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.
The 2025 NIU football season arguably hit a new low Wednesday night, when the Huskies took a 42-3 beating from unofficial rival Toledo.
NIU struggled in all three phases en route to its second-largest defeat under head coach Thomas Hammock — and its lowest-graded performance of the PFF era. Still, the Huskies had bright spots, albeit not many.
NIU (39.3 overall): The Huskies haven’t received a worse single-game grade since PFF started grading college football games in 2014. NIU’s best grade from the game was a 58.7 in tackling. What else is there to say?
Elijah Porter (89.4 special teams): Although NIU’s special teams posted a season-worst 55.8 grade, it wasn’t on account of Porter. The running back notched three tackles — two solo — in kick coverage. He also earned the Huskies’ best overall offense (73.1) and rushing (72.8) grades after carrying the ball twice for 21 yards over 11 offensive snaps.
Jake Appleget (81.8 run blocking): NIU only managed 62 rushing yards against the Rockets, but Appleget stood out with the Huskies’ highest run-blocking grade. The tight end played 33 of 70 snaps — 16 as a run blocker — and posted his highest offensive grade of the season (68.7), ranking as NIU’s second-best offensive player.
Broderick Windham (66.7 defense): The reserve safety had NIU’s highest overall defensive grade — an illustration of how poorly the Huskies performed on that side of the ball. Windham also received the team’s highest coverage grade (66.3) despite allowing a catch on the only target against him. He played just 18 of 69 defensive snaps and finished with one assisted tackle.
Jacob Finley (81.2 tackling): After he was sidelined for NIU’s win over Ball State, Finley returned with a 61-snap outing. The cornerback graded out as the Huskies’ top tackler and second-best run defender (72.8) after making five stops, including three solo tackles. He also allowed three catches for 61 yards on six targets against him.
