for all of our support throughout my time at Iowa," Williams said in the tweet. "The connections I've made during my time here will truly last a lifetime." Williams began the season as Iowa's No. 1 running back, but injury problems and the rise of true freshman Kaleb Johnson at his position limited Williams' productivity.

He had 43 carries for 138 yards while averaging 3.2 yards per carry in 2022 - a significant drop-off from 65 carries for 305 yards and 4.7 yards per carry last year. He was essentially Iowa's third running back by the midpoint of the season behind Kaleb Johnson and Leshon Williams. Jaziun Patterson, a true freshman, could potentially take that third spot. Arlen Harris Jr., a running back in the transfer portal from Stanford, said earlier in the week on Twitter he will be visiting Iowa this weekend. - The Gazette

rSr/2025

RB Gavin Williams, Northern Illinois
News Source: The Gazette
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10/17/22 - John Richardson, rSr/2024, Northern Illinois + More +

OCT 17 MAC WEST DIVISION SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: John Richardson, NIU, Kicker, Junior, Orland Park, Ill. (Brother Rice),...John Richardson made all four of his field goal attempts Saturday at Eastern Michigan, hitting from 41, 39, 28 and 33 yards in NIU's 39-10 win. He hit two field goals in the second quarter to give NIU a 20-7 halftime lead, then added a pair in the second half as the Huskies pulled away to win. Richardson also made all three of his PATs for 15 points, just one shy of his single game career high. Richardson kicked off nine times in the game, often kicking shorter to control field position, with one of his squib kickoffs fumbled and recovered by NIU. - MAC Football

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K John Richardson, Northern Illinois
News Source: MAC Football
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09/26/22 - Tom Foley, rSr/2025, Northern Illinois + More +

SEPT 26 MAC WEST DIVISION SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tom Foley, NIU, Punter, R-Sophomore, Peoria, Illinois (Peoria Notre Dame),...Punter Tom Foley had an excellent day for the Huskies in their 8-point loss at Kentucky with five punts for an average of 47.2 yards per punt with three of his five kicks forcing Kentucky to start inside its own 20 yard line. Foley had a season- long punt of 61 yards. The 61-yard punt bounced out of bounds at the two-yard line, while additional efforts were fair caught at the 11 and 10 yard line. Foley is averaging 46.3 yards per punt which would lead the MAC if he had enough punts to qualify. - MAC Football

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P Tom Foley, Northern Illinois
News Source: MAC Football
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09/02/22 - Rocky Lombardi, rSr/2024, Northern Illinois + More +

Rocky Lombardi threw for 192 yards to six different receivers and Northern Illinois used a balanced running attack to hold off Eastern Illinois 34-27 in a season opener Thursday night. Eastern Illinois scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and threatened at game's end. Northern Illinois' Josh Richardson missed a 43-yard field goal to the right with 58 seconds left, killing a chance for a 10-point lead. Eastern Illinois quarterback Jonah O'Brien then led a six-play, 39-yard drive to get the Panthers to Northern Illinois' 44-yard line before time ran out. A sophomore, O'Brien threw for 276 yards and three scores and two interceptions. The Huskies never trailed. They built a 21-6 lead at halftime and extended it to 28-6 when Lombardi threw a 13-yard score to Liam Soraghan to end an eight-play, 64-yard drive with 5:59 left in the third. O'Brien responded heading scoring drives of 85 and 74 yards, respectively. He threw a 13-yard score to Justin Thomas with 9:58 left and an 8-yarder to Jay Vallie with 2:04 remaining. - Northern Illinois/AP College Football

rSr/2024

QB Rocky Lombardi, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois/AP College Football
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09/01/22 - Nick Rattin, rSr/2024, Northern Illinois + More +

2022 PRESEASON WUERFFEL TROPHY (COMMUNITY SERVICE) WATCHLIST: Nick Rattin, Northern Illinois, Jr., LB,...Rattin has worked with Team Impact for the past two years and has been involved in various volunteer events with the team and on his own, including youth camps and trash pick-up efforts. He helped set up a Habitat for Humanity build for the entire team last month. Rattin was awarded with a Cure Bowl Community Service Soldier Medallion at last December's Cure Bowl in Orlando for his community service efforts. - Northern Illinois Football

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ILB Nick Rattin, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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08/15/22 - Nick Rattin, rSr/2024, Northern Illinois + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM NOMINEE: Nick Rattin, Northern Illinois University,...Rattin has worked with Team Impact for the past two years and has been involved in various volunteer events with the team and on his own, including youth camps and trash pick-up efforts. He helped set up a Habitat for Humanity build for the entire team last month. Rattin was awarded with a Cure Bowl Community Service Soldier Medallion at last December's Cure Bowl in Orlando for his community service efforts. - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2024

ILB Nick Rattin, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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08/10/22 - Izayah Green-May, rSr/2023, Northern Illinois + More +

The Northern Illinois University football team ranked 117th out of 130 teams in sacks last season. Defensive end Izayah Green-May, a Wisconsin transfer, is looking forward to changing that. "We're definitely going to make some jumps," said Green-May, a Bolingbrook graduate. "We're going to have a lot of sacks this year, and I'm here to contribute to that. We're looking good, we're looking physical, and we're definitely going to bring it this year." The 6-foot-6, 242-pound senior had limited action in his Wisconsin career but already had bulked up 20 pounds since arriving in DeKalb. He joins an experienced-but-still-young line loaded with sophomores.

He's hoping to spark a turnaround in getting to the quarterback, something the Huskies did 19 times in 14 games last year. Devontae O'Malley, back for his sophomore year, led the team with four sacks. "He plays vertical, adds hands at the line of scrimmage and utilizes his length at 6-6 to make the quarterback throw through trash when he gets those hands up," NIU defensive ends coach Travis Moore said. "I think he does a great job of that. He's athletic enough to flip his hip and turn a corner. Because of that, he's going to cause quarterbacks to be uncomfortable in the pocket." Moore said Green-May's Big 10 experience, maturity and leadership have been noticeable since he came from Wisconsin via the transfer portal in December. - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

rSr/2023

DE Izayah Green-May, Northern Illinois
News Source: DeKalb Daily Chronicle
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08/09/22 - Shemar Thornton, rSr/2023, Northern Illinois + More +

It wasn't just the cold that led to a bit of a culture shock when Shemar Thornton transferred to Northern Illinois University from Florida International in January. The senior wide receiver said it was a whole different environment, more team-oriented than he had experienced, and it took until a trip home in May for things to be put in perspective. "It was my first time being away from home for a while," said Thornton, who played high school football in Florida. "I had to get used to that, just being outside of my comfort zone. When I went home in May, I had a talk with my mom and she said, 'It's your last time really in college ball. So give it your all and leave nothing on the field."

Throughout summer workouts, NIU head coach Thomas Hammock said Thornton's attitude and work ethic noticeably have improved. "When he first got here, it was a bit of a culture shock as far as our standard of work and our standard of expectations," Hammock said. "He went home after semester, got his mind right, and he's come back this summer and really attacked it. It's been fun to see. Obviously he's a tremendous player, great route runner, tremendous hands. He gives us a chance to be very dynamic at the wide receiver position." NIU wide receivers coach Joseph Hawkins, who came on board with the Huskies in April, was a graduate assistant at FIU in 2019, Thornton's best year. He caught 51 passes for 668 yards. "Shemar has been doing a phenomenal job," Hawkins said. "His growth from when he first got here until now has been unbelievable. Me and Shemar have a connection...Seeing him here and watching him progress is nothing but amazing." - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

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