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Northern Illinois running backs coach Rob Reeves has been with head coach Jerry Kill as long as any one on the staff, but not always as a coach. Reeves first encountered the first-year Huskie helmsman at Saginaw Valley State in 1994, where Reeves was an All-American quarterback. In more recent history, Reeves has helped Kill develop some of the nation's best rushing attacks. In seven years at Southern Illinois, Reeves' running backs gained an average of 207.8 yards per game and 5.05 yards per carry. That team rushing success led to a host of individual accolades. Running backs coached by Reeves earned four All-America and eight all-conference awards. Reeves also coached two Gateway Conference Newcomers of the Year in Muhammad Abdulqaadir (2002) and Brandon Jacobs (2004). In 2004, when SIU boasted the nation's top I-AA scoring defense, the team also achieved the top rushing marks in school history. Led by two-time All-American and Walter Payton Award finalist Arkee Whitlock, and current New York Giant Brandon Jacobs, the Saluki ground attack produced 3,404 total yards, an extraordinary average of 283.7 per game. Saluki running backs rushed for over 3,000 yards in three other seasons (2002, 03, 06) under the instruction of Reeves, and totaled more than 18,000 yards during his seven-year tenure as running backs coach at SIU. Jacobs, who rushed for 992 yards with an average of 6.6 yards per carry in 2004, was drafted in the fourth round by the Giants following that season. In 2005, he became the first Giants rookie since 1984 to rush for seven touchdowns in a year and last year he was a key cog in the team's run to the Super Bowl title. Whitlock has also achieved success in the National Football League, as the Minnesota Vikings signed him to a free agent contract in October of 2007. Reeves also coached SIU career rushing leader Tom Koutsos and Abdualqaadir, who rushed for over 250 yards three times in his career. Prior to his tenure at Southern Illinois, Reeves was the running backs coach at Emporia State under Kill (1999-2000), and served a graduate assistant coach for quarterbacks at his alma mater, Saginaw Valley State (1996-98), where he earned his bachelor's degree in business administration. As a player at SVSU, Reeves was a two-year starter at quarterback, and earned All-America recognition in 1994. He was a two-time All-Midwest Intercollegiate Conference Team selection (1994-95). Rob and his wife, Angie have three children: Riley (3), and twins Jackson and Addison (1). ABOUT REEVES
Playing Experience
Education
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