DeKALB | As NFL training camps loom, four recent Huskies find themselves dawning professional colors.

Former NIU running back Garrett Wolfe (Chicago), offensive tackle Doug Free (Dallas), quarterback Phil Horvath (Detroit) and tight end Jake Nordin (New England) are the NIU players from last season’s team currently active on an NFL roster. Wolfe and Free were selected in April’s draft, while Horvath and Nordin were signed as undrafted free agents.

Horvath, who signed with the Lions May 4, faces strong competition to make the roster. Veteran incumbent Jon Kitna, home grown rookie Drew Stanton and UConn alumnus Dan Orlovsky sit ahead of Horvath on the depth chart.

Nordin was signed by the Patriots May 8, an received a $5,000 signing bonus, according to KFFL.com.

Wolfe, the 93rd overall pick in the draft, also got a $623,000 signing bonus on his contract with the Bears. The running back, who will wear the No. 25 jersey, signed a four-year deal for two million dollars with the hometown team.

NIU to sell tickets online

On Saturday, Sept. 1, NIU will start the 2007 football season against Iowa at 2:30 p.m.

But in order to attend the season opener you will need a ticket, and NIU has a new and easier method to purchase tickets.

Beginning on Thursday June 21, Huskie fans can obtain tickets for the season opener against Iowa via ticketmaster.com.

“By providing college football fans throughout the Chicagoland area with the ability to purchase tickets 24 hours a day through Ticketmaster and at all Ticketmaster outlets, we believe the remaining tickets will sell quickly,” said NIU Senior Associate Athletic Director Glen Krupica.

To date, 45,000 tickets have been sold for the game at Solider Field. According to the Bears’ website, the capacity of the stadium is 61,500.

For those who aren’t attending, the game it will be televised on ESPNU.

English named to watch list

Defensive end Larry English made school history last season with his 12-sack performance. Now he has the nation’s attention.

English has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Football Writers Association of America announced the list on June 13th.

In total, 49 players are on the preseason list for the nation’s top defensive player award. In November an 11-man All-America defensive team will be formed, from which the recipient of the trophy will be selected from.

The Bronko Naurski Trophy is awarded in memory of Nagurski, a former All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29 and played with the Chicago Bears in the 1930s.