Boomer Mays, redshirt junior middle linebacker, has become a consistent contributor to football’s defense although he came to NIU to be the Huskies’ long snapper.

The 2014 season is Mays’ third with the Huskies and his second year starting at middle linebacker. Linebackers coach Kevin Kane said Mays is relatively quiet off the field, but his actions and defensive prowess speak volumes.

“Boomer is a leader by example,” Kane said. “He’s not a real loud guy, but he does everything right. He goes to class [and] he works hard. He goes to the weight room [and] he works hard. He does everything he can the best that he can. People respect Boomer for what he is.”

Mays, of Clinton, Mo., was always eager to play a position where he could be seen as a playmaker.

“When I was little I always wanted to be a linebacker or running back like everyone else,” Mays said.

Mays was a first team All-State linebacker as a senior in high school and was awarded the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl Defensive MVP for making 13 tackles in the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl. Moving him from long snapper to linebacker was a no-brainer for Kane.

“He wanted to keep playing linebacker,” Kane said. “It became a need. We needed him to play that first year and never let go. He found himself in that position where he played a lot.”

Mays has improved each year with the Huskies: In 2012 he played in 13 games and started four at middle linebacker, recording 31 tackles.

In 2013, Mays started in all 14 games. He finished third on the team in total tackles (82) and had 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

This season, Mays has 42 tackles and a single-season, career-best eight tackles for loss through the Huskies’ first nine games.

“His knowledge of the game is always growing, and he’s gotten a lot better ever since I’ve been his coach,” Kane said. “Once you put all that together he is a very good [player] and [he’s] getting better.”

Mays, who has one year of eligibility remaining after this season, is unsure what the future holds.

“If the option happens to pursue athletics for as long as possible, I’m going to take it. You only get your body once,” Mays said. “But, I’m always on academics. I’m not 100 percent sure what I want to do, but I’m learning new things.”