Defensive Line

On the first day of summer practice, NIU head coach Jerry Kill said only one player had a guaranteed starting job. That guy was the 2007 MAC MVP Larry English.

The defensive end, who had 67 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks last season, is back to perform his ninth symphony.

The other side of the line will be anchored by Craig Rush, who returns to defensive end after playing at defensive tackle for the past two years. Rusch had a shortened season in 2007, as he suffered a knee injury in the Huskies’ third game of the year. However, in 2005 and 2006, Rusch leveled the quarterback 11 times and produced 20 tackles for a loss.

Filling the void in the middle will be players such as Mike Krause, Alex Krutsch, D.J. Pirkle and others. Kill has said there could be a rotation in the line if there is not a drop in performance.

Grade: B

Linebackers

David Bryant has been practicing with the runningbacks for the past three seasons at NIU. But this summer, he made the move to practicing with the defense – specifically with the linebackers.

Just like his former position, the red-shirt junior will have plenty of competition to get playing time.

NIU returns starters Tim McCarthy, John Tranchitella and Josh Allen, along with linebackers Phil Brown, Cory Hanson and T.J. Griffin to the corp.

McCarthy is coming back from a season in which he only played two games due to a partial tear of his PCL and MCL. NIU missed the middle linebacker last year. In 2005 and 2006 McCarthy produced 101 and 111 tackles respectively. Because of injury, McCarthy only had 16 tackles in 2007.

The Huskies have also transitioned 2007’s leading tackler Alex Kube to outside linebacker. The former starting strong safety, who has added 18 pounds, started nine games and recorded 111 total tackles last year.

Grade: B

Secondary

Last season, cornerback Chase Carter lead the Huskies with 120 interception return yards – an NIU single-season record.

Carter also lead the team in interceptions last year – with two.

In total NIU’s secondary only had four interception’s last year. The defensive backs did break up 25 passes in 2007 and was ranked No. 51 out of 119 schools in pass defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Red-shirt junior Spencer Williamson has been practicing at strong safety, as former strong safety Alex Kube has moved to outside linebacker.

NIU also returns defensive backs Bradley Pruitt and Melvin Rice. Pruitt started 11 games last season and recorded 92 total tackles with one pick. Rice got the call to start eight games with 61 total tackles and six broken up passes.

Grade: C+

Special Teams

For the better part of a decade when someone mentioned kicking at NIU it meant either Steve Azar or Chris Nendick.

Now NIU is in need of a new place kicker. But don’t expect the new guy to stay for four years like the past two.

The job for the Huskies new place kicker is between Winona State transfer Mike Salerno or former Joliet Junior College kicker Steve Ivanisevic. Kill said, “[b]oth are capable,” but that he’s looking for whoever will be the most consistent.

NIU does return senior punter Andy Dittbenner who holds a career average of 40.1 yards per punt, along with long snapper Nolan Owen.

As far as returning kicks, Marcus Perez has been sharing duties along with freshmen Meco Brown in practice. It still remains to be seen if Brown will be redshirted though, as other players such as Evan Adonis and Chad Spann have also taken turns returning during practice.

Grade: C+