DeKALB | NIU football coach Joe Novak wanted to make one thing clear after Saturday’s Spring Game: Garrett Wolfe is gone.

“Fans can’t look for No. 1 out there in the backfield,” Novak said. “Our running backs have stepped up this spring. But we probably aren’t going to have a 1,900 rusher this year.”

Wolfe set the bar by which running backs for years to come will be measured.

Saturday, Huskie fans finally got to see who will be the first to be measured: Montell Clanton and Justin Anderson. And what they saw was promise.

The pair combined 158 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns.

Now, the question is: Who will start in the fall?

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Clanton started the game and quickly showed the shiftiness that made him the front runner. The junior ran for 47 yards on 13 carries plus a touchdown, all while still not being 100 percent healthy.

“I’m making big strides,” Clanton said. “Right now, I’m not trying to replace Garrett. My expectations are just to get the job done.”

In stark contrast to Clanton, Anderson used his size to bowl over defenders and get into open space.

Right now, the one major knock on Anderson is his lack of being able to hold onto the ball.

The 5-foot-11, 218-pound red-shirt sophomore was able to do that on Saturday, and gain a good chunk of yards as well.

After being listed as the back-up on the depth charts, his 111-yard and two-touchdown performance will help him make a strong push to be the starter. Maybe that’s why he was smiling so much afterward.

“Man, I’m just enjoying myself,” Anderson said. “There are no chains anymore and my job now is to just try and make it hard for [the coaches] not to play me.”

It’s a little early to say either is a lock to be the starter in the fall, but both proved they can get the job done. If neither separates themselves, both Clanton and Anderson said they wouldn’t mind sharing the load as a one-two punch.

Wolfe may be gone, but his successors are ready to take the load.