Ted Karamos, NIU football’s MVP last season, has left the Washington Redskins training camp to pursue another job offer and to be with his wife, who is expecting a child.

Huskie coach Jerry Pettibone had compared Karamanos to former NIU offensive lineman Todd Peat, a member of the NFL All-rookie team with the St. Louis (Phoenix) Cardinals last season, and had not expected Karamanos to leave like he did.

“It surprised me, knowing how competitive Ted was,” Pettibone said. “Once I heard his reasons, I could understand why he did it. He’s just made a decision to stop playing competitive sports.”

Karamanos had signed as a free agent with Washington last April after being passed over in the NFL draft. The 6-foot-3, 267-pounder was one of three Huskies to sign free agent contracts with NFL teams. Center Dan Graham signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and defensive tackle Reggie Harris signed with the Denver Broncos.

Graham and Harris are still with their respective teams. Graham played at center, offensive guard, tight end, quarterback and special teams as a Huskie, but the Bucs are looking at the 6-foot-4, 258-pounder to fill a need at center.

“He’s got a good chance,” Pettibone said. “But they’re really having a tough training camp and he’s still got a long way to go.”

Harris’ success has been somewhat of a surprise. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound tackle ranked just eighth in tackles for NIU last season, though he was named the Huskies’ top defensive lineman.

“The big thing about Reggie is that he has the size, speed and plenty of potential,” Pettibone said. “They (Denver) thought he had the talent to make it.”