In the fourth quarter of a 40-24 NIU win at Central Michigan, Huskies linebacker Nick Duffy didn’t know whether his season or his career would be over.

In the game, Duffy broke his right fibula when he tried to make a tackle. The play cost him his senior season, but for Duffy, getting back on the field is now a reality.

Duffy, represented by Texas-based agent Jordan Woy, is on pace to impress NFL scouts with his rehabilitation, Woy said.

“They will want to work him out to make sure he is healthy,” Woy said. “I think they’ll see that he’s getting healthy and as long as they see that, yes, he has rehabbed, they’ll be fine with everything. I think he’ll do great.”

Duffy’s rehab hit its pinnacle over Winter Break when the 6-foot-2, 244-pounder worked out at a physical therapy center in his hometown of Wheaton.

“It’s going great,” said Duffy, who is taking a 12-hour class load this semester. “They had me doing a lot of balance work and strengthening work with bands, calf-raising … getting used to putting a lot of weight on it.”

Listed as the toughest player on the team with a 405-pound bench press, Duffy said he talked with the people who run the East-West Shrine game before the season, and felt positive about playing in that and other all-star games if he hadn’t gotten injured.

Duffy said he will see his doctor on Thursday to find out if he can begin running again and feels optimistic about what is to come.

“If I’m able to come back and run as well as I was before, I’ll be in good shape,” he said.