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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Head coach Thomas Hammock addresses the team during Spring football practice.

NIU adds six newcomers to 2023 roster

By Northern Star Sports Staff | January 19, 2023

DeKALB – NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock welcomed one freshman and five transfers to the 2023 football roster as the Spring 2023 semester kicks off. The Huskies were able to find help at multiple positions on both sides of the ball. On offense,...

Redshirt senior running back Clint Ratkovich runs down the field during NIU's game on Sept. 11 at Huskie Stadium against Wyoming.

Former ‘superback’ Ratkovich lands with Falcons

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | December 27, 2022
Eight months after tearing his ACL during a pre-draft workout, former NIU running back Clint Ratkovich has found his first NFL home: The Atlanta Falcons.
Sophomore running back Harrison Waylee runs out of bounds during NIU’s loss to the University of Toledo in the 115th Homecoming Game on Oct. 8 at Huskie Stadium. Waylee rushed for 899 yards in 2022. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Harrison Waylee enters transfer portal

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | December 2, 2022
NIU sophomore running back Harrison Waylee announced his entrance to the NCAA transfer portal Friday. This is the second straight season that NIU will be tasked with replacing its leading rusher.
Two Huskies declare for 2023 NFL Draft

Two Huskies declare for 2023 NFL Draft

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 30, 2022

DeKALB – The first two players from NIU football’s 2022 squad have announced their intentions to go pro after senior wide receiver Shemar Thornton and redshirt senior defensive end Michael Kennedy declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on Tuesday via social...

Sophomore cornerback Eric Rogers (left) and junior cornerback Jordan Gandy play in NIU's battle for the Mallory Cup against Miami University on Nov. 16 at Huskie Stadium. Rogers and Gandy announced their plans to leave the football program on Tuesday after spending three seasons at NIU.

Huskies losing two top defensive backs

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 30, 2022

DeKALB – Two starting cornerbacks are set to depart NIU football after sophomore Eric Rogers and junior Jordan Gandy announced their plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday. Rogers and Gandy arrived at NIU before the 2020 season – Rogers...

Then-redshirt senior wide receiver Cole Tucker runs on the field during the second half of NIU's 115th homecoming game against the University of Toledo Rockets on Oct. 8 at Huskie Stadium. Tucker played his final game at NIU on Nov. 26, becoming the eighth player in NIU history to reach 2,000 receiving yards on his career. (Northern Star File Photo)

Cole Tucker leaves a lasting legacy at NIU

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | November 29, 2022
NIU’s longtime pass-catcher, Cole Tucker, makes his exit from the college stage with a legacy that won’t soon be forgotten.
Huskie Stadium awaits the first home game of the season in the last week of August (Sean Reed | Northern Star).

Four football players enter transfer portal

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 28, 2022

DeKALB – The NIU football team has taken more hits to its roster after four players entered the NCAA transfer portal on Monday via social media posts. Redshirt junior left tackle Marques Cox, redshirt defensive tackle Jeffrey Griffin Jr., sophomore...

Sophomore running back Mason Blakemore rushes during NIU’s season opener against Eastern Illinois University on Sept. 1 at Huskie Stadium. Blakemore announced his intent to transfer on Sunday. (Ivan Meza | Northern Star)

NIU loses running back depth to transfer portal

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 28, 2022
Mason Blakemore becomes the first NIU player to enter the transfer portal this offseason after NIU’s turbulent 3-9 season.
University of Akron redshirt junior wide receiver Daniel George fails to make a catch against NIU redshirt freshman safety Devin Lafayette early in the second quarter during the game on Saturday.

Akron clobbers NIU, upsets Huskies’ senior sendoff

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 27, 2022
NIU football wrapped up its tumultuous 2022 season with a blowout loss at home against the conference bottom-dweller Akron.
NIU redshirt senior tight end Liam Soraghan turns upfield after catching a pass from freshman quarterback Nevan Cremascoli in the first quarter of Wednesday's football game between the NIU Huskies and the Miami University RedHawks. Soraghan finished the play by rolling into the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown, increasing the Huskies' lead to 10-0. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Lost in the snow: Huskies fall short of Mallory Cup in cold-weather battle

By Joseph Segreti and Skyler Kisellus | November 17, 2022
The NIU football team ended its slate of midweek conference games with a 29-23 loss to Miami University on a snowy Wednesday night in DeKalb.
A member of the crowd at Barstool Sports’ live presentation of the Barstool College Football Show on Wednesday holding up a cellphone to film the ending of the show at Fatty’s Pub & Grille. Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports president, announced the show’s season in early September, which included NIU in a series of Mid-American Conference games covered by the Barstool show. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

IN PICTURES: Barstool Sports draws excitement to NIU community

By Sean Reed, Photo Editor | November 17, 2022

DeKALB – Fatty’s Pub & Grille hosted popular media group Barstool Sports’ Barstool College Football Show as the second episode of a two part series covering mid-week Mid-American Conference football games, the first being hosted Tuesday in Toledo,...