DeKALB | NIU football head coach Dave Doeren couldn’t wait to hit the road and recruit players for his inaugural 2011 class.

At the same time, the first-year head coach is pleased for the process to be over.

“I’m equally excited to have it over with so I can coach the players,” Doeren said.

Scout.com has eight high school players that have committed to NIU, but there will certainly be more players when Doeren announces his first class at a press conference at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Doeren eluded that some of these first year players could see significant playing time if they play their cards right.

“If they are ready to compete then we’ll play them,” Doeren said.

Two of the eight players listed on Scout.com are three-star recruits in offensive lineman Matt Killian and running back Jamal Womble. Killian possesses a large frame, listed at 6’6” and 275 pounds.

“You don’t know whether or not if he’ll be that run-blocker,” said Miller Safrit, Scouts.com national editor. “He definitely has the athleticism to be a pass-pro guy, but I see him as a two-to-three year window before he becomes that dominant run-blocker.”

Womble might be the best player in Doeren’s first class, as he described the former North Carolina running back as “very physical…finisher…tough…excellent burst.”

“When you combine the talent he has with the history of Northern Illinois running backs, you definitely have to look at him,” Safrit said. “He is a player that should be an impact player up in that conference.”

Doeren went on to credit NIU linebackers coach and former interim coach Tom Matukewicz for playing an essential role in landing the Hutchinson Community College running back, as well as many of the other recruits.

“He’s been a huge factor with this class,” Doeren said.

Doeren has been in contact with many of the current Huskies, including quarterback and 2010 All-MAC First Team member Chandler Harnish. He said he feels the sense of optimism still held over from NIU’s 40-17 victory over Fresno State in the Humanitarian Bowl.

“There’s a lot of momentum coming out of a bowl win,” Doeren said.

Doeren admitted that he would have liked to have had more time to search the high school landscape for prospects.

“You’d like to have more time to see who the key players are,” Doeren said.