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 Draft Scout College Football Player News: Northern Illinois
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  It wasn't just the cold that led to a bit of a culture shock when Shemar Thornton transferred to Northern Illinois University from Florida International in January. The senior wide receiver said it was a whole different environment, more team-oriented than he had experienced, and it took until a trip home in May for things to be put in perspective. "It was my first time being away from home for a while," said Thornton, who played high school football in Florida. "I had to get used to that, just being outside of my comfort zone. When I went home in May, I had a talk with my mom and she said, 'It's your last time really in college ball. So give it your all and leave nothing on the field."

Throughout summer workouts, NIU head coach Thomas Hammock said Thornton's attitude and work ethic noticeably have improved. "When he first got here, it was a bit of a culture shock as far as our standard of work and our standard of expectations," Hammock said. "He went home after semester, got his mind right, and he's come back this summer and really attacked it. It's been fun to see. Obviously he's a tremendous player, great route runner, tremendous hands. He gives us a chance to be very dynamic at the wide receiver position." NIU wide receivers coach Joseph Hawkins, who came on board with the Huskies in April, was a graduate assistant at FIU in 2019, Thornton's best year. He caught 51 passes for 668 yards. "Shemar has been doing a phenomenal job," Hawkins said. "His growth from when he first got here until now has been unbelievable. Me and Shemar have a connection...Seeing him here and watching him progress is nothing but amazing." - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

rSr/2023 WR Shemar Thornton, Northern Illinois
News Source: DeKalb Daily Chronicle
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  2022 PRESEASON PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST: Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois,...As a sophomore, Rudolph was an All-MAC selection as both a receiver and kick returner. He led NIU with 1,462 all-purpose yards for an average of 104.4 per game and scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and on a kickoff return. As a receiver, Rudolph led NIU with 51 catches for 892 yards and seven touchdowns, including a pair of 75-yard scores. As a returner, he averaged 25.1 yards per kick return to lead the MAC and scored on a 100-yard kickoff return against Bowling Green. He also totaled 113 rushing yards on eight carries to average 14.1 yards per rush and scored on a 75-yard run at Buffalo. He is one of six MAC players on the 52-man Hornung Award preseason watch list. - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2025 WR Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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  A transfer from Wisconsin, Izayah Green-May is looking to bolster a pass rush that averaged less than two sacks a game. A lack of pressure on the quarterback was frequently pointed to by coach Thomas Hammock as a reason the Huskies only managed three interceptions as a team last year. Enter the 6-6, 242-pound outside pass rusher. He didn't get the most time with the Badgers, redshirting in the 2017 season and then making his first start the next year. He appeared in nine games last year but had two tackles. Still, he's got the build and the speed to give the NIU line the boost it needs, along with another year of experience for young stars like James Ester, Raishein Thomas and Devonte O'Malley. - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

rSr/2023 DE Izayah Green-May, Northern Illinois
News Source: DeKalb Daily Chronicle
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  2022 PRESEASON OUTLAND TROPHY WATCHLIST: OT Nolan Potter Jr., NIU,...Potter is one of 89 returning standout linemen on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball named to the Outland Trophy Watch List. A redshirt junior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Potter enters the 2022 campaign with 20 consecutive starts at right tackle. Behind Potter and his linemates, the Huskies ranked fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing offense a year ago with an average of 241.4 yards per game. In addition, NIU quarterbacks were sacked just 10 times in 14 games as the Huskies ranked second in the country in fewest sacks allowed. - Norther Illinois Football

rSr/2024 OT Nolan Potter, Northern Illinois
News Source: Norther Illinois Football
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  2022 PRESEASON LOU GROZA AWARD WATCH LIST: John Richardson - Northern Illinois, Class: Junior - Hometown: Orland Park, Illinois,...A 2021 Groza semifinalist, Richardson set the Northern Illinois record for field goals in a season with 22. Five of those came in a triumphant 16-point performance against Toledo with his final kick lifting the Huskies to a 22-20 road win. Just a few weeks later he did it again, kicking the game-winner as time expired for a 30-29 victory over Ball State. - Lou Groza Award

rSr/2024 K John Richardson, Northern Illinois
News Source: Lou Groza Award
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  2022 PRESEASON DOAK WALKER AWARD CANDIDATE: Antario Brown (So.), Northern Illinois,... As a freshman in 2021 NIU running back Antario Brown (5-10, 218) saw action in nine of the last 10 games of the year and made two starts as a true freshman. He finished the season as the Huskies' third-leading rusher with 538 yards on 81 carries. His 6.6 yards per carry led the team and his five rushing TDs and 59.8 yards per game ranked third. Brown recorded 101 yards on 16 carries in his collegiate debut vs. Eastern Michigan (10-2); rushed for 93 yards on 24 carries with a 37-yard touchdown run at Toledo in his first start; Tallied a career best 105 yards on 12 carries with a seven-yard score vs. Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl (12-17). - Northern Illinois Football

Sr/2025 RB Antario Brown, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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  2022 PRESEASON BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST: Trayvon Rudolph, NIU,...Rudolph led NIU in 2021 with 51 receptions, 892 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He set a new NIU and Mid-American Conference single-game record for receiving yards with 309 at Kent State on Nov. 3, 2021 on 14 catches, adding three touchdowns. Rudolph also averaged 25.1 yards per kick return, scoring on a 100-yard kickoff return against Bowling Green. He was an All-MAC selection as both a receiver and returner in 2021. - Northern illinois Football

rSr/2025 WR Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern illinois Football
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  Iowa's spring football practice had a different feel for sophomore running back Gavin Williams. For the last two years he patiently waited behind veteran backs for his opportunity. After a breakout game in the Citrus Bowl and a few departures out of the room, he found himself getting the bulk of the first-team reps during spring. "It's a great feeling," Williams said. "Everybody wants to be the star, you know, and sometimes you get here and you kind of lose sight of that because you might be buried in the depth chart or a number of other things. And I just feel like it taught me to just put my head down and keep working every day and eventually I will reap the benefits."

The same can be said for fellow sophomore Leshon Williams. Like Gavin (no relation), Williams redshirted in 2020 and didn't see much action in 2021 until the Citrus Bowl, where the two combined for 173 yards. Due to an injury to redshirt freshman Deavin Hilson, the two Williamses were the only healthy scholarship running backs during spring practice and continued their bowl game momentum. "I view it as though I have two top guys," running backs coach Ladell Betts said during spring. The sophomore duo entered summer conditioning as Iowa's top two options for the 2022 season, but the room is much deeper than it was during spring. - Iowa City Press-Citizen

rSr/2025 RB Gavin Williams, Northern Illinois
News Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen
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  The Northern Illinois athletics department announced the 2022 class for its Hall of Fame on Tuesday, featuring seven former student-athletes. Amy Foulke (volleyball, 1990-93), Thomas Hammock (football, 1999-2002), Chandler Harnish (football 2008-11), Kristin Hoffman (volleyball, 2008-11), Sandra Lutz (field hockey, softball and volleyball, 1966-70), Scott Simon (baseball, 2003-07) and Chad Spann (football, 2007-10) all will be inducted. They will be joined by coach and administrator Robert Collins, special contributor Rick Cerrone and the Barsema, Chessick, Rich and Yordon families. Harnish is NIU's career leader in passing yards and is in the top 10 in rushing yards. His 11,927 yards of total offense are most in school history. That number includes his 8,944 career passing yards. As a senior in 2011, he was the Mid-American Conference MVP. - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

rSr/2012 QB Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois
News Source: DeKalb Daily Chronicle
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  Poised for a 2022 standout season: RB Gavin Williams, sophomore. He looks ready to take over for Tyler Goodson, who declared for the NFL draft after leading the Hawkeyes in rushing three straight years. Williams' playing time increased the second half of the season and he ran for 98 yards on 16 carries against Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl. - AP College Football

rSr/2025 RB Gavin Williams, Northern Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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  2021 ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM (COACHES): DB: DaRon Gilbert, Lafayette, Jr.,...Gilbert started 10 of 11 games at safety for the Leopards to attain the first All-Patriot League recognition of his career. He made 49 tackles to finish sixth on the team in stops from his secondary spot. The Economics major from Detroit, Mich. has played 22 career games with 19 starts over three seasons. - Lafayette Football

rSr/2024 OLB DaRon Gilbert, Northern Illinois
News Source: Lafayette Football
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  Quarterback Justin Lynch announced via Twitter Monday afternoon that he is headed to DeKalb, leaving Temple for Northern Illinois via the transfer portal. Lynch, the younger brother of former NIU standout Jordan Lynch, was recruited to Temple by head coach Rod Carey, who left NIU in 2019 after six seasons in DeKalb. He was fired by Temple late last month. Lynch played in 11 games for the Owls and was the team's second leading rusher, going for 295 yards and a touchdown, averaging 3.9 per carry. He was the second-leading passer, throwing for 830 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

rSr/2025 QB Justin Lynch, Northern Illinois
News Source: DeKalb Daily Chronicle
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  2021 ALL-MAC THIRD TEAM (COACHES): Defensive Back - Jordan Gandy, Northern Illinois,...Gandy earned All-MAC honors for the second straight season and has made 45 tackles, 3.5 for loss. He leads NIU with 10 pass break-ups and has a pair of fumble recoveries. - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2024 CB Jordan Gandy, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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  2021 ALL-MAC THIRD TEAM (COACHES): Linebacker - Lance Deveaux, Northern Illinois,...Deveaux, a sixth-year senior who missed most of the last two seasons due to injury, returned to his 2018 form in 2021 with 64 tackles, 42 solo, to rank second on the team. He leads NIU in tackles for loss with six while mentoring a group of young linebackers. - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2022 OLB Lance Deveaux Jr., Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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  2021 ALL-MAC THIRD TEAM (COACHES): Down Lineman - James Ester, Northern Illinois,...A second-year freshman, Ester has made 23 tackles with three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks from his defensive tackle position. - Northern Illinois Football

rSr/2024 DT James Ester, Northern Illinois
News Source: Northern Illinois Football
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