2017 Prespring Rankings: No. 102 Northern Illinois Huskies

The 2017 prespring college football rankings, taking the first look at the Northern Illinois Huskies



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Will the Huskies stay healthy again? The quarterback situation hasn’t been solid for the last two years, and last season, the ground game couldn’t pick up the slack in tough loss after tough loss. There might not be too much of a difference or too much tweaking to be made to go back to being the MAC’s star program. NIU lost two overtime games, and two others by a touchdown or less. If the defense can get back to form, and the quarterback play is solid, Northern Illinois can be Northern Illinois again.

Northern Illinois Huskies Biggest Issue

The top receivers have to be replaced. Not having leading rusher Joel Bouagnon is a problem, and a few key offensive linemen are done, but the Huskies need – no, it can’t be repeated enough – healthy and consistent quarterback play, and a few gamechanging receivers. Kenny Golladay is gone after leading the team with 87 catches, while the season-leading receiver – Aregeros Turner – is done, too, after making 40 grabs.

Northern Illinois Huskies Biggest Positive

The secondary has the potential to be amazing. It was a bit of a down year for the D, and the defensive backs didn’t quite play up to snuff, but 2015 all-star Shawun Lurry is back along with the other three starters. The NIU defense picked off 14 passes last year, and the 13 from the secondary are all back. Can the pass rush help the cause, though? Most of the sack production from last season is gone, but the line is one of the areas of depth to fill in the gaps.

Really, Why Are The Northern Illinois Huskies Ranked Here?

Really, it all comes down to the quarterback situation. Is Daniel Santacaterina going to be able to roll? How about Ryan Graham? Will Anthony Maddie possibly get a sixth year, or will dangerous new recruit Rodney Hall get the keys to the car? At least there are options, but the Huskies need a star who steps up and takes the gig – and can stay healthy. There’s just enough talent coming back to expect a rebound, and just enough losses to think this could be another disappointment.

CFN's ranking for us are typically off by at least 40 spots.

The guy is not wrong. The offense is contingent on the QB play and that is the biggest question mark right now. NIU could either be back on top of the MAC next season or we could end up on the outside of the bowls looking in again.

This is the first in a very long time that I have no idea what the expectations should be this coming season.

Normally I take issue with CFN, but no arguments here, in fact Id say 102 is a little generous with what NIU is returning talentwise and the fact no changes were made with the one of the worst head coaches in FBS.

This team was terrible last year with all those players he mentioned except now we're missing two good receivers. If we have to go to Ryan Graham or true freshman Rodney Hall we'll be lucky to win 4 games. Even without all the above, Carey is still our head coach. So we will never be NIU of old until he's gone. This is the guy who thought Ryan Graham was better than Anthony Maddie (and even moved him to WR) and barely played Huff who is a much better back than JB.

(02-14-2017 04:38 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Normally I take issue with CFN, but no arguments here, in fact Id say 102 is a little generous with what NIU is returning talentwise and the fact no changes were made with the one of the worst head coaches in FBS.

+1

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote:NIU lost two overtime games, and two others by a touchdown or less.

What could have been.......

(02-14-2017 05:13 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  This team was terrible last year with all those players he mentioned except now we're missing two good receivers. If we have to go to Ryan Graham or true freshman Rodney Hall we'll be lucky to win 4 games. Even without all the above, Carey is still our head coach. So we will never be NIU of old until he's gone. This is the guy who thought Ryan Graham was better than Anthony Maddie (and even moved him to WR) and barely played Huff who is a much better back than JB.

I disagree about the rb comparison. Huff was not better. He is special talent that tries for homeruns instead of taking first downs. Not what NIU needed last year with shaky qb play. I hope he learns how to pass block and pick up the short yards when required.

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(02-14-2017 07:35 PM)Teamduh Wrote:  

(02-14-2017 05:13 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  This team was terrible last year with all those players he mentioned except now we're missing two good receivers. If we have to go to Ryan Graham or true freshman Rodney Hall we'll be lucky to win 4 games. Even without all the above, Carey is still our head coach. So we will never be NIU of old until he's gone. This is the guy who thought Ryan Graham was better than Anthony Maddie (and even moved him to WR) and barely played Huff who is a much better back than JB.

I disagree about the rb comparison. Huff was not better. He is special talent that tries for homeruns instead of taking first downs. Not what NIU needed last year with shaky qb play. I hope he learns how to pass block and pick up the short yards when required.

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When your QB situation is terrible the last thing you should want is a RB who runs for two yards and then gets tackled. Watching JB run last year was so frustrating.

(02-15-2017 05:27 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(02-14-2017 07:35 PM)Teamduh Wrote:  

(02-14-2017 05:13 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  This team was terrible last year with all those players he mentioned except now we're missing two good receivers. If we have to go to Ryan Graham or true freshman Rodney Hall we'll be lucky to win 4 games. Even without all the above, Carey is still our head coach. So we will never be NIU of old until he's gone. This is the guy who thought Ryan Graham was better than Anthony Maddie (and even moved him to WR) and barely played Huff who is a much better back than JB.

