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 Draft Scout College Football Player News: Northern Illinois
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  A transfer from Wisconsin, Izayah Green-May is looking to bolster a pass rush that averaged less than two sacks a game. A lack of pressure on the quarterback was frequently pointed to by coach Thomas Hammock as a reason the Huskies only managed three interceptions as a team last year. Enter the 6-6, 242-pound outside pass rusher. He didn't get the most time with the Badgers, redshirting in the 2017 season and then making his first start the next year. He appeared in nine games last year but had two tackles. Still, he's got the build and the speed to give the NIU line the boost it needs, along with another year of experience for young stars like James Ester, Raishein Thomas and Devonte O'Malley. - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

rSr/2023 DE Izayah Green-MayNorthern Illinois
News Source: DeKalb Daily Chronicle
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  2022 PRESEASON OUTLAND TROPHY WATCHLIST: OT Nolan Potter Jr., NIU,...Potter is one of 89 returning standout linemen on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball named to the Outland Trophy Watch List. A redshirt junior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Potter enters the 2022 campaign with 20 consecutive starts at right tackle. Behind Potter and his linemates, the Huskies ranked fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing offense a year ago with an average of 241.4 yards per game. In addition, NIU quarterbacks were sacked just 10 times in 14 games as the Huskies ranked second in the country in fewest sacks allowed. - Norther Illinois Football

rSr/2024 OT Nolan PotterNorthern Illinois
News Source: Norther Illinois Football
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  2022 PRESEASON LOU GROZA AWARD WATCH LIST: John Richardson - Northern Illinois, Class: Junior - Hometown: Orland Park, Illinois,...A 2021 Groza semifinalist, Richardson set the Northern Illinois record for field goals in a season with 22. Five of those came in a triumphant 16-point performance against Toledo with his final kick lifting the Huskies to a 22-20 road win. Just a few weeks later he did it again, kicking the game-winner as time expired for a 30-29 victory over Ball State. - Lou Groza Award

rSr/2024 K John RichardsonNorthern Illinois
News Source: Lou Groza Award
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  2022 PRESEASON DOAK WALKER AWARD CANDIDATE: Antario Brown (So.), Northern Illinois,... As a freshman in 2021 NIU running back Antario Brown (5-10, 218) saw action in nine of the last 10 games of the year and made two starts as a true freshman. He finished the season as the Huskies' third-leading rusher with 538 yards on 81 carries. His 6.6 yards per carry led the team and his five rushing TDs and 59.8 yards per game ranked third. Brown recorded 101 yards on 16 carries in his collegiate debut vs. Eastern Michigan (10-2); rushed for 93 yards on 24 carries with a 37-yard touchdown run at Toledo in his first start; Tallied a career best 105 yards on 12 carries with a seven-yard score vs. Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl (12-17). - Northern Illinois Football

Sr/2025 RB Antario BrownNorthern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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  Iowa's spring football practice had a different feel for sophomore running back Gavin Williams. For the last two years he patiently waited behind veteran backs for his opportunity. After a breakout game in the Citrus Bowl and a few departures out of the room, he found himself getting the bulk of the first-team reps during spring. "It's a great feeling," Williams said. "Everybody wants to be the star, you know, and sometimes you get here and you kind of lose sight of that because you might be buried in the depth chart or a number of other things. And I just feel like it taught me to just put my head down and keep working every day and eventually I will reap the benefits."

The same can be said for fellow sophomore Leshon Williams. Like Gavin (no relation), Williams redshirted in 2020 and didn't see much action in 2021 until the Citrus Bowl, where the two combined for 173 yards. Due to an injury to redshirt freshman Deavin Hilson, the two Williamses were the only healthy scholarship running backs during spring practice and continued their bowl game momentum. "I view it as though I have two top guys," running backs coach Ladell Betts said during spring. The sophomore duo entered summer conditioning as Iowa's top two options for the 2022 season, but the room is much deeper than it was during spring. - Iowa City Press-Citizen


rSr/2025 RB Gavin WilliamsNorthern Illinois
News Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen
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  The Northern Illinois athletics department announced the 2022 class for its Hall of Fame on Tuesday, featuring seven former student-athletes. Amy Foulke (volleyball, 1990-93), Thomas Hammock (football, 1999-2002), Chandler Harnish (football 2008-11), Kristin Hoffman (volleyball, 2008-11), Sandra Lutz (field hockey, softball and volleyball, 1966-70), Scott Simon (baseball, 2003-07) and Chad Spann (football, 2007-10) all will be inducted. They will be joined by coach and administrator Robert Collins, special contributor Rick Cerrone and the Barsema, Chessick, Rich and Yordon families. Harnish is NIU's career leader in passing yards and is in the top 10 in rushing yards. His 11,927 yards of total offense are most in school history. That number includes his 8,944 career passing yards. As a senior in 2011, he was the Mid-American Conference MVP. - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

rSr/2012 QB Chandler HarnishNorthern Illinois
News Source: DeKalb Daily Chronicle
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  Poised for a 2022 standout season: RB Gavin Williams, sophomore. He looks ready to take over for Tyler Goodson, who declared for the NFL draft after leading the Hawkeyes in rushing three straight years. Williams' playing time increased the second half of the season and he ran for 98 yards on 16 carries against Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl. - AP College Football

rSr/2025 RB Gavin WilliamsNorthern Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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  2021 ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM (COACHES): DB: DaRon Gilbert, Lafayette, Jr.,...Gilbert started 10 of 11 games at safety for the Leopards to attain the first All-Patriot League recognition of his career. He made 49 tackles to finish sixth on the team in stops from his secondary spot. The Economics major from Detroit, Mich. has played 22 career games with 19 starts over three seasons. - Lafayette Football

rSr/2024 OLB DaRon GilbertNorthern Illinois
News Source: Lafayette Football
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  Quarterback Justin Lynch announced via Twitter Monday afternoon that he is headed to DeKalb, leaving Temple for Northern Illinois via the transfer portal. Lynch, the younger brother of former NIU standout Jordan Lynch, was recruited to Temple by head coach Rod Carey, who left NIU in 2019 after six seasons in DeKalb. He was fired by Temple late last month. Lynch played in 11 games for the Owls and was the team's second leading rusher, going for 295 yards and a touchdown, averaging 3.9 per carry. He was the second-leading passer, throwing for 830 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

rSr/2025 QB Justin LynchNorthern Illinois
News Source: DeKalb Daily Chronicle
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  2021 ALL-MAC THIRD TEAM (COACHES): Defensive Back - Jordan Gandy, Northern Illinois,...Gandy earned All-MAC honors for the second straight season and has made 45 tackles, 3.5 for loss. He leads NIU with 10 pass break-ups and has a pair of fumble recoveries. - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2024 CB Jordan GandyNorthern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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  2021 ALL-MAC THIRD TEAM (COACHES): Linebacker - Lance Deveaux, Northern Illinois,...Deveaux, a sixth-year senior who missed most of the last two seasons due to injury, returned to his 2018 form in 2021 with 64 tackles, 42 solo, to rank second on the team. He leads NIU in tackles for loss with six while mentoring a group of young linebackers. - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2022 OLB Lance Deveaux Jr.Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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  2021 ALL-MAC THIRD TEAM (COACHES): Down Lineman - James Ester, Northern Illinois,...A second-year freshman, Ester has made 23 tackles with three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks from his defensive tackle position. - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2024 DT James EsterNorthern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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  2021 ALL-MAC THIRD TEAM (COACHES): Running Back - Clint Ratkovich, Northern Illinois,...Listed as a fullback, Ratkovich showed his versatility - and speed - with a 96-yard touchdown run versus Western Michigan, the second-longest touchdown run in school history. He leads NIU with 13 touchdowns, 11 rushing and two passing. "I'm so happy for Clint because his value to our offense can't be measured in statistics," Hammock said. "I'm glad Clint was able to get recognized for his contributions to our team because it's not going to show up in the stat sheet." - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2022 FB Clint RatkovichNorthern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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  2021 ALL-MAC THIRD TEAM (COACHES): Offensive Lineman - Logan Zschernitz, Northern Illinois,...Potter, Patton and Zschernitz have powered a Huskie offense that ranks fifth in the nation in rushing offense with 231.5 yards per game as four different NIU rushers have totaled 10 100-yard rushing games. The Huskies also rank fifth in the country in fewest sacks allowed in 2021. "We've been able to flip the script on offense because of our offensive line play this year," Hammock said. "Our offensive line has been able to stay healthy, they've been able to stay consistent and they've enabled us to run the football while protecting the passer. We went from being a team that was sacked quite a bit the last two years to one of the least sacked teams in the country. All three of those guys are very deserving and a couple other could have been deserving as well." - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2025 OG Logan ZschernitzNorthern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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  2021 ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM (COACHES): Offensive Lineman - Brayden Patton, Northern Illinois,...Potter, Patton and Zschernitz have powered a Huskie offense that ranks fifth in the nation in rushing offense with 231.5 yards per game as four different NIU rushers have totaled 10 100-yard rushing games. The Huskies also rank fifth in the country in fewest sacks allowed in 2021. "We've been able to flip the script on offense because of our offensive line play this year," Hammock said. "Our offensive line has been able to stay healthy, they've been able to stay consistent and they've enabled us to run the football while protecting the passer. We went from being a team that was sacked quite a bit the last two years to one of the least sacked teams in the country. All three of those guys are very deserving and a couple other could have been deserving as well." - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2022 C Brayden PattonNorthern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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