DeKALB | Ryne Robinson of Miami-Ohio leads the MAC with 37 catches and 490 yards.

But his role in Miami’s passing-oriented offense isn’t all that separates him from his peers.

Robinson was named the MAC East Division Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance Saturday against Cincinnati. The senior has two returns for 89 yards and a touchdown.

The Toledo, Ohio native’s seven career punt returns and 1,619 punt return yards also makes him the nation’s active leader.

“He’s a tremendous athlete,” NIU safety Dustin Utschig said. “Last week Ball State spread the ball around to different receivers, and Miami likes to focus on one.”

And Robinson will have extra incentive to be the focal point of Miami’s pass-first offense Sunday. With five catches and 123 yards against NIU this weekend, he could break former Miami wide receiver Martin Nance’s career records for receptions and receiving yardage.

Robinson has posted his MAC-leading totals by catching passes from two different quarterbacks.

And with NIU’s secondary being hit by the injury bug, the Huskies depth chart at defensive back is inexperienced and dwindling.

“We’re real thin back there,” NIU football coach Joe Novak said. “We’re getting freshmen James Jefferies and Justin Stewart ready to play.”

NIU junior safety Mark Reiter will return from a back injury. But his replacement, sophomore Bradley Pruitt, will be gone at least this week after suffering a bruised lung against Ball State, Novak said.

Thus, NIU’s secondary will be hard-pressed to keep Robinson, second in the MAC with four receiving scores, from grabbing a few passes.

“We need to watch his speed and stay over the top,” Utschig said. “It’s the normal principles of football.”

Sean Connor is an NIU football beat reporter for the Northern Star.