Each week during the college football season, the Northern Star will recap the most interesting NIU grades published by Pro Football Focus, a sports analytics company that evaluates every player on every play of every game. Season and single-game grades are based on a 0-100 scale. To learn more about PFF’s grading system, click here.
A quarter of NIU’s regular season is already in the books after a 38-10 drubbing by Mississippi State on Saturday. The Huskies haven’t lost a game that badly since they got boat raced by Akron almost three years ago.
But even in defeat, they got a few strong results in the gradebook, especially from their veteran middle linebacker.
NIU (72.8 overall): This grade on its own is nothing to write home about. But with context, it’s a positive sign for a team that’s now gotten its toughest matchups out of the way. The Huskies’ 72.8 overall grade is their highest of the season — and a massive improvement from the 54.1 they posted two weeks earlier against Maryland.
Quinn Urwiler (90.2 defense): The sixth-year senior was among the best defenders in the Football Bowl Subdivision this past weekend. Urwiler received NIU’s highest grades in run defense (89.7), tackling (85.2) and coverage (77.2) to earn him a spot on PFF’s Week 4 College Football Team of the Week. According to PFF, he recorded 10 tackles and three assists over 52 snaps.
Izuchukwu Ozoh (84.1 run blocking): “Izzy” Ozoh quietly had the best run blocking performance of his career on Saturday, leading all offensive linemen with an 84.1 grade. The former tight end-turned-tackle helped clear the way for a 125-yard rushing performance. Ozoh also earned NIU’s fourth-highest offensive grade (66.9).
DeAree Rogers (68.7 offense): NIU’s offense may have posted its highest marks of the season, but they’re still far from spectacular. Rogers had the team’s best offensive grade among skill players while catching six passes for 84 yards and his first touchdown as a Huskie. Tight end Jake Appleget (47.8) had the lowest grade.
Jasper Beeler (72.3 pass rush): The Saginaw Valley State transfer graded out as NIU’s best pass rusher, an impressive feat for a free safety. Beeler played 70 of 74 snaps — the most of any defender — and only rushed the passer three times, but he still notched a hurry and a sack to go along with the six tackles PFF credited him with.
