Quarterbacks

Miami (Ohio) began the season with junior Daniel Raudabaugh as their starter. Radabaugh has thrown for 1,040 yards on the season, but has thrown five interceptions to only four touchdown passes.

However, Raudabaugh was pulled at the beginning of the second half of Miami’s 28-10 loss to Temple in favor of red-shirt freshman Clay Belton.

Belton completed 14 of 22 passes for 147 yards in the game, but threw one interception.

Miami head coach Shane Montgomery has yet to name a starter for Saturday’s game.

NIU head coach Jerry Kill said preparing for two different quarterbacks shouldn’t be too difficult.

“They’re going to do the same thing, they’re not a lot different,” Kill said. “I think that game-plan wise, they’re going to do what they have been doing for a long time.”

Grade — C-

Running Backs

The RedHawks are last in the league in rushing yards per game with only 80.4 yards per game, and they face a tough task Saturday going up against a Huskie defense that is first in the MAC. NIU only allows 108.8 yards per game.

Miami’s main back Thomas Merriweather ranks sixth in the MAC in rushing yards per game with 78.6 yards per game, only two yards lower than the team’s average.

The sophomore had his career high in rushing yards last week against Temple with 133 yards on 26 carries. It was also the first time Merriweather eclipsed 100 yards in his young career.

Miami’s second leading rusher is junior Andre Bratton, who has gained 72 yards on 25 carries so far this season. Bratton leads the RedHawks’ running backs in receiving with 16 catches for 120 yards.

Grade — C

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Miami’s leading receiver, sophomore Jamal Rogers has 25 catches for 213 yards on the season.

Rogers’ 25 receptions tie him for seventh in the MAC. Last week against Temple, Rogers caught eight passes for 62 yards.

The second receiver on the RedHawks is Euguene Harris. The sophomore has 16 catches for 153 yards on the season.

Receivers Dustin Woods and Chris Givens have 13 and nine catches, respectively.

Eleven different players have caught passes for the RedHawks so far this season.

Tight end Jake O’Connell has 12 catches for 136 yards on the season. The senior caught a career-high five passes for 46 yards against Temple.

Grade—C-

Offensive Line

Miami has experience at both tackle spots, with senior left tackle Dave DiFranco and senior right tackle Steve Sutter.

DiFranco was a third team All-MAC selection at left guard last season. DiFranco started the first two games of the season at left guard before moving over to left tackle.

Sutter is in his third year as a starter.

At guard, Miami features a sophomore in Bob Gulley and red-shirt freshman Brandon Brooks.

Gulley started the firt two games of the season at right tackle before moving over to left guard last

week.

Senior Josh Satterthwait is the team’s starting center.

Miami is tied for ninth in the MAC in sacks allowed with four.

Grade — C+