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

New Names for Spring 2021
QB Rocky Lombardi - Transfer from Michigan State
QB Ethan Hampton
RB Clint Ratkovich - Transfer from Western Illinois
TE Blake Kosin
TE/FB Micah Huff
WR Zach Henderson
OL Pete Nygra
LB Dayven Shinhoster - Transfer from Nebraska Kearney
DB Cyrus McGarrell

Expected but not yet appearing on the roster
RB Braxton Chapman - Transfer from Youngstown State
RB Julius Bolden
RB Antario Brown
RB Tay Solomon - not sure he's coming
RB Tajheem Lawson
RB Mason Blakemore
RB Emmanuel Harris
TE Miles Joiner - Transfer from Youngstown State
WR Trey Urwiler
WR Mason Pierre Antoine
WR Jaylen Lipscomb
WR Tyler Brueckner
WR George Gumbs
WR Trey Kelley
WR Muhammad Jammeh
WR Alex Crawford
OL Luke Pinnick
OL Drew Hoth
OL Brandon Mackinnon
OL Brendan Carr
DE Jalonnie Williams
DE Liam Rempel
DE Jaden Wilson
DT Cade Haberman
DT Christian Ongtengco
DT Trevon Jordan
LB Elijah Hamm
LB Ronde Worrels
LB Makhi Nelson-Douglas
LB Akanimo Asuquo
LB Brian Whitsey
LB Ryan King
LB Anthony Hernandez
LB Luke Zardzin
LB Brock Lampe
DB JaVaughn Byrd
DB Ty Myles
DB Wetu Kalomo
DB Nasir Lacey
DB Louis Frye
S Ryan Mann
K Kanon Woodill
LS Isaac Hatfield

Gone from 2020
QB Ross Bowers
QB Connor Neville
QB Andrew Haidet - Transfer to Southwest Minnesota State
FB Greg DeLuca
RB Shaquon Oliver
RB Jyran Mitchell
RB Rondarius Gregory - Transfer to Minnesota State Community Technical College
RB Nazareth Bryant
RB Vondarious Gordon
TE Daniel Crawford
TE Max Thrower
TE Mike DeHaan
WR Dennis Robinson
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
OL Cole Webster
OL Benn Olson
OL Kobe Rios
DE Cortez Hogans - Transfer to Snow College CC
DE Caleb Wright
DE Reggie Jennings
DE Tommy Brunner
DT Weston Kramer - Transfer to Temple
DT CJ Dunn
DT Miles Baggett
LB Vinny Labus
LB Rayshawn Gay
LB Kewan Parker
LB Nathan Harman
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
CB Antwain Walker - Transfer to SIU, left before 2020 season
S Tyrik Henderson - Transfer to Iowa Western CC
S Woodly Appolon
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

Came and Went
QB Tom Vatter - was briefly on the roster in summer/fall 2020, now at Walsh University

Lot of LBs on their way in, let's see what happens. Cassens and Dolphin position changes are interesting. I believe both are good players, Want to seen Cassens in routes. Think be may add.something to passing game.

Vondarious is out? Damn, I get it, very very crowded and talented RB room. But I saw something special in that kid. Hope he pans out somewhere else.

Spring roster numbers

7 Seniors
10 Juniors
9 Sophomores
11 Redshirt Freshmen
44 Freshmen
81 Total

With somewhere around 40 more freshmen to join the squad in June. One of the craziest roster distributions I've ever seen.

Players left on roster by recruiting class
2015
Kyle Pugh

2016
Brayden Patton
Lance Deveaux

2017
Liam Soraghan
Cole Tucker
Mike Kennedy
Jordan Cole
Dillon Thomas
Matt Ference

2018
Brett Bostad
Marques Cox
Nolan Potter
Jeff Griffin
Zhamaine March
Josh Earl
John Richardson
Erik Abrell

2019
Tyrice Richie
Mohamed Toure
Fabian McCray
Messiah Travis
Logan Zschernitz
Leif Engstrand
JJ Lippe
Cam Mattox
Tommy Brunner
Demond Taylor
James Ester
Nick Rattin
Tristen Tewes

2020
Many

2021
Many

(03-16-2021 12:12 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  Vondarious is out? Damn, I get it, very very crowded and talented RB room. But I saw something special in that kid. Hope he pans out somewhere else.

Hmm. He went DII to the Miles Golden Bears. Not sure who that is.

So much turnover , yet so much returning talent.

(03-16-2021 12:26 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(03-16-2021 12:12 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  Vondarious is out? Damn, I get it, very very crowded and talented RB room. But I saw something special in that kid. Hope he pans out somewhere else.

Hmm. He went DII to the Miles Golden Bears. Not sure who that is.

Alabama. They're in the SIAC and actually start play this week.

NIU1981 you are some kind of superhero. We shall call you Captain Spreadsheet.

Some of these nuggets were buried deep. How did you find all this info?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Haha, its a hobby.

(03-16-2021 01:16 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  So much turnover , yet so much returning talent.

I'm not sure we are going to miss any of that talent. I thought Kramer early on but these boys are getting big. Ok the TE but he graduated.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Honestly went over the list of guys who left...most of them were “who?”

The safety race is back down to 4 earl, brown, hansen, Lafayette.

O’malley to DT was unexpected.

Super young team, but a ton of experience...which is weird to write. The OLine is a veteran group. WR is full of vets. Transfer TE has played a ton of ball. Pick a RB.

Same thing on defense. Everyone out there has played a ton, especially at LB.

It’s a weird team, but you can’t look at the year the guys are to see how experienced they are.

Has anyone heard whether fans will be allowed at practices?

In the previous conference calls they said Yes fans are allowed.

I think they realize it is usually under 100 so social distancing etc won't be a problem.

I had noted it as April 10. Spring Jamboree.

(03-17-2021 12:50 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Has anyone heard whether fans will be allowed at practices?

This guy here says yes. He usually knows what he’s talking about.

(02-02-2021 12:27 AM)NIU1981 Wrote:  It will be up on YouTube on Thursday but here are a few notes I took to tide you over:

Coach Hammock talked about how pleased he is with how offseason workouts are going. Said something to the effect that guys are starting to get the right size/strength level to allow them to succeed. Said how excited he is to have transfers Rocky Lombardi and Clint Ratkovich here for spring, as well as the four early enrollee freshmen Pete Nygra, Ethan Hampton, Blake Kosin and Cyrus McGarrell. Lauded Lombardi for his leadership.

He then went through a list of 2021 freshmen he is excited about, mentioning:
QB Ethan Hampton
RB Anterio Brown
RB Julius Bolden
WR Mason Pierre-Antoine
WR Trey Urwiler
OL Pete Nygra (mentioned in his remarks about early entrants that Nygra is incredibly strong for a high schooler)
DT Cade Haberman
LB Akanimo Asuquo
LB/S Elijah Hamm
CB Wetu Kalomo
CB Javaughn Byrd

Coach Hammock mentioned the following guys as having made a big jump this offseason:
OL Evan Buss
RB Harrison Waylee (says he played last season at 168 pounds, now up to 182)
WR Messiah Travis
DT Demond Taylor
DE Ivan Davis (says he could have played last year but was hurt)
CB Myles McGee
CB Eric Rogers

Coach Eidsness came on and went through the offense. At wide receiver he said Tyrice Richie, Cole Tucker and Trayvon Rudolph are known quantities. The guys catching his eye beyond those three are Mohamed Toure, Messiah Travis and Billy Dozier.

We'll see some new faces at tight end. Ratkovich will play a hybrid role. Tristen Tewes has moved there from linebacker and Drew Cassens from QB. He also mentioned Luke Mallette, Brett Bostad and Liam Soraghan.

He mentioned Evan Buss, John Champe and Tyler Pitcel as young O-linemen who are coming on.

D Coordinator Derrick Jackson came on and talked about the defense. He said Kyle Pugh and Lance Deveaux are back. He talked about those two and Nick Rattin at linebacker. He talked about all the freshman on the D line last year and raved about the futures of Demond Taylor and James Ester, said they will play a lot. At corner he commended Dillon Thomas and Jordan Gandy, and raved about Myles McGee and Eric Rogers, said their ceiling is super high. At safety he talked about how nice it is that several freshmen got extended playing time last fall, said several guys can play with no dropoff.

They briefly covered specialists who are all really good.

Coach Hammock talked about how this recruiting class is upping the competition and that it will take great effort to get playing time. Said spring ball starts March 19 with the spring game April 10. Practicing in the mornings on M-W-F-Sa and all practices are open. Told everyone to come on out, then Andy Garcia jumped in and reminded him that his invitation is subject to Covid regulations which will be noted at the time.

I didn't catch the Q&A at the end, maybe someone else can fill in the blanks there.

DE Tommy Brunner just hit the portal. Good luck to him.