NIU football players DeMarcus Grady and Cameron Bell are contributing in different roles this season.

“I’m just thankful that the coaches are giving me an opportunity and taking the chance of me playing a new position I’ve never experienced before,” Bell said.

During the offseason, Bell and Grady worked on transitioning into their new roles with the team. Bell made the switch from running back to fullback, while Grady made the shift from quarterback to wide receiver.

With a varied set of running backs this season, including Jasmin Hopkins, Jamal Womble, Akeem Daniels, the Huskies offensive coordinator Matt Canada said the coaches thought Bell was the best man for the fullback job.

This isn’t the first time the Round Rock, Tex. native switched positions.

Bell played linebacker at Iowa State for two seasons before he transferred to the Huskies last year.

“For me, it’s the attitude in the approach that you take,” Bell said. “[When] you have someone who’s willing to teach you like [coach Canada] has been doing with me, it makes that transition really easy and makes it really comfortable.”

Grady, on the other hand, asked to switch from the quarterback to wide out due to the return of starting quarterback Chandler Harnish.

“He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, and it’s still a learning curve for him,” said NIU head coach Dave Doeren on Grady’s transition.

Grady credited his fellow Huskie receivers on helping make the transition smoothly.

“[Transitioning to receiver] hasn’t been as hard as a lot of people may think it is,” Grady said. “[Willie Clark, Nathan Palmer and Martel Moore] kind of took me under their wing and showed me the proper techniques and what it takes to be a great receiver.”

Grady possess the physical tools to be a successful receiver standing at 6’1″ and weighing nearly 210 pounds.

The Grand Rapids, Mich. native said he was a good scrambling quarterback who ran the ball well, which made the switch to play different position easy at the college level.

“My athleticism pretty much helped me with the adjustment and making [the transition] easier,” Grady said.