Cuts still remain before the Sept. 9 start of the NFL regular season, but NIU has nine former players on rosters.

Five are veterans with at least three years of experience in the NFL.

“Those kids all came into our program and worked their tail off,” Coach Joe Novak said, who has been head coach at NIU since 1996. “That’s why they moved on to the next level.”

In order of experience, NIU’s former players in the NFL are: Hollis Thomas (Philadelphia Eagles), Ryan Diem (Indianapolis Colts), Justin McCareins (New York Jets), Darrell Hill (Tennessee Titans), Frisman Jackson (Cleveland Browns), Chris Finlen (New York Jets), Michael Turner (San Diego Chargers), P.J. Fleck (San Francisco 49ers) and Akil Grant (Tennessee Titans).

Finlen, Fleck and Grant were all picked up as free agents.

Finlen, who worked as a player personnel intern for the Chicago Bears out of college, worked with the NIU team several times this summer. Finlen began his career at NIU as a redshirt walk-on and went on to be a four-year starter.

The Jets signing of Quincy Carter on Tuesday demoted Finlen to fifth-string quarterback.

Former Huskie Jon Pendergrass was cut from the Jets Thursday. A wide receiver, Pendergrass finished his collegiate career at Southern Illinois after transferring from NIU.

Wide receiver Jackson, who signed a two-year extension with the Browns in March, also didn’t finish his career at NIU. Jackson transferred to Western Illinois before entering the NFL.

Thomas, a former Pro Bowler at defensive tackle, has fought injuries throughout his career.

Diem and McCareins were both fourth-round picks in the 2001 NFL draft coming out of NIU.

Turner, a fifth-round draft pick this year, is fighting for the backup running back spot behind Chargers star LaDainian Tomlinson.