I disagree about the rb comparison. Huff was not better. He is special talent that tries for homeruns instead of taking first downs. Not what NIU needed last year with shaky qb play. I hope he learns how to pass block and pick up the short yards when required.

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When your QB situation is terrible the last thing you should want is a RB who runs for two yards and then gets tackled. Watching JB run last year was so frustrating.

I'm trying to think of a situation where Huff could have had a first down up the middle but bounced it outside. I can't think of any. And I agree with EPA, with shaky QB play you need a playmaker, a difference maker. I don't know about blocking, but Huff was easily a better runner.

(02-15-2017 05:27 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(02-14-2017 07:35 PM)Teamduh Wrote:  

(02-14-2017 05:13 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  This team was terrible last year with all those players he mentioned except now we're missing two good receivers. If we have to go to Ryan Graham or true freshman Rodney Hall we'll be lucky to win 4 games. Even without all the above, Carey is still our head coach. So we will never be NIU of old until he's gone. This is the guy who thought Ryan Graham was better than Anthony Maddie (and even moved him to WR) and barely played Huff who is a much better back than JB.

I disagree about the rb comparison. Huff was not better. He is special talent that tries for homeruns instead of taking first downs. Not what NIU needed last year with shaky qb play. I hope he learns how to pass block and pick up the short yards when required.

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When your QB situation is terrible the last thing you should want is a RB who runs for two yards and then gets tackled. Watching JB run last year was so frustrating.

I agree. We have been spoiled in the past with excellent offenses. Last year if we scored 30 we would win (mostly). Lack of first downs contributed.

I don't have video tape on Huff to grade him but I think we can agree that he has the opportunity to be the starter and by this board's comments should surpass JB's production. If that happens we should be .500 minimally. I'm hopeful.
Saying all that, we have another rough OOC schedule and probably 1-3 before MAC play.

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You guys like Huff when he has the ball. When he doesn't have the ball is where he sucks. QBs can't do anything when they are running for their life or on their back. Huff was best used as a change of pace back. If Maddie comes back, he'll never make it through the season with Huff as the main back.

(02-15-2017 09:21 AM)shack66 Wrote:  You guys like Huff when he has the ball. When he doesn't have the ball is where he sucks. QBs can't do anything when they are running for their life or on their back. Huff was best used as a change of pace back. If Maddie comes back, he'll never make it through the season with Huff as the main back.

Agree. Just hope he has learned how to pass protect better. Perhaps he has matured.

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(02-15-2017 09:21 AM)shack66 Wrote:  You guys like Huff when he has the ball. When he doesn't have the ball is where he sucks. QBs can't do anything when they are running for their life or on their back. Huff was best used as a change of pace back. If Maddie comes back, he'll never make it through the season with Huff as the main back.

That's certainly a question mark, so I don't know if he'll start this coming year either. And if he wanted to be a good blocker he could be one by now, so I'm not optimistic he's going to change at this point. I didn't watch his blocking as closely so I don't know if he's gotten better over time.

(02-15-2017 09:21 AM)shack66 Wrote:  You guys like Huff when he has the ball. When he doesn't have the ball is where he sucks. QBs can't do anything when they are running for their life or on their back. Huff was best used as a change of pace back. If Maddie comes back, he'll never make it through the season with Huff as the main back.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but NIU was 2nd best in the nation at fewest sacks allowed. That short passing game allows for that. They only gave up 8 sacks all year. 3 sacks in conference play. Huff was second in total rush attempts on the team. While he has flaws, this notion that Huff will get the QB killed is over stated. The longer he's on the field the better he may play. Some guys have a hard time keeping the mental edge when they're in and out of the game constantly. Our playmakers are all gone. Huff has to be on the field as much as possible regardless of the risk. Maddie will be running 12 times a game. He's more likely to get hurt doing that than on a sack.

Huff's blocking is less of an issue if Maddie is at QB because they like to roll him out anyway.

The nonconference schedule is tough but this team has a chance to be pretty good if Maddie can stay healthy.

Do we know if Maddie is back yet? That would be nice.

And who would be #2? Santa? Or did he get moved to WR?

(02-15-2017 10:35 AM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Huff's blocking is less of an issue if Maddie is at QB because they like to roll him out anyway.

The nonconference schedule is tough but this team has a chance to be pretty good if Maddie can stay healthy.

Very true. I keep referencing Maddie as being back just Because I really want it to be true. It's easier to live in denial than to think of next season with Graham or an inexperienced Santa. It's THE question of 2017.

(02-15-2017 10:38 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  Do we know if Maddie is back yet? That would be nice.

And who would be #2? Santa? Or did he get moved to WR?

You'll recall Coach Carey saying a couple of years ago that he wanted to have spring ball earlier in the year to give guys who get injured in spring more time to heal up before the regular season. Then he moved it later last year because Hare was coming back from his 2015 injury. Spring practice is scheduled late again this year and I'm guessing that is to give the NCAA time to make their official ruling on Maddie's sixth year.

This team was decimated by injuries, was a mess at QB, and still won 5 MAC games last year. To say they'll be lucky to win 4 games this year is laughable.

Not going to defend Carey about Huff, but to say he barely played is wildly inaccurate. He should have played more, yes, but he had like 110 carries last year.