The recent success of the NIU football team has begun to pay dividends for some NIU players. Nine NIU seniors have signed with agents in hopes of continuing their football careers.

Agents act as mediators for players and work with NFL teams to get tryouts for the players they represent. Once the teams are ready to sign the players, the agent will negotiate the terms of the contract.

Three Huskie players, Vince Reynolds, Akil Grant and Leonard Cooksey, are represented by Ken Harris.

Harris is an attorney and works for the Century company based in Pittsburgh.

“After the season, all three of us were getting calls and we heard about Ken through a family member,” Cooksey said. “Each of us made our own decision and this fit our interest. It’s a family situation that we felt comfortable in.”

NIU’s all-time leading rusher Michael Turner is represented by James “Bus” Cook. Cook also represents NFL stars such as Brett Favre, Randy Moss and Steve McNair.

Turner had offers from numerous people to represent him, but it was Cook’s attitude that won Turner over.

“I had a lot of people calling me constantly off my cell, but I just felt more comfortable with him,” Turner said. “I liked his whole style. He’s more of a laid-back guy and he’ll do a good job. He’s proven that.”

In most cases, the agent does not get paid until the player gets paid. Once the player does sign a contract, the agent takes a percentage of the total amount paid to the player.

In the case of Cooksey, 3 percent will be taken from his contract if he were to sign and play professional football.

This also is the case with linebacker Nick Duffy’s agent Jordan Woy.

Duffy’s draft status took a big hit when he broke his right fibula in a win over Central Michigan. If he does not end up playing professionally, he will owe Woy nothing.

“His injury was definitely a setback,” Woy said. “He’s got to get healthy. Once he does that, teams will feel comfortable with him.”

Woy began his career as an agent 17 years ago and got into the field after being an attorney. He represented only a few players in his first few years, but now he represents about 40 professional players and has five full-time employees.

“We really like Nick as a person,” Woy said. “He’s a good, hard-nosed player.”

Center Todd Ghilani signed on to RSM International, run by Adam Robbins and Sam Cipriano.

Three other NIU players, kicker Steve Azar, defensive back Randee Drew and wide receiver P.J. Fleck also signed with agents.

Fleck works with Cliff Brady, who also represents former NIU quarterback Chris Finlen. Drew signed with Mike Bauer. Azar, who is training in Colorado, was unavailable for comment.