Huskie Wire

Kaveon Lee is a massive offensive lineman from Plainfield Central who is currently committed to Northern Illinois but seeing his recruiting profile grow larger all the time.

Plainfield Central’s Kaveon Lee punishing his way to newfound levels of success

Kyle Hartmann decided being the local kid was the way to go. The Sycamore grad committed to NIU last week after decommitting from Western Kentucky on July 3.

Baseball: Sycamore grad Kyle Hartmann commits to NIU

With EA releasing its first college football game in over eleven years a week ago, NIU players are still in awe with their appearance in a video game they played growing up.

They’re in the game: NIU players relishing being in college football video game

NIU recruit Dyllan Malone, going into his third varsity season, will lead a talented, deep receiving corps for Yorkville this fall.

NIU recruit Dyllan Malone set to lead deep Yorkville receiving corps

From paying players to NIU's maturity to the continued progression of running back Antario Brown, a wide range of subjects were discussed Friday at the MAC's media day. Here are five things we learned.

Carifio: Five things we learned at MAC media day

The Mid-American Conference announced on Friday that the league’s coaches picked the NIU football team to finish third in the MAC. The Huskies and Bowling Green each received 92 points, behind Miami in first and Toledo.

NIU picked third in MAC coaches’ poll

The NIU football game against Notre Dame will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 7, the school announced on Wednesday. The first meeting between the schools will air on NBC and stream live on Peacock. NIU will appear on a national broadcast on NBC for the first time in school history.

NIU football: Notre Dame game set for 2:30 p.m. Sept. 7 on NBC

Sean T. Frazier announced that he and NIU Head Softball Coach Christina Sutcliffe have mutually agreed that Sutcliffe’s contract will not be renewed

NIU, softball coach Christina Sutcliffe part ways

Christian Fuhrman didn’t get to see the 2023 edition of the NIU defense up close. But from what the Southeast Missouri State transfer linebacker has seen, the 2024 model is shaping up real nice.

NIU football: Christian Fuhrman shaping up to be missing piece for NIU defense

We may not know a starting quarterback, but we did learn a lot from NIU's spring practices, which wrapped up last week. Here are the biggest takeaways from the spring.

NIU spring football practices are over. Here’s what we learned

Head of NIU’s sports medicine department for almost three decades, Phil Voorhis was at Wal-Mart when someone by him had a cardiac episode. Voorhis sprung into action, but was surprised when he found out the chain did not have an automated external defibrillator.

Head of NIU sports medicine Phil Voorhis advocates for AED availability

Four of the top five plays at NIU's final spring practice on Saturday were made by the defense. Touchdowns, brutal hits - the defense did it all. Find out which five plays made our cut.

NIU spring showcase: The 5 best plays from the Huskies’ final spring practice

Heading into NIU's final spring practice on Saturday, we know plenty about this team and its expectations. So in the spirit of changing things up, here are three things we won’t see on Saturday.

NIU football: Three things not to expect at the Huskies’ spring showcase

Grayson Barnes has bulked up with the expectation to be a more complete player at tight end for NIU as the team continues to roll through spring practices. He and Metea Valley grad Jalen Johnson are among the pass catