Braylon Edwards' super beard couldn't save him from being super stupid. The New York Jets wide receiver was arrested Tuesday morning - yes, morning - for driving drunk, like most smart people tend to do. It wasn't even erratic driving, however, that Edwards...
CHAMPAIGN | After the NIU football team had scored what seemed to be a game-tying touchdown against Illinois this weekend, the Huskies fell to a two-point conversion gone awry. The Huskies lined up with one down lineman, quarterback Chandler Harnish directly...
CHAMPAIGN | NIU defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys was worried about one thing before this weekend’s game against Illinois. “Everything starts with the quarterback,” Claeys said. He was referring to Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, who, together...
Week one for the NFL season always brings about the unexpected, and this year was no different. Injuries are the other harsh truth of the first week, and chances are a lot of you are hurting. There are plenty of players that go undrafted that you can...
Offense Quarterback: The quarterback touches the ball on every snap, but that's not the only reason Illini signal-caller Nathan Scheelhaase will be who NIU focuses on on Saturday. A threat to both run and throw the ball, Scheelhaase is coming off a 14-for-18,...
Reggie Bush, forfeiting your Heisman Trophy doesn't make you cool. It doesn't make you a role model. It does make you a faker. I don't have anymore respect for you because you decided to take what you see as the high road and give your trophy back. If...
With the majority of fantasy football drafts now finished, your focus should be moving to getting your week one lineup set. It's still (probably) too early for major roster moves, and while you always want to keep an eye out for waiver wire gems, I'd...
Offense Quarterback: The Fighting Sioux look like they'll be running a two quarterback system in 2010. Primary starter, senior Jake Landry, started all 11 games for North Dakota last season, where backup Brent Goska saw action in six games. Landry is...
AMES, IOWA | Before last Thursday night’s football opener, NIU head coach Jerry Kill remained unsure about who was going to be kicking field goals in 2010 for the Huskies. After erratic performances and windy conditions caused a total of three missed...
In Thursday night's season opener, the better part of America got a glimpse at what is a new facet of NIU's football team: names on the back of the jerseys. The names are just one change of the Huskies' new threads they'll sport all season. I don't have...
Offense Quarterbacks: If someone touches the ball on every play, you want them to be good at what they do. NIU head coach Jerry Kill calls Iowa State signal-caller Austen Arnaud "a great player." After throwing for 2,015 yards and 14 touchdowns last season,...
Phil Horvath is gone and so are the quarterback controversies of last year, as this is clearly Dan Nicholson's team.
The junior from Brother Rice high school has two years experience under his belt, including a 2005 season in which he took over for an injured Horvath and led the team to three straight victories.
Last year, Nicholson played in seven games and threw for 658 yards and five touchdowns but with six interceptions.
Grade: B-
He has experience but this is the year he needs to show what he's made of.
RB
The running back position has always been a point of pride at NIU.Every few years, one star leaves and another emerges.
This year, Coach Novak will take a running back-by-committee approach to start off the season to see who can replace Garrett Wolfe.
Junior Montell Clanton has been named the starter for the opener against Iowa but
Justin Anderson will see significant time and true freshman Chad Spann figures to see some action.
Clanton is coming off an season-ending injury last year and will have to prove he can stay healthy. Anderson has the strength and speed but like the rest of the backs, but is unproven, having only 25 carries last season. Spann turned heads in camp but is probably a year or two away.
Grade: C-
The potential is there, it just needs to be displayed. Under Wolfe, the Huskies lost four fumbles, the second lowest total in D 1-A. This group also needs to prove they can hang onto the ball.
OL
Doug Free is gone and the offensive line is a huge concern heading into this season.
However, three starters from last year return in center Eddie Adamski, right guard Jason Onyebuagu, and the lone senior of the unit, left tackle Chris Acevedo. Junior Jon Brost is expected to start at right tackle and has the most career starts of the group.
Tim Mayerbock is expected to get the start at left guard. The redshirt sophomore played in the last 10 games of 2006 but is the most inexperienced of the group.
Grade: C-
Very talented group but young. The lack of experience may contribute to them getting worn out too soon, setting up for quite an interesting fourth quarter.
WR
This looks to be a strong point for NIU this season. Junior's Britt Davis and Marcus Perez both started and were the leading receivers from a year ago.
Everyone is still waiting for Davis to break-out and reach his full potential. Junior Matt Simon played in all 13 games last year and was the third-leading receiver.
Junior Greg Turner has impressed former Huskie and current wide receivers coach P.J. Fleck as more of a possession-type of receiver. Also, Freshman Landon Cox will also look to make an immediate impact.
Grade: B-
Talented and fast. Younger guys need to step up and help out Davis, Perez and Simon to solidify the corps.
