DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University football team put a bow on its 2025 spring football practices Saturday with a two-hour workout in full pads at Huskie Stadium in front of fans, family and friends at the annual Spring Showcase.
After opening with a warm-up and position drills, the Huskies spent more than an hour in a full offense versus defense scrimmage, then went into special teams work, beginning with punt and punt return. A brief 7-on-7 session while the offensive and defensive lines battled, followed, before the Showcase wrapped up with the NIU kickers. New Huskie kicker Andrew Glass put an exclamation point on a successful day – and a successful spring – by making a 57-yard field goal.
“I like where we’re at,” said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. “I like that we had clean execution today. For the most part, [the players] understand what we want to do conceptually. We really haven’t put in what we’re going to be as an offense and a defense yet, because we have to identify our personnel. After 14 practices, we have a good idea of what we need to build, how we need to build it, and I’m excited about the growth we can have this summer.”
The action on the field saw both the offense and the defense play well at times, although the Huskies, as they have all spring, avoided taking ballcarriers to the ground. Quarterbacks Josh Holst, Jalen Macon and Brady Davidson alternated running the offense, while running backs Telly Johnson, Jaylen Poe, Justin Lynch and Romelo Ware were each featured in the run and at times the passing game. Receivers Dane Pardridge, Gary “Champ” Givens and Rickey Taylor Jr. all made plays, while Macon also displayed his ability to move the chains with his legs early in the scrimmage. The defense came up with stops, including in the backfield and in the red zone.
“[Our running back] room is outstanding,” Hammock said. “Telly Johnson, if he stays healthy, will be one of the better backs in this league. Romelo Ware is going to add things we haven’t had before and they, along with Jaylen Poe, have separated themselves. Those guys are playing out of their minds. If we can continue to have that type of production from that position, good things are in store. Telly Johnson has broken a run every single day of practice.”
As to the age-old question of ‘who is the quarterback’, Hammock said the talent level at that position is as good as he has had during his time as head coach. Entering the summer, Holst, who has the most experience as a Huskie, including leading the team to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win, is atop the depth chart, followed by Macon and Davidson, a true freshman.
“We have raised the floor and the ceiling at that position,” Hammock said. “Now it’s about who gives us the best chance to win the most games. From a play standpoint, an operation standpoint, a playmaker standpoint, all three of those guys that practiced this spring give us an excellent opportunity to win. Right now, Josh [Holst] is the guy, Jalen has made a tremendous jump and Brady as a true freshman has shown that it’s not too big for him. Josh has his work cut out for him this summer and in fall camp.”
With only two returning starters on either side of the ball, and a group of 16 transfers added to the roster, much of the spring was spent on determining capabilities of the players set to move into starting roles and/or onto the depth chart.
“Offensively, our concentration was on the implementation of what we’re trying to get accomplished and figuring out who can do what,” Hammock said. “We’re playing with a lot more wide receivers on the field, so we need to make sure they understand how we want to do things, how we want to attack a defense and then finding some pieces. For example, Justin Lynch, he’s a guy who has provided a lot of value in the amount of different things he can do for us from an offensive perspective, so finding those type of weapons to get guys in space and to allow guys to be natural playmakers.”
Among the newcomers who have made an impact, Hammock specifically mentioned Givens and DeAree Rogers at wide receiver, Davonte Murray at defensive end and Jasper Beeler and Donte Harrison in the secondary.
“The great thing about the way college football is, you can greatly change your team by adding the right pieces,” Hammock said. “We’ve added some pieces that are going to be tremendous playmakers. Murray at defensive end, Jasper Beeler at safety and Donte Harrison at corner are starter level players. Then we have receivers like Champ Givens who we saw with the big play today, and DeAree Rogers on offense. Those new pieces have exceeded my expectations.”
NIU opens up the season on Saturday, August 30th with a home game against Holy Cross.
April 26, 2025