Ken West has a message for the haters:

“When we found out the defensive line could be a question mark, we took that very, very personally,” the Huskies’ defensive end said. “Every game we just try to go out and let people see what potential we have and make them change their minds about that question mark.”

West, who tied an NIU record with three sacks against Akron, will look to build on that performance Saturday when the Huskies (3-2 overall, 2-0 MAC) face host Central Florida (0-4, 0-1).

While West and Travis Moore have combined for eight sacks from the outside, defensive tackle Adam Schroeder has helped solidify the interior.

“I know how hard I worked in the summer,” said Schroeder, a discus state champion at Rockford Boylan. “I knew the team was going to be counting on someone to step up in the interior. I took it on myself to work hard this summer and get better.”

In his first start this season against Maryland, West caused the fumble that Jason Hawkins returned 85 yards for a touchdown. The 6-foot-2, 234-pounder credited defensive line coach Mike Sabock when asked what the key to his success has been.

“I think coach [Sabock] being on my butt,” West said with a laugh. “He’s been telling me to use my potential to the fullest. I used to not know the potential I had with my speed and my quickness, so this year I’ve been trying to focus on that and use it to my advantage.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Schroeder has earned the nickname “DJ” for Didesch Jr., in honor of Eric Didesch, who last lettered at NIU in 2002. The former NIU lineman earned a reputation as a blue-collar player and had a knack for playing through injuries.

“Adam’s probably a little bit better athlete than Eric,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “Eric was a tough son of a gun and someone I have a lot of respect for, so I hope Adam can be like him.”

Central Florida is coming off a 48-20 loss at Buffalo while NIU dispatched Akron 49-19 in its last game.

Schroeder knows that is water under the bridge and the Huskies cannot afford to look past UCF.

“The past is the past,” Schroeder said. “We go out and celebrate all weekend, but Sunday we come in – Central Florida: That’s all we think about. When you start looking forward, that’s when you get sidetracked.”

OSU game in “discussions”

After Ohio State Associate Athletic Director Bill Myles told the Northern Star Monday the Buckeyes had a contract to play NIU in 2006, and NIU’s head of football scheduling, Robert Collins, denied the claim, OSU Athletic Director Andy Geiger cleared up the confusion. He told the Star: “At this point in time; we are in discussions with Northern Illinois but nothing has been finalized.”