87   Jason Schepler
	Class: RS Senior Hometown: Sycamore, IL High School: Sycamore Height / Weight: 6-2 / 274 Position: TE Experience: 3L

Returns to the field after sitting out the 2011 season while rehabbing a knee injury. Career totals include 11 catches for 112 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Played in 35 games while making 14 starts.

2011: Redshirted after injuring his knee during 2011 spring drills.

2010: NIU's starting tight end saw action in all 14 games on the year. Totaled a career best eight catches for 93 yards to average 11.6 yards per reception. Selected to the 2010 All-MAC third team by league coaches and was named the team's 2010 Tight End/Fullback of the Year. Named NIU's Co-Offensive Lineman of the week after making his first reception of the season for a career-high 20-yard gain at Akron (10-2) and helping lead the way to 520 yards of total offense in the game. Had two grabs for a career-high 27 yards at Western Michigan (10-30). Caught two passes for 22 yards against Miami (Ohio) in the 2010 MAC Championship game (12-3). Totaled one catch for seven yards versus both Temple (10-9) and Toledo (11-9).Excellent blocker whose efforts were key to NIU's record-setting offensive numbers as the Huskies broke eight school single season records and set the MAC record for rushing yards in a season. The Huskies ranked in the Top 20 in the nation and led the MAC in rushing, scoring and total offense as well as passing efficiency. Served as a member of the team's Leadership Council after being elected by his teammates. An Academic All-MAC selection by league faculty representatives.

2009: Played in 10 games and started four at tight end, including the first three games of the season. Slowed by an elbow injury and played with a brace over the final half of the year. Made starts against Wisconsin (9-5), Western Illinois (9-12), Purdue (9-19), and Eastern Michigan (11-5). Recorded his first collegiate touchdown on a four-yard pass in NIU's victory over Western Illinois. That was the lone catch on the season for the tight end, who is most often used as a blocker in the Huskies' multiple set offense.

2008: Saw action in 11 games as a member of special teams and as a back-up tight end. Caught two passes for 15 yards. Made one reception for nine yards vs. Navy (11-25). Had one catch for six yards against Tennessee (10-4). As an up-man on the kickoff unit, returned four kickoffs for 57 yards. Totaled 41 yards on three kickoff returns at Kent State (11-18). Tallied 16 yards on one kick return against Central Michigan (11-12).

High School: Three-year letterwinner at Sycamore earned first team all-conference honors as a junior. Named his team's defensive most valuable player as a senior. Helped the Spartans to the IHSA playoffs as a senior. DeKalb Daily Chronicle's 2008 Male Athlete of the Year also wrestled at Sycamore, going 42-6 on the mat in his final season. Earned all-conference honors four times as a heavyweight, where he earned all-state accolades as a junior and was a state qualifier as a senior. Holds the SHS record for falls in a career, and ranks third on the school's all-time wins list. Also holds the Spartan record in the discus.

Personal: Born Feb. 6, 1990 in Woodstock, Ill. Son of Bill and Susan Schepler. Plans to major in electrical engineering. Admires Brian Urlacher. Victory Scholar holds a 3.82 GPA.

SCHEPLER'S CAREER GAME HIGHS
Catches: 2, twice, last vs. Miami(OH), MAC Championship, 12-3-10
Receiving Yards: 27, at Western Michigan, 10-30-10
Long Gain: 20, at Akron, 10-2-10