02-03-2005, 04:14 PM
Excitement Level Grows for Novak
By Adam Rittenberg Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Thursday, February 03, 2005
Before hitting the recruiting trail this season, Northern Illinois' coaches glanced at their most recent batch of freshmen and began to play the match game.
The Huskies needed defensive backs to offset quarterbacks, offensive linemen to offset tailbacks, and so on. When the timer sounded Wednesday, head coach Joe Novak presented 24 men to complete the set.
"This group marries up good with last year's class," Novak said after announcing NIU's signings. "We got the two great quarterbacks (Britt Davis and Dan Nicholson) last year. We got Montell Clanton, who's going to be a real good running back.
"Last year we were a little bit short on DBs and linemen. Well, we got that in this class. The two classes together really excite me."
NIU's class features six offensive linemen and five defensive backs, adding depth in two areas that lost key contributors from the 2004 team. The Huskies' staff followed tradition and plucked 14 in-state players, including six from Chicago high schools.
Athleticism and versatility are the flavors of NIU's class, but Novak is hoping to develop several linemen, including local products Eddie Adamski (Carmel) and Jake Wertz (Stevenson). Adamski, a 240-pound center, upheld his commitment to NIU despite a late push from Illinois.
"That usually doesn't happen," said Chris Pool, a Midwest recruiting expert for Scout.com. "But now you can see the power of the MAC a little bit.
"Adamski's really underrated. You could put some weight on him and make him a center. He was just so tough."
Chicago Public League defensive backs Melvin Rice and Bradley Pruitt have the best chance to see the field for NIU in 2005. Rice, ranked the No. 41 cornerback nationally by Rivals.com, drew interest from several Big Ten programs.
The Huskies also inked Libertyville safety Jeff Fontana and versatile three-star prospect Justin Anderson, who turned down an offer from Illinois.
"He could be a safety, he could be a tailback, he could be a wideout, he could be a corner," Novak said of Anderson. "He may even grow into an outside linebacker.
"We've got a lot of pegs to fill into some different holes. I like that flexibility."
Rice is one of three Rivals.com three-star recruits NIU signed from Chicago's Morgan Park High School. Another is wide receiver Orlando Moore, whom Novak hopes to get eligible.
"Right now he's a borderline student who's going to be a great question mark until the end," Novak said of Moore, who was pursued early by several Big Ten schools "He was a good get for us, but he's got to make grades. That's the only one really we've gambled on academically."
DuPage County wasn't as fruitful as usual for NIU, but Novak did sign Neuqua Valley defensive end Anthony Antonacci. While at Illinois, Novak coached Antonacci's father, Rich, and said Anthony "has a great motor."
Novak is also excited about linebacker Josh Allen, who doubles as a basketball star at North Chicago.
"Everybody's always happy on signing day," Novak said, "but it could be as good a class as we've brought in."
By Adam Rittenberg Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Thursday, February 03, 2005
Before hitting the recruiting trail this season, Northern Illinois' coaches glanced at their most recent batch of freshmen and began to play the match game.
The Huskies needed defensive backs to offset quarterbacks, offensive linemen to offset tailbacks, and so on. When the timer sounded Wednesday, head coach Joe Novak presented 24 men to complete the set.
"This group marries up good with last year's class," Novak said after announcing NIU's signings. "We got the two great quarterbacks (Britt Davis and Dan Nicholson) last year. We got Montell Clanton, who's going to be a real good running back.
"Last year we were a little bit short on DBs and linemen. Well, we got that in this class. The two classes together really excite me."
NIU's class features six offensive linemen and five defensive backs, adding depth in two areas that lost key contributors from the 2004 team. The Huskies' staff followed tradition and plucked 14 in-state players, including six from Chicago high schools.
Athleticism and versatility are the flavors of NIU's class, but Novak is hoping to develop several linemen, including local products Eddie Adamski (Carmel) and Jake Wertz (Stevenson). Adamski, a 240-pound center, upheld his commitment to NIU despite a late push from Illinois.
"That usually doesn't happen," said Chris Pool, a Midwest recruiting expert for Scout.com. "But now you can see the power of the MAC a little bit.
"Adamski's really underrated. You could put some weight on him and make him a center. He was just so tough."
Chicago Public League defensive backs Melvin Rice and Bradley Pruitt have the best chance to see the field for NIU in 2005. Rice, ranked the No. 41 cornerback nationally by Rivals.com, drew interest from several Big Ten programs.
The Huskies also inked Libertyville safety Jeff Fontana and versatile three-star prospect Justin Anderson, who turned down an offer from Illinois.
"He could be a safety, he could be a tailback, he could be a wideout, he could be a corner," Novak said of Anderson. "He may even grow into an outside linebacker.
"We've got a lot of pegs to fill into some different holes. I like that flexibility."
Rice is one of three Rivals.com three-star recruits NIU signed from Chicago's Morgan Park High School. Another is wide receiver Orlando Moore, whom Novak hopes to get eligible.
"Right now he's a borderline student who's going to be a great question mark until the end," Novak said of Moore, who was pursued early by several Big Ten schools "He was a good get for us, but he's got to make grades. That's the only one really we've gambled on academically."
DuPage County wasn't as fruitful as usual for NIU, but Novak did sign Neuqua Valley defensive end Anthony Antonacci. While at Illinois, Novak coached Antonacci's father, Rich, and said Anthony "has a great motor."
Novak is also excited about linebacker Josh Allen, who doubles as a basketball star at North Chicago.
"Everybody's always happy on signing day," Novak said, "but it could be as good a class as we've brought in."
