DeKALB | If Ohio football coach Frank Solich is looking for consistency at the cornerback spot this season, he has it in senior T.J. Wright.

After playing all 12 games in his freshman year, and only starting one, Wright has been a mainstay in the Bobcats’ secondary.

The Beaumont, Texas native had three interceptions in each of his first three seasons while leading the team in 2003 and 2004.

NIU quarterback Phil Horvath said he’ll be studying film on Wright to make sure he doesn’t fall victim.

“We’ll look to see if he’s pressing our receivers or playing off,” Horvath said. “And then we’ll look to see how he plays the ball.”

A 35-yard fumble return in Ohio’s 29-3 win over Tennessee-Martin Saturday gave the Bobcats their first score of the second half and a 19-0 lead.

Last season, Wright had a career-high 49 tackles, in which four were for a loss of yards. The fifth-year senior also recorded his first career sack in Ohio’s 16-10 upset of Pittsburgh last fall.

This season will be the first time Wright and his cousin Tony Ward, a junior safety who played at Texas’ Ozen High School with Wright, will be starting full time in the Bobcats secondary.

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