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.
After nearly two decades of weeknight football games, NIU brought its tenure of midweek MACtion to a close Tuesday night with a 35-19 shortfall at home to conference-leading Western Michigan.
It was far from a pretty performance from the Huskies, as they surrendered an early two-score lead and gave up 361 rushing yards to the Broncos. Still, NIU stood out with its stingy pass defense and glimmers of promise from two young offensive players.
NIU (89.9 coverage): The Huskies spent their Tuesday night getting gashed on the ground, but their pass defense delivered one of its performances of the year. NIU limited Broncos quarterback Broc Lowry to 5-of-9 passing for 32 yards and picked him off once, receiving its highest coverage grade since PFF began grading college football games in 2014.
Jasper Beeler (83.9 defense): The junior safety played 67 of 68 defensive snaps and once again graded out as NIU’s top defender. Beeler led the effort with 13 tackles (8 solo) and came down with a tip-drill interception on Western Michigan’s very first play from scrimmage. He also ranked third in run defense (82.5) and first in coverage (76.2).
Quinn Urwiler (82.8 defense): Tied with Beeler was his veteran teammate. Urwiler was one of two players to be in for all 68 defensive snaps, along with cornerback Jacob Finley, and finished with 11 tackles — his 10th game this season with double-digit stops.
Rickey Taylor Jr. (73.4 offense): The redshirt freshman wideout had NIU’s highest offensive grade, a reflection of the team’s middling performance on that side of the ball. Taylor led the Huskies with three catches for 53 yards, including his first career touchdown on an 18-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Left tackle Evan Malcore (44.9) had the lowest offensive grade.
Brady Davidson (70.9 offense): Davidson replaced starter Jalen Macon midway through the fourth quarter and, despite only playing 14 snaps, finished as the game’s best passer. The true freshman went 5-of-8 for 73 yards and connected with Taylor for his third career touchdown pass.
