Football | August 19

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University linebacking corps will have a new look but a familiar feel in 2017.  NIU must replace two of the three 2016 starters in Jamaal Payton and Sean Folliard, who co-led the team in tackles with 81 each, while racking up 14.5 tackles for loss, five quarterback sacks and five pass break-ups.
 
In addition to lone returning starter Bobby Jones IV, who made 59 tackles while starting the first eight games of 2016 before going down with an injury, returnees Jawuan Johnson, Lance DeVeaux, Alex Schwab, Kyle Pugh and Antonio Jones-Davis all bring playing experience.  In the cases of DeVeaux, Pugh and Jones-Davis, that experience occurred as freshmen as all three are entering their sophomore seasons.
 
For linebackers coach Jeff Knowles, in his first season with NIU in 2017, age truly is just a number.
 
"At this point, everybody's got to be ready," Knowles said.  "I guess we do have a young group when you look at it, but they're all new to me, so we're getting to know each other, figuring out strengths and what we do well and areas we have to improve on.  The age part doesn't matter. 
 
"We've got some guys who are running with the ones and twos right now that have actually played a lot of football.  Starter-wise, we don't have that necessarily returning, but I don't look at it as an inexperienced group even though it's a young group."
 
Jones and fellow senior Alex Schwab, along with Johnson, are the "veterans" at linebacker, and Jones likes what he's seeing from the linebackers overall.
 
"The linebackers this camp are getting better each and every day," Jones said.  "I definitely feel like I came back and haven't lost a step.  I'm trying to be a leader for the young guys, making sure they're on top of their assignments.  Each day I feel we're taking things off film.  It's never as good as you think and it's never as bad as you think."
 
Jones has more career tackles – 126 – than any returning Huskie player; Schwab posted a 14-tackle game versus Eastern Michigan a year ago, and Johnson is back after missing the last nine games of 2016, but had four tackles for loss at South Florida.
 
Schwab and Pugh were two of the players NIU Head Coach Rod Carey mentioned as playing well this preseason.
 
"I think the linebacker group is playing really, really well right now," Carey said. "Kyle Pugh has stepped in and not missed a beat at middle linebacker. Jawuan brings a lot of experience back for us and is getting more reps and is going to turn into that full-time player.  Bobby Jones is playing real well.  Alex Schwab is having a fine camp and I like the way Lance DeVeaux is coming along.  Antonio Jones-Davis has come a long way, and he's really getting himself in the playing picture."
 
Freshmen Rayshawn Gay, Michael Kennedy and Jordan Cole and redshirt freshmen Corey Lersch and Andrew Gregory are making their presences known, and contributing to the speed Knowles, Jones and Carey have seen in practice so far.  Knowles notes that in addition to speed, he's looking for another important element from the linebackers.
 
"The [linebackers are] a pretty athletic group, they've got good speed," Knowles said. "It's getting the reps right now and figuring where we fit and knowing our calls and communicating with each other.  As a defense, your linebackers have to be great communicators and right now that's what we're working on. Our guys are athletic and they run.  They love to run and they love to hit, but we've got to keep making sure we're taking care of the communication part of it."
 
Jones said the linebackers bring more than speed and tackling ability.  
 
"As linebackers, we're really flying around fast and physical, those two words, fast and physical, but it's also being smart.  You can't be a linebacker and not be smart and on top of your assignments."
 
Carey likes what he has seen overall from the linebackers.
 
"I like the group as a whole, they are fast and they're playing that way," he said.  "If they keep flying around running to the football, good things will happen."
 
Following practice, NIU players and coaches took part in NIU Football Family Fun Day as several hundred fans who attended practice joined the team in the North End Zone. Players signed the newly available 2017 season posters, Victor E. Huskie and Mission were on hand for photos and kids enjoyed the bounce house.   
 
"It's a great day to have everyone come out and make sure they can reach out, feel and touch us," Carey said. "I'm excited we have a good turnout today and a nice day to do it."
 
The Huskies open the 2017 season Friday Sept. 1 when NIU plays host to Boston College in Huskie Stadium, as the Eagles become the first Atlantic Coast Conference opponent to play at NIU since 2003. Help NIU #BlackOutBC and take advantage of $15 tickets for DeKalb County residents.
 
Single game tickets for all six home games this fall are now on sale online at NIUHuskies.com or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225). Season tickets offer the best value with options like the new $199 Family Pack featuring four tickets in sections A or G and a new, lowered $60 price for season tickets on the East Side with general admission seating.  Reserved seats in sections A, B, F and G are just $115 for the season, a cost of less than $20 per game.
 
Three-game mini-plans, priced at just $40 and featuring two different options, are also available. Mini-plan purchasers receive all the benefits of season ticket members, including exclusive invitations to special events throughout the year. Check NIUHuskies.com for all the details.
 
The Huskies will be back on the practice field Sunday at 3:30 p.m..  
 
Check Training Camp Central on NIUHuskies.com for daily updates, videos and more from NIU Preseason Camp.
 
-- NIU --