The national football magazines are not picking NIU to finish among the NCAA’s Top 20, but they have taken notice of a few individual Huskies.

The one man recognized by most of the national publications as the key to the Huskies’ success in 1988 is senior quarterback Marshall Taylor. Almost without exception, the magazines said NIU’s destiny lies in Taylor’s hands, and, more importantly, in his legs.

Taylor broke both bones in his lower left leg in the final game of the 1987 season after leading NIU on offense with 826 yards rushing and 1,039 yards passing last year.

The Sporting News said, “If Marshall Taylor isn’t healthy, Northern Illinois may not have a leg to stand on. If Taylor can go, watch out.”

Taylor enters the 1988 campaign as the No. 5 total-offense leader in the country with 4,884 career yards. NIU coach Jerry Pettibone has compared Taylor with one of the nation’s best.

“He (Taylor) will be one of the top option quarterbacks in America this year,” Pettibone said in Street & Smith’s College Football. “He could step in for Jamelle Holieway and Oklahoma wouldn’t miss a beat.”

While the NIU sports information office has been promoting Taylor as a potential All-American, it turns out sophomore placekicker John Ivanic was the only Huskie to receive preseason All-America notice by Street & Smith’s.

“It was very unexpected,” Ivanic said of his All-American status. “The recognition is good for everybody. It’s something we haven’t gotten much of, but we’re going to be getting more.” Ivanic is the nation’s No. 4 returning kicker from 1987 having kicked 18 of 24 field goals last year. He was quick to share his honor with graduated receiver Virgil Gerin, who held the ball on most of Ivanic’s field goals and extra points.

“Virgil meant the world to me last year,” Ivanic said.

Gerin’s job will be taken over this year by sophomore receiver Kurt Cassidy. Ivanic has worked with Cassidy this spring and is confident his new holder can handle the assignment.

“That’s one thing I’m not even worrying about,” he said.

In Don Heinrich’s College Football 1988, which referred to Ivanic as a “pressure kicker,” NIU is projected to finish 1988 with an 8-3 record. The magazine called the Huskies’ schedule “unimpressive and even a 9-2 record may only incite yawns.”

According to Heinrich’s, the Huskies’ only chance for a bowl appearance would be if they beat one of the Big 10 teams on their schedule. NIU travels to Wisconsin and Minnesota Sept. 17 and 24, and Taylor said it would not be an upset if the Huskies beat either team.

“In my mind, I don’t feel like we’re underdogs,” he said. “They have to play us.”

The nation’s college football writers also recognized the Huskies’ improved defense, especially linebacker Mike Hollingshed. A former safety, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound senior sat out last year with academic problems.

Also noticed by Heinrich’s were punt return specialist Rodney Taylor and cornerback Randall Townsel. The magazine listed those two seniors as NIU’s top pro prospects. Taylor ended 1987 as the No. 10 punt returner in the nation with a 12.3-yard average.