April 24, 2010

Spring Scrimmage Stats

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois wrapped up its 2010 spring practices Saturday with an hour-long scrimmage at Huskie Stadium that featured an impressive performance by the Huskie defense and several big plays by the NIU offense.

Northern Illinois Head Coach Jerry Kill followed through on his plan to let younger players see most of the action at several positions, including at running back and wide receiver, as veterans like Landon Cox (Calumet City, Ill./T.F. North HS), Ricky Crider (Evansville, Ind./Reitz HS) and Tracy Wilson (Harvey, Ill./St. Francis DeSales HS) spent most of the practice on the sidelines.

Following the scrimmage, Kill said he was very pleased with what he has seen out of the Huskies on both sides of the ball this spring.

"We're a better football team now than we were when we played South Florida [in the International Bowl]," Kill said. "This is the best I've felt since I've been here. I feel very good about where we are. Last Friday night I thought we were really, really sharp. [The scrimmage] was clean, there were no turnovers, no penalties. We practiced hard on Tuesday, and again on Thursday and they looked like they've hit the wall a little bit today and it's because of fatigue.

"Spring has gone back and forth with the offense and the defense. It's been pretty balanced with good moments on both sides of the ball. I feel as good about spring as I can feel. I can't wait for two-a-day camp."

The NIU defense started the day strong, with safety Garrett Barnas (Walnut, Ill./Bureau Valley HS) snagging a DeMarcus Grady (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids HS) spiral for an interception on the very first play. Linebacker Jordan Delegal (Miami, Fla./Chaminade Madonna HS) picked off both Grady and Chandler Harnish (Bluffton, Ind./Norwell HS) on the day, and Huskie defenders made life hard for all of the quarterbacks as 10 different players got their hands on 11 passes. Redshirt freshman defensive end Anthony Wells (North Chicago, Ill./North Chicago HS) collected a pair of pass break ups to lead the way. The NIU defense also recorded seven sacks, two each by Stephen O'Neal (Park Forest, Ill./Rich East HS) and Darnell Bolding (Washington, D.C./Bowie HS).

"Defensive line is a strength," Kill said. "There is a lot of depth and as a group, they are physically stronger than the offensive line right now. We have to continue to work on technique there and then they have to play."

The offense got going as the scrimmage progressed as new Huskie running backs Cameron Bell (Round Rock, Texas/Stony Point HS) and Jasmin Hopkins (Stanley, N.C./East Gaston HS) saw the majority of the action versus the top two defenses. Bell, a transfer from Iowa State, ran nine times for 46 yards, while Hopkins had seven carries for 16 yards, but added a 52-yard run and catch for a score.

"We know Jas [Hopkins] has big play ability, and we know Cameron Bell is a physical back," Kill said. "They both have big play capabilities. Cameron has surprised me a little this spring. He has to learn to pass protect and he knows that, but as far as running, he has surprised me. He and Jas got a lot of carries during the spring, and especially today, I wanted to see how they held up. He hasn't played running back in three years, so what he's done learning-wise has been good. There's a ton of talent there, he's still learning."

The Huskies also reached the end zone on a 60-yard pass from Grady to Anthony Johnson (San Antonio, Texas/Earl Warren HS), a 61-yard hook-up between Harnish and Perez Ashford (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights HS) and a nine-yard rush by quarterback Jordan Lynch (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel HS).

Kill said he had seen good things from all four of his quarterbacks this spring, including redshirt freshman A.J. Hill (DuQuoin, Ill./DuQuoin HS), who did not play Saturday due to injury.

"They all had their moments and they've all got work to do," Kill said. "Grady had a great spring, he really did. A.J. Hill played well for the first seven practices before he got hurt. It comes down to how hard they're going to work this summer. Summer is going to be important."

Johnson led all receivers with four catches for 90 yards, while Ashford's two catches went for 66 yards. Martel Moore (San Antonio, Texas/Earl Warren HS), with three catches for 34 yards and Nathan Palmer (Elkhart, Ind./Central HS), who added five catches for 32 yards, also made plays in the passing game. Harnish, the junior who at one time was expected to miss all of spring ball, completed nine-of-16 passes for 161 yards, while Grady was four-of-12 for 80 yards and Lynch completed six-of-11 passes for 58 yards. Harnish also rushed the ball three times for 24 yards.

Kill said the key word for the Huskies coming out of spring ball and going into August is "competition."

"We're going to compete," he said. "It's going to be competitive at quarterback, it's going to be competitive at running back, it's going to be competitive on the offensive line. We're not going to be a team that's comfortable. We're going to get after it. That's the way I want it to be and it will be interesting."

Northern Illinois opens its 2010 season at Iowa State on Thursday, Sept. 2 with the home opener versus North Dakota on Saturday, Sept. 11.

Tickets for the 2010 Northern Illinois football season are on sale now online at www.NIUHuskies.com or by calling 815-752-6800. Tickets for all five home games at Huskie Stadium are just $85 for the general public, with discounts available for senior citizens, NIU faculty and staff, NIU Alumni Association and Varsity Club members. A three-game flex mini-plan is just $50.

-- NIU -

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