Soccer | August 5
DeKalb, In poor health. – The Northern Illinois College soccer staff had their second full staff observe at Huskie Stadium on Saturday morning (Aug. 5). The broad receiving group had a busy day of observe, that was stuffed with route working and intense observe with the staff’s secondary.
“I believe the power is that we have now depth, we have now a number of guys who can are available in at completely different spots and maintain the obligations,” broad receivers coach Joseph Hawkins mentioned.
The Huskies broad receiver room has 16 student-athletes, though simply two – Trayvon Rudolph and Kacper Rutkiewicz – have made a couple of catch for NIU during the last two seasons.
Rudolph led the Huskies in receiving yards with 877, on 49 catches, en path to incomes all-conference accolades in 2021. Senior Rutkiewicz was second on the staff in receiving as a newcomer in 2022 with 26 catches for 432 yards and 6 touchdowns.
“Now we have Trayvon Rudolph coming again and Kacper (Rutkiewicz), these two guys have performed an exceptional job so far as bringing the management to the room,” Hawkins mentioned. “Then switch Davis Patterson has performed an ideal job greedy the playbook and maximizing his alternatives.”
Rudolph was named to the 2023 PFF Preseason All-MAC First Group. After a powerful season in 2021, he missed the 2022 season on account of an damage.
Sophomore Trey Urwiler and redshirt freshman Keyshaun Pipkin are again after showing in 5 and 4 video games, respectively, for the Huskies final 12 months. Different returnees who noticed restricted motion in 2022 and wish to break into the rotation in 2023 embody Malik Armstrong, Isaiah Bragg, Jalen Johnson, Dane Pardridge and So Reed.
NIU introduced in seven broad receivers who’re new to the squad in 2023, together with transfers Patterson and Cam Thompsona redshirt freshman from Jap Illinois. Junior Grayson Barnes transferred to NIU in January and was listed as a good finish within the spring, earlier than shifting to broad receiver in preseason camp. Barnes had 526 yards and 4 touchdowns in 11 video games with American River Neighborhood Faculty in 2022.
“We’re doing a pleasant job round Rudolph and Rutkiewicz, together with Davis Pattersonthe switch who has are available in, after which we have some younger guys that we’re creating,” mentioned NIU head coach Thomas Hammock.
Patterson, a 6-4 grad switch from Notre Dame Faculty who had 5 touchdowns and 629 yards in 2022, thinks he is had a very good begin to observe at NIU.
“I undoubtedly really feel prefer it’s been a very good transition from my final college to right here. We have a variety of good expertise at wideout, however I’ve realized the playbook and am working into the rotation,” Patterson mentioned. “We have undoubtedly received the younger guys coming alongside and studying performs.”
True freshmen Kobe Askew, Christopher Gore, James Smith Jr. and Kyle Thomas full the broad receiver group.
Rutkiewicz had a robust observe Saturday morning, making a number of deep catches throughout the center of the sphere, to face out among the many receiving group because the Huskies wrapped up their second straight full staff observe Saturday morning and second donning shoulder pads.
“It is a aggressive group,” mentioned Hammock, who complimented the power and energy of the Huskie protection throughout Saturday’s observe. “Our protection is enjoying fairly good proper now and the offense has to satisfy their problem each single day. They’re good up entrance and enjoying with a variety of confidence and power. The competitors is nice and the offense should reply. I believe it was a very good observe total and I like the place the blokes are at 4 practices in.”
Season, single recreation and mini-plan tickets for the 2023 Huskie residence video games are all on sale now 24 hours a day, seven days every week on-line at NIUHuskies.com/myhuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Workplace at 815-753-PACK (7225). Season tickets present one of the best total worth at as little as $17 per recreation for common admission seating on the West Facet of Huskie Stadium ($102 complete). Sit in the identical reserved seat for all six video games for simply $144 (sections A, B, F) or $162 (sections C, D, E). With the addition of the brand new Homecoming + One possibility, there are three “Decide Your Pack” mini-plans accessible, together with Saturday Solely and MACtion+Saturday four-game plans. See all of the ticket costs and choices, together with premium experiences, right here.