Members of the NIU football team’s defensive line don’t deny expectations are low for them.

But members of a predominantly young and inexperienced NIU defensive line aren’t bothered by this.

“Initially, they’ll think we’re inexperienced,” senior defensive tackle Martin Wilson said, “but that’ll be their mistake.”

Huskie football coach Joe Novak said the defensive line is the biggest question mark of the team. He said he may even need to use true freshmen to add depth.

Wilson and Travis Moore return this year as veterans of the defensive line. Moore was a First-Team All-MAC pick in 2002, but only played in five games last year because of stress fractures in his left ankle. Still hampered by his injury, Moore’s spirits aren’t tarnished.

“I’ve been busting my butt to get back to all-MAC form,” Moore said. “I’ll be ready for the first game, but right now, I’m taking it one practice at a time. As of right now, I may not be 100 percent, but I practice like I’m at 110 percent.

“Right now, as a whole, our defensive line will be a nice surprise because we’ve got a lot of athletes,” Moore added. “With our front four we can all move around a lot. We are going to surprise people.”

Besides Moore’s health, other questions still remain, such as the experience of younger players.

While their spots are not yet solidified, coaches said starters are likely to be Wilson, who started all 12 games last season, Moore and sophomores Eric Pittman and Ken West.

“The kids are practicing hard,” defensive coordinator Denny Doornbos said. “The biggest thing right now is experience. You never know how they’ll perform until you get out on the field.”

Still, coaches said the depth charts are changing daily, and several players could end up taking a spot on the roster for NIU’s first game against Maryland Sept. 4.

Senior Kursten Strothman, who is coming off an injury from this summer, has moved to defensive end from linebacker and junior Quince Holman could also contribute at the end.

“Kursten’s going to help us a lot on the line,” Moore said. “He’s fast off the ball. A key thing will be getting him healthy as well as myself.”

Novak also said freshmen Larry English, Zach Holycross and Adam Schroeder may be in the mix.

“It’s a good opportunity for me to get in and play right away,” said English, a true freshman. “I’m going to do all I can to help this team win.”

While many questions still remain with the D-line, Moore is confident things will fall into place.

“Things are coming together well just by us playing together over the whole summer,” Moore said. “After playing together, we get the feel of how to play as a unit. The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together.”

Having lower expectations helps to drive the linemen, Schroeder said.

“We call ourselves the dogs, because we get it done,” said Schroeder, a Rockford native. “Other teams may disrespect us, but we’ll be ready.”