CSNbbs

https://niuhuskies.com/sports/football/roster

There may be one or two more names coming but it looks like they're mostly done.

New Names for 2021
QB Rocky Lombardi - Transfer from Michigan State
QB Ryan Yost - Transfer from Wagner
QB Ethan Hampton
QB Jeff Lomax
TE Miles Joiner - Transfer from Youngstown State
TE/FB Blake Kosin
TE/FB George Gumbs
RB Clint Ratkovich - Transfer from Western Illinois
RB Braxton Chapman - Transfer from Youngstown State
RB Mason Blakemore
RB Antario Brown
RB Julius Bolden
RB Tajheem Lawson
WR Mason Pierre Antoine
WR Trey Urwiler
WR Tyler Brueckner
WR Alex Crawford
WR Muhammad Jammeh
WR Isaiah Bragg
OL Pete Nygra
OL Drew Hoth
OL Luke Pinnick
OL Brandon Mackinnon
OL Brendan Carr
OL Marko Gbedo
DE Jalen Pinkney - Transfer from Central Florida
DE Trevon Jordan
DE Liam Rempel
DE Jaden Wilson
DE Tony Agyapong
DT Cade Haberman
DT James Ongtengco
DT Jalonnie Williams
LB Dayven Shinhoster - Transfer from Nebraska Kearney
LB Akanimo Asuquo
LB Makhi Nelson-Douglas
LB Ryan King
LB Elijah Hamm
LB Ronde Worrels - I'm pretty sure he's been moved to D end but is currently listed at linebacker
LB Brian Whitsey
LB Anthony Hernandez
LB Ryan Mann
LB Brock Lampe
CB Cyrus McGarrell
CB JaVaughn Byrd
CB Ty Myles
CB Wetu Kalomo
CB Emmanuel Harris
CB David Watson, Jr.
S Nate Valcarcel - Transfer from South Dakota
S Louis Frye
K Kanon Woodill
LS Isaac Hatfield

Expected but not yet appearing on the roster
RB Tay Solomon
WR Trey Kelley
WR Jaylen Lipscomb - Is enrolled at NIU
DE Izu Ozoh - Just committed after June camp
CB Nasir Lacey

Gone from 2020
QB Ross Bowers
QB Connor Neville
QB Andrew Haidet - Transfer to Southwest Minnesota State
QB Rodney Thompson
FB Greg DeLuca
FB Micah Huff - Was on Spring 2021 roster
RB Shaquon Oliver
RB Jyran Mitchell - Transfer to Eastern Kentucky
RB Rondarius Gregory - Transfer to Minnesota State Community Technical College
RB Nazareth Bryant
RB Vondarious Gordon - Transfer to Miles College
RB Donavan Bieber
TE Daniel Crawford
TE Max Thrower - Transfer to Morgan State
TE Mike DeHaan
WR Dennis Robinson - Transfer to Texas State
WR Mike Love - Transfer to Iowa Western CC
WR Leon Payne - Transfer to Fullerton College CC
WR Connor Leffler
WR Joe Sikma - Transfer to Winona State
WR Keion Battle - Transfer to Illinois
WR Zach Henderson - Was on Spring 2021 roster
OL Cole Webster
OL Benn Olson
OL Kobe Rios - Transfer to Iowa Western CC
OL Nate Beyer
DE Cam Mattox - Transfer to Eastern Illinois
DE Cortez Hogans - Transfer to Snow College CC
DE Caleb Wright - Transfer to Northern Michigan
DE Reggie Jennings
DE Tommy Brunner - Transfer to Wisconsin
DE Matt Johnson
DT Weston Kramer - Transfer to Indiana
DT CJ Dunn - Transfer to Alabama A&M
DT Miles Baggett - Works in the NIU Athletic Department
LB Jordan Cole - Transfer to Southeast Missouri State
LB Vinny Labus
LB Rayshawn Gay
LB Kewan Parker
LB Nathan Harman
LB Cody Kopp
LB Jalen Redmond
LB Manny Dominguez
CB Charlie Fish
CB JD Harris - Transfer to Tennessee Chattanooga
CB Mark Aitken - Transfer to Eastern Illinois
CB Jayden Lambert
CB Romel Goston -Left before 2020 season, transfer to College of DuPage
CB Antwain Walker - Transfer to SIU, left before 2020 season
S Tyrik Henderson - Transfer to Iowa Western CC
S Woodly Appolon
S Patrick Hoffman
S Brianjay Ross
P Anthony Beacom - Transfer to Indiana State

Position Changes
Tristen Tewes - LB to TE
Drew Cassens - QB to TE
Jaden Dolphin - S to LB
Devonte O'Malley - DE to DT
Jashon Prophete - CB to S

I hope Cody Kopp returns. If not, Asuquo looks like a stud.

Cassens and Dolphin aren't stars but have potential. Cassens showed something as a HS QB and is tall enough and athletic enough to make plays . Future is always so exciting as to who develops and makes plays.

George Gumbs an electric name

Julius Bolden listed at 5’8” 182lbs.

On the other end of that spectrum, Marko Gbedo listed at 6’3” 338lbs (23lbs bigger already!).

It looks like they're mostly done. I've updated the first post in this thread accordingly.

Still a young team, if I'm reading this correctly.

19 offensive linemen, 1 senior, 2 sophomores, the rest freshmen.

Out of 17 defensive linemen only 2 are juniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

16 linebackers, 2 seniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

I hope the offense steps up because the defense will be questionable for awhile. With the youth of this team, I don't think this will be the year that NIU returns to glory.

The 22 season will be promising as these guys gain experience.

That being said, there are some big linemen on both sides of the ball.

(07-08-2021 10:54 AM)NIU1981 Wrote: [ -> ]It looks like they're mostly done. I've updated the first post in this thread accordingly.

So no Cody Kopp?

Surprised at that one. Wasn't his dad an alum who played at NIU?

(07-08-2021 12:44 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-08-2021 10:54 AM)NIU1981 Wrote: [ -> ]It looks like they're mostly done. I've updated the first post in this thread accordingly.

So no Cody Kopp?

Surprised at that one. Wasn't his dad an alum who played at NIU?

I think his dad played at USC - maybe I am crazy... I thought I read that.

(07-08-2021 12:19 PM)MiamiHuskie Wrote: [ -> ]Still a young team, if I'm reading this correctly.

19 offensive linemen, 1 senior, 2 sophomores, the rest freshmen.

Out of 17 defensive linemen only 2 are juniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

16 linebackers, 2 seniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

I hope the offense steps up because the defense will be questionable for awhile. With the youth of this team, I don't think this will be the year that NIU returns to glory.

The 22 season will be promising as these guys gain experience.

That being said, there are some big linemen on both sides of the ball.

Young but not inexperienced. The Covid extra year doesn’t show how many snaps all these guys got.

My personal opinion is that this team is ready to start winning. If they don’t there need to be some changes - not at HC, but he needs to consider his staff.

(07-08-2021 12:44 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-08-2021 10:54 AM)NIU1981 Wrote: [ -> ]It looks like they're mostly done. I've updated the first post in this thread accordingly.

So no Cody Kopp?

Surprised at that one. Wasn't his dad an alum who played at NIU?

Kopp is on there now......

(07-08-2021 12:57 PM)BigChilla Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-08-2021 12:19 PM)MiamiHuskie Wrote: [ -> ]Still a young team, if I'm reading this correctly.

19 offensive linemen, 1 senior, 2 sophomores, the rest freshmen.

Out of 17 defensive linemen only 2 are juniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

16 linebackers, 2 seniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

I hope the offense steps up because the defense will be questionable for awhile. With the youth of this team, I don't think this will be the year that NIU returns to glory.

The 22 season will be promising as these guys gain experience.

That being said, there are some big linemen on both sides of the ball.

Young but not inexperienced. The Covid extra year doesn’t show how many snaps all these guys got.

My personal opinion is that this team is ready to start winning. If they don’t there need to be some changes - not at HC, but he needs to consider his staff.

I hope you're right. Hammock seems to have recruited speed and size, but that needs to start translating to wins.

Georgia Test is a trial by fire for a new QB and a young O-line.

(07-08-2021 12:19 PM)MiamiHuskie Wrote: [ -> ]Still a young team, if I'm reading this correctly.

19 offensive linemen, 1 senior, 2 sophomores, the rest freshmen.

Out of 17 defensive linemen only 2 are juniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

16 linebackers, 2 seniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

I hope the offense steps up because the defense will be questionable for awhile. With the youth of this team, I don't think this will be the year that NIU returns to glory.

The 22 season will be promising as these guys gain experience.

That being said, there are some big linemen on both sides of the ball.

Keep in mind, a bunch of these "freshmen" are going into their 3rd season and some have played in double digit games. Almost every team now looks younger on paper than they truly are.

(07-08-2021 01:26 PM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-08-2021 12:19 PM)MiamiHuskie Wrote: [ -> ]Still a young team, if I'm reading this correctly.

19 offensive linemen, 1 senior, 2 sophomores, the rest freshmen.

Out of 17 defensive linemen only 2 are juniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

16 linebackers, 2 seniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

I hope the offense steps up because the defense will be questionable for awhile. With the youth of this team, I don't think this will be the year that NIU returns to glory.

The 22 season will be promising as these guys gain experience.

That being said, there are some big linemen on both sides of the ball.

Keep in mind, a bunch of these "freshmen" are going into their 3rd season and some have played in double digit games. Almost every team now looks younger on paper than they truly are.

Not your average Freshman. We should see a major jump in development this year. Experience is everything, and most of them got that last short season.

(07-08-2021 01:29 PM)BDB5yp Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-08-2021 01:26 PM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-08-2021 12:19 PM)MiamiHuskie Wrote: [ -> ]Still a young team, if I'm reading this correctly.

19 offensive linemen, 1 senior, 2 sophomores, the rest freshmen.

Out of 17 defensive linemen only 2 are juniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

16 linebackers, 2 seniors, 1 sophomore, the rest freshmen.

I hope the offense steps up because the defense will be questionable for awhile. With the youth of this team, I don't think this will be the year that NIU returns to glory.

The 22 season will be promising as these guys gain experience.

That being said, there are some big linemen on both sides of the ball.

Keep in mind, a bunch of these "freshmen" are going into their 3rd season and some have played in double digit games. Almost every team now looks younger on paper than they truly are.

Not your average Freshman. We should see a major jump in development this year. Experience is everything, and most of them got that last short season.

Point taken, I keep forgetting about the lost COVID season, for more reasons than one. NIU going 0-6 was no fun, but I guess if you're going to have a real bad year that was the one to have. It wasn't like a real season, for sure.

This team appears to have size and speed. Let's see how we are with a new QB.
I'd like to see more up-tempo offense, like NIU used to run. Seemed keep the opposition's offense on their heels. I forget what the game play count was under Harnish/Lynch under those up-tempo offenses.

(07-08-2021 12:53 PM)BigChilla Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-08-2021 12:44 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-08-2021 10:54 AM)NIU1981 Wrote: [ -> ]It looks like they're mostly done. I've updated the first post in this thread accordingly.

So no Cody Kopp?

Surprised at that one. Wasn't his dad an alum who played at NIU?

I think his dad played at USC - maybe I am crazy... I thought I read that.

Yeah, it was USC. His dad was a name there too. He is as disappointed that the new staff at USC didn't even invite his son out there, and made no attempt at reaching out. Meanwhile, Ham rolled out the red carpet.

So of the 23 or so transfers, all but 3 went down at least 1 class and the other 3 went to B10.

I guess if nothing else, no one is moving laterally.

It would be interesting to see whose recruits these were.

Last year too. I don't think any of them had any impact.

(07-08-2021 05:39 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote: [ -> ]So of the 23 or so transfers, all but 3 went down at least 1 class and the other 3 went to B10.

I guess if nothing else, no one is moving laterally.

It would be interesting to see whose recruits these were.

Last year too. I don't think any of them had any impact.

2 of the 3 B10 transfers were Battle to Illinois (we all know Dad) and Brunner (his large lil bro 4* committed there to play next year). Were either any good?

Kramer being the 3rd.

Battle and Brunner will likely be scout team guys. Not the worst life at Big Ten schools.

FYI, Mike Cerniglia, former NIU walkon tight end, is also on the Illini roster.

(07-08-2021 01:14 PM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-08-2021 12:44 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-08-2021 10:54 AM)NIU1981 Wrote: [ -> ]It looks like they're mostly done. I've updated the first post in this thread accordingly.

So no Cody Kopp?

Surprised at that one. Wasn't his dad an alum who played at NIU?

Kopp is on there now......

On the roster? I don’t see him. Maybe I am missing something.