After finishing his freshman campaign second on the team with 22 catches for 512 yards, wide receiver Sam Hurd set high expectations for his career at NIU. Now in his senior season, the 6-foot-4-inch Hurd has set career highs with 59 receptions for 929 yards and 11 touchdowns after compiling eight touchdowns in his first three years.

With his last regular-season game on the horizon, Hurd chatted with the Northern Star about his future in football, the development of the Huskie passing game and how cold it really was in Toledo.

Northern Star: Would you say the win over Toledo was the biggest of your career?

Sam Hurd: Yeah, it was the biggest win of our career. We haven’t beaten them in a long time, and there’s a history before we got here that we never beat them. It was the best to go to their home and beat them. It was the biggest game of my career and will be the biggest game of my career.

NS: How cold was it on the field?

SH: In the first half it was OK. I had no sleeves on and all the adrenaline was rushing, and I was feeling great. In the second half, we went back out there and came out of the locker room. When I got out there, it killed my goose bumps. I couldn’t even get goose bumps it was that cold. I was like, I’m not going back out there.

NS: Why do you think the passing game has become such a big asset this year?

SH: The big thing is [Garrett] Wolfe has been having an excellent year. Whenever other running backs come in, they put up big numbers. So the defense keys more on the running backs. Our quarterbacks have played awesome. Their arms have gotten stronger and better. It gives our receivers chances and we have been making big plays.

NS: Compare Dan Nicholson’s passing style to Phil Horvath’s.

SH: Their styles are pretty much the same. They’ll sit in the pocket and throw the ball out. Phil is more of the leader in the huddle. Dan is a freshman, so he’s just in there winging it. It’s great to get a chance to catch a ball from both of them.

NS: What are your plans for the future? Do you hope to get drafted?

SH: Right now, hopefully I’ll be declaring for the draft. I’m going to graduate next semester so hopefully I’ll be doing something with my major, too. I’m majoring in communication and media studies. Possibly edit some movies. Hopefully I’ll start off in Hollywood. So I’ll look to get an internship and edit any videos that are thrown my way.

NS: How well do you and [senior wide receiver] Shatone Powers get along as roommates?

SH: We never have any arguments. I think we’ve had two arguments in the four years we’ve been around each other. We sit in our room and play video games – Halo mainly – all day. We don’t do much else.

NS: You’ve seen two of NIU’s greatest running backs in Michael Turner and Garrett Wolfe. How do they compare?

SH: Turner was more of a power running back. He was bigger and faster. But Wolfe has great agility. His feet, he’s quick. He’s in and out of cuts. Turner would just want to run you over or outrun you on the sidelines. Wolfe will hit you with any type of move there is.

NS: Have you seen Turner running for the Chargers this season on television?

SH: I’ve watched a couple of games. He’s running behind LaDainian Tomlinson. But when he gets his chance, like that one highlight on Sports Center, he ran about five people over. He’s doing what he did here. He’s running over people trying to get in the end zone.

NS: Powers played basketball for NIU last winter. Would you ever entertain trying out too?

SH: Nah. I’m just working out right now, hopefully trying to get in the NFL. I’m not into basketball, that’s Shatone. I don’t even try to do all that. There’s a lot of injuries in basketball, especially twisted ankles. I don’t want to take the chance. Shatone might though.