(02-01-2023 07:46 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  Does this mean there aren’t anymore transfers coming in or is that a different date for that?

No real date on transfers. Grad transfers have to wait till they are enrolled for them to be counted.

So spring grads we will hear about when summer school starts.

The portal opens again in May and there should be activity then as some guys decide to leave and others become available.

(02-01-2023 09:17 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  The portal opens again in May and there should be activity then as some guys decide to leave and others become available.

Thanks for info. So many dates now compared to when they only had one signing day. For this team to improve they still need more proven WRs and ideally one more LB. Hope they can get atleast one of the two in the next portal period.

Never seen so many Huskie fans complaining about quality of recruits that they haven’t seen play yet. There’s always a wait and see approach to recruiting. NIU is never in the top 50 for recruiting rankings. Let’s not become recruit snobs. We are still NIU. We do things “The hard way”. With talented and tough overlooked players.

https://www.mystateline.com/sports/high-...of-intent/

Quote:Another receiver Tyler Gaines has committed to Northern Illinois University. He’s going as a preferred walk on which means he’ll have to earn a scholarship once he arrives on campus. Gaines set school records last season with 50 receptions and 12 touchdown catches.

He tells me the NIU coaching staff first took notice of him last summer.

“We went to NIU summer camp seven-on-seven. Bascially you know, I did good, and they hit me up. Coach Jackson (Derrick Jackson, NIU’s associate head coach) we connected over the offseason, and after that I got invited on a visit and when I took the visit I knew that I was going to go there.”

What do NIU’s coaches like about Gaines besides his 6’3 frame?

“The physicality,” said Gaines. “I’m aggressive, and I like to fight for extra yards.”

(02-02-2023 02:52 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Never seen so many Huskie fans complaining about quality of recruits that they haven’t seen play yet. There’s always a wait and see approach to recruiting. NIU is never in the top 50 for recruiting rankings. Let’s not become recruit snobs. We are still NIU. We do things “The hard way”. With talented and tough overlooked players.

I confess I envisioned a few more of those P5 guys who were buried on the depth chart looking for a new opportunity at NIU. But it turns out the approach is less about failed P5 players and more about successful FCS/juco players. It’s like the thing we fear from the P5 schools poaching our good players. Just that we are now the ones poaching good players a division lower

(02-02-2023 02:52 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Never seen so many Huskie fans complaining about quality of recruits that they haven’t seen play yet. There’s always a wait and see approach to recruiting. NIU is never in the top 50 for recruiting rankings. Let’s not become recruit snobs. We are still NIU. We do things “The hard way”. With talented and tough overlooked players.

*Might* be because Hammock recruits, who made up the vast majority of the team last season, played like crap. Got blown out by Akron, and in general did not look like a D1 football team. I certainly understand the concern of fans who feel like this class is much of the same…just lower rated by services than the first few classes.

All of that said, you are correct. It is going to take time to evaluate this class. Just like with Hammock’s previous classes that we thought would play well but actually were not that great.

I am going on record as saying I don’t think it’s the players - this staff has been awful at having them be prepared to play and developing them.

(02-02-2023 02:52 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Never seen so many Huskie fans complaining about quality of recruits that they haven’t seen play yet. There’s always a wait and see approach to recruiting. NIU is never in the top 50 for recruiting rankings. Let’s not become recruit snobs. We are still NIU. We do things “The hard way”. With talented and tough overlooked players.

NIU has been losing… a lot… since Hammock took over. It is more than fair to question the recruiting approach with the losses piling up. The program was not in the tank when he took over. Overlooked recruits are fine but it is not like NIU has been finding a bunch of these guys in recent years so hard to really make a case there is a bunch of hidden talent on the roster four years in.

I personally think NIU has been wasting too many roster spots on guys that should not be in FBS. Most of the NIU players that hit the portal seem to end up in either FCS or lower. That tells me most of these guys were fringe adds from day one. Plus there appears to be basically no NFL caliber talent on the roster at this stage which is another sign the recruiting is down. Prior to Hammock taking over NIU had players getting NFL looks almost every season.

Agreed. While I love the walkons who become stars, they seem to have been the focus rather than the exception. Those guys should be fill-ins, not the heart of your recruiting class.

I mentioned in another thread that it appears the coaches are making more early offers than years past. I don't know if that's true but hope it is. I'm tired of the rest of the MAC sweeping through Chicago and offering every known prospect before us. It also appears that Coach Hammock is making a pretty significant overhaul of his staff, which was needed.

(02-02-2023 02:14 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Agreed. While I love the walkons who become stars, they seem to have been the focus rather than the exception. Those guys should be fill-ins, not the heart of your recruiting class.

I mentioned in another thread that it appears the coaches are making more early offers than years past. I don't know if that's true but hope it is. I'm tired of the rest of the MAC sweeping through Chicago and offering every known prospect before us. It also appears that Coach Hammock is making a pretty significant overhaul of his staff, which was needed.

Unless I am missing something Hammock added 2 guys to his staff? I don’t know what kind of overhaul these fellas are going to help with, but on paper not much.

It was a disappointing season, and I think I can say I am disappointed with the off-season. Giving 13 walk ons- or whatever the number was - scholarships is a joke. These guys may mean a lot at practice, but that’s kind of what a walk on is. I am worried Hammock can’t evaluate talent. Even worse I don’t think his past staffs could develop these kids.

That being said, it’s the MAC - you should be able to go bowling almost every year. If we fail to do so this coming season firing Hammock is fair.

Let’s see how his plan of letting Walk-Ons be the core of his program plays out. Hammock understands the pressure on him this season, maybe he will make the proper changes, or maybe last season was just weird and Hammock is a winning coach. Who knows.

He still needs to name or hire a defensive coordinator, hire a tight ends coach, and potentially hire a cornerbacks coach depending on what they do with Benedetto.

(02-02-2023 02:51 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 02:14 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Agreed. While I love the walkons who become stars, they seem to have been the focus rather than the exception. Those guys should be fill-ins, not the heart of your recruiting class.

I mentioned in another thread that it appears the coaches are making more early offers than years past. I don't know if that's true but hope it is. I'm tired of the rest of the MAC sweeping through Chicago and offering every known prospect before us. It also appears that Coach Hammock is making a pretty significant overhaul of his staff, which was needed.

Unless I am missing something Hammock added 2 guys to his staff? I don’t know what kind of overhaul these fellas are going to help with, but on paper not much.

It was a disappointing season, and I think I can say I am disappointed with the off-season. Giving 13 walk ons- or whatever the number was - scholarships is a joke. These guys may mean a lot at practice, but that’s kind of what a walk on is. I am worried Hammock can’t evaluate talent. Even worse I don’t think his past staffs could develop these kids.

That being said, it’s the MAC - you should be able to go bowling almost every year. If we fail to do so this coming season firing Hammock is fair.

Let’s see how his plan of letting Walk-Ons be the core of his program plays out. Hammock understands the pressure on him this season, maybe he will make the proper changes, or maybe last season was just weird and Hammock is a winning coach. Who knows.

,, I say this all the time, they didn't win the 2021 MAC with bad evaluations,bad recruiting, or bad coaching. Chilla ya' gotta chill....

I am a bit disappointed in the incoming class, but hell we have a lot of positives for 23. I SOLID QB who is a proven winner. Decent line play; IMO Dline better than Oline... A solid transfer in at LB, added players at CB, that I know will be better than last year, new assistant coaches on D, Jackson gone, solid to excellent RBs, Rudolph returns, even if he is not the same as 2021 he will be a step up in production. Hoping to add another WR in the portal who can move. To recap better D with Jackson gone and the transfers in, better offense with Rocky and Rudolph. There will be tremendous pressure on the TEs/ Wrs on catching the damn ball. Lost games because of hands alone in 22. We will probably add another TE that can catch the ball. This offense is designed for a TE and it hurts when they have the drops.

Don’t know if this is a direct result of the portal, but Toledo has dropped from perennial #1 rated class to the #6 rated class in both ‘22 & ‘23. WMU has dropped from their usual #3-ish spot to #8 the last two classes.

(02-02-2023 04:45 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Don’t know if this is a direct result of the portal, but Toledo has dropped from perennial #1 rated class to the #6 rated class in both ‘22 & ‘23. WMU has dropped from their usual #3-ish spot to #8 the last two classes.

Not possible. Won't believe it. Fake news. Fake news. Fake news.

(02-02-2023 04:17 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 02:51 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 02:14 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Agreed. While I love the walkons who become stars, they seem to have been the focus rather than the exception. Those guys should be fill-ins, not the heart of your recruiting class.

I mentioned in another thread that it appears the coaches are making more early offers than years past. I don't know if that's true but hope it is. I'm tired of the rest of the MAC sweeping through Chicago and offering every known prospect before us. It also appears that Coach Hammock is making a pretty significant overhaul of his staff, which was needed.

Unless I am missing something Hammock added 2 guys to his staff? I don’t know what kind of overhaul these fellas are going to help with, but on paper not much.

It was a disappointing season, and I think I can say I am disappointed with the off-season. Giving 13 walk ons- or whatever the number was - scholarships is a joke. These guys may mean a lot at practice, but that’s kind of what a walk on is. I am worried Hammock can’t evaluate talent. Even worse I don’t think his past staffs could develop these kids.

That being said, it’s the MAC - you should be able to go bowling almost every year. If we fail to do so this coming season firing Hammock is fair.

Let’s see how his plan of letting Walk-Ons be the core of his program plays out. Hammock understands the pressure on him this season, maybe he will make the proper changes, or maybe last season was just weird and Hammock is a winning coach. Who knows.

,, I say this all the time, they didn't win the 2021 MAC with bad evaluations,bad recruiting, or bad coaching. Chilla ya' gotta chill....

I am a bit disappointed in the incoming class, but hell we have a lot of positives for 23. I SOLID QB who is a proven winner. Decent line play; IMO Dline better than Oline... A solid transfer in at LB, added players at CB, that I know will be better than last year, new assistant coaches on D, Jackson gone, solid to excellent RBs, Rudolph returns, even if he is not the same as 2021 he will be a step up in production. Hoping to add another WR in the portal who can move. To recap better D with Jackson gone and the transfers in, better offense with Rocky and Rudolph. There will be tremendous pressure on the TEs/ Wrs on catching the damn ball. Lost games because of hands alone in 22. We will probably add another TE that can catch the ball. This offense is designed for a TE and it hurts when they have the drops.

Flukes happen all the time in sports. It was a down year for the MAC.

The truth is this staff is bad. Any honest NIU fan can point out lots of game day hammock mistakes.

Hammock needs to get better. Maybe he will. Maybe he gets fired. Time is coming when it goes one way or the other.

(02-02-2023 11:28 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 04:17 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 02:51 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 02:14 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Agreed. While I love the walkons who become stars, they seem to have been the focus rather than the exception. Those guys should be fill-ins, not the heart of your recruiting class.

I mentioned in another thread that it appears the coaches are making more early offers than years past. I don't know if that's true but hope it is. I'm tired of the rest of the MAC sweeping through Chicago and offering every known prospect before us. It also appears that Coach Hammock is making a pretty significant overhaul of his staff, which was needed.

Unless I am missing something Hammock added 2 guys to his staff? I don’t know what kind of overhaul these fellas are going to help with, but on paper not much.

It was a disappointing season, and I think I can say I am disappointed with the off-season. Giving 13 walk ons- or whatever the number was - scholarships is a joke. These guys may mean a lot at practice, but that’s kind of what a walk on is. I am worried Hammock can’t evaluate talent. Even worse I don’t think his past staffs could develop these kids.

That being said, it’s the MAC - you should be able to go bowling almost every year. If we fail to do so this coming season firing Hammock is fair.

Let’s see how his plan of letting Walk-Ons be the core of his program plays out. Hammock understands the pressure on him this season, maybe he will make the proper changes, or maybe last season was just weird and Hammock is a winning coach. Who knows.

,, I say this all the time, they didn't win the 2021 MAC with bad evaluations,bad recruiting, or bad coaching. Chilla ya' gotta chill....

I am a bit disappointed in the incoming class, but hell we have a lot of positives for 23. I SOLID QB who is a proven winner. Decent line play; IMO Dline better than Oline... A solid transfer in at LB, added players at CB, that I know will be better than last year, new assistant coaches on D, Jackson gone, solid to excellent RBs, Rudolph returns, even if he is not the same as 2021 he will be a step up in production. Hoping to add another WR in the portal who can move. To recap better D with Jackson gone and the transfers in, better offense with Rocky and Rudolph. There will be tremendous pressure on the TEs/ Wrs on catching the damn ball. Lost games because of hands alone in 22. We will probably add another TE that can catch the ball. This offense is designed for a TE and it hurts when they have the drops.

Flukes happen all the time in sports. It was a down year for the MAC.

The truth is this staff is bad. Any honest NIU fan can point out lots of game day hammock mistakes.

Hammock needs to get better. Maybe he will. Maybe he gets fired. Time is coming when it goes one way or the other.

No fluke.

The truth is the staff was not bad but could get better. An honest fan could point out good and bad and could even find bad during an Alabama game.

Hammock will get better and will only get fired during his contract if you cough up the dough to make it happen.

(02-03-2023 11:17 AM)niu1980 Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 11:28 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 04:17 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 02:51 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 02:14 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Agreed. While I love the walkons who become stars, they seem to have been the focus rather than the exception. Those guys should be fill-ins, not the heart of your recruiting class.

I mentioned in another thread that it appears the coaches are making more early offers than years past. I don't know if that's true but hope it is. I'm tired of the rest of the MAC sweeping through Chicago and offering every known prospect before us. It also appears that Coach Hammock is making a pretty significant overhaul of his staff, which was needed.

Unless I am missing something Hammock added 2 guys to his staff? I don’t know what kind of overhaul these fellas are going to help with, but on paper not much.

It was a disappointing season, and I think I can say I am disappointed with the off-season. Giving 13 walk ons- or whatever the number was - scholarships is a joke. These guys may mean a lot at practice, but that’s kind of what a walk on is. I am worried Hammock can’t evaluate talent. Even worse I don’t think his past staffs could develop these kids.

That being said, it’s the MAC - you should be able to go bowling almost every year. If we fail to do so this coming season firing Hammock is fair.

Let’s see how his plan of letting Walk-Ons be the core of his program plays out. Hammock understands the pressure on him this season, maybe he will make the proper changes, or maybe last season was just weird and Hammock is a winning coach. Who knows.

,, I say this all the time, they didn't win the 2021 MAC with bad evaluations,bad recruiting, or bad coaching. Chilla ya' gotta chill....

I am a bit disappointed in the incoming class, but hell we have a lot of positives for 23. I SOLID QB who is a proven winner. Decent line play; IMO Dline better than Oline... A solid transfer in at LB, added players at CB, that I know will be better than last year, new assistant coaches on D, Jackson gone, solid to excellent RBs, Rudolph returns, even if he is not the same as 2021 he will be a step up in production. Hoping to add another WR in the portal who can move. To recap better D with Jackson gone and the transfers in, better offense with Rocky and Rudolph. There will be tremendous pressure on the TEs/ Wrs on catching the damn ball. Lost games because of hands alone in 22. We will probably add another TE that can catch the ball. This offense is designed for a TE and it hurts when they have the drops.

Flukes happen all the time in sports. It was a down year for the MAC.

The truth is this staff is bad. Any honest NIU fan can point out lots of game day hammock mistakes.

Hammock needs to get better. Maybe he will. Maybe he gets fired. Time is coming when it goes one way or the other.

No fluke.

The truth is the staff was not bad but could get better. An honest fan could point out good and bad and could even find bad during an Alabama game.

Hammock will get better and will only get fired during his contract if you cough up the dough to make it happen.

Well being too poor to fire a guy does not mean he’s a good coach.

He’s a bad game day coach, and early indications are he can’t develop guys OR he can’t pick the right guys to develop. That’s an honest assessment.

The staff is below average. It needs to get better. It can get better. Self scouting and honest evaluations help that.

I am not an everyone gets a trophy guy. I understand if that’s your thing, but it’s not mine. I am a fan and alum- and I am honest. This staff stinks and needs to be better. Bottom line.

(02-03-2023 11:33 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(02-03-2023 11:17 AM)niu1980 Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 11:28 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 04:17 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(02-02-2023 02:51 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  Unless I am missing something Hammock added 2 guys to his staff? I don’t know what kind of overhaul these fellas are going to help with, but on paper not much.

It was a disappointing season, and I think I can say I am disappointed with the off-season. Giving 13 walk ons- or whatever the number was - scholarships is a joke. These guys may mean a lot at practice, but that’s kind of what a walk on is. I am worried Hammock can’t evaluate talent. Even worse I don’t think his past staffs could develop these kids.

That being said, it’s the MAC - you should be able to go bowling almost every year. If we fail to do so this coming season firing Hammock is fair.

Let’s see how his plan of letting Walk-Ons be the core of his program plays out. Hammock understands the pressure on him this season, maybe he will make the proper changes, or maybe last season was just weird and Hammock is a winning coach. Who knows.

,, I say this all the time, they didn't win the 2021 MAC with bad evaluations,bad recruiting, or bad coaching. Chilla ya' gotta chill....

I am a bit disappointed in the incoming class, but hell we have a lot of positives for 23. I SOLID QB who is a proven winner. Decent line play; IMO Dline better than Oline... A solid transfer in at LB, added players at CB, that I know will be better than last year, new assistant coaches on D, Jackson gone, solid to excellent RBs, Rudolph returns, even if he is not the same as 2021 he will be a step up in production. Hoping to add another WR in the portal who can move. To recap better D with Jackson gone and the transfers in, better offense with Rocky and Rudolph. There will be tremendous pressure on the TEs/ Wrs on catching the damn ball. Lost games because of hands alone in 22. We will probably add another TE that can catch the ball. This offense is designed for a TE and it hurts when they have the drops.

Flukes happen all the time in sports. It was a down year for the MAC.

The truth is this staff is bad. Any honest NIU fan can point out lots of game day hammock mistakes.

Hammock needs to get better. Maybe he will. Maybe he gets fired. Time is coming when it goes one way or the other.

No fluke.

The truth is the staff was not bad but could get better. An honest fan could point out good and bad and could even find bad during an Alabama game.

Hammock will get better and will only get fired during his contract if you cough up the dough to make it happen.

Well being too poor to fire a guy does not mean he’s a good coach.

He’s a bad game day coach, and early indications are he can’t develop guys OR he can’t pick the right guys to develop. That’s an honest assessment.

The staff is below average. It needs to get better. It can get better. Self scouting and honest evaluations help that.

I am not an everyone gets a trophy guy. I understand if that’s your thing, but it’s not mine. I am a fan and alum- and I am honest. This staff stinks and needs to be better. Bottom line.

+1. I still think Eidness has been a good hire and might be even better offensively with the depth at TE with the transfers in and Joiner back, plus Tewes/Gumbs after a full year. His offense needs the TE to be very successful IMO.

Everyone else has been below average

The one thing I would have loved if he hired a young ex NFL guy to be the next RB coach. Someone that can really relate to the kids, if successful only here a couple years, but could recruit.

Hammock posted a 23 committed picture on his Twitter.

Any idea who it is? Could be a transfer, could be another walk on.

(02-05-2023 08:45 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  Hammock posted a 23 committed picture on his Twitter.

Any idea who it is? Could be a transfer, could be another walk on.

My guess is a 2nd team all conference from the sticks but his GPA is close to 4.0. Right on par with the rest of the class.