NIU loses running back depth to transfer portal
Mason Blakemore to leave NIU after two seasons
Sophomore running back Mason Blakemore rushes during NIU’s season opener against Eastern Illinois University on Sept. 1 at Huskie Stadium. Blakemore announced his intent to transfer on Sunday. (Ivan Meza | Northern Star)
DeKALB – NIU football is set to lose depth in its offensive backfield after sophomore running back Mason Blakemore announced his entrance into the NCAA transfer portal on Sunday in an Instagram post.
Blakemore’s announcement comes a day after NIU suffered a blowout loss in its regular season finale against the University of Akron.
The Centralia High School product joined NIU last season as a walk-on freshman and earned a scholarship ten days into fall camp.
Playing in 13 games across two seasons at NIU, Blakemore rushed for 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His first and only touchdown of 2022 was a 19-yard rush in NIU’s season opener against Eastern Illinois University on Sept. 1.
Blakemore spent most of this past season playing behind sophomore running backs Harrison Waylee and Antario Brown. Blakemore’s workload was limited to 23 carries for 88 yards in 2022.
Blakemore is the first Huskie to announce his intent to transfer this offseason. NIU lost two tailbacks to the transfer portal last offseason, with Jay Ducker and Erin Collins departing for different programs.
Blakemore has two years of NCAA eligibility remaining.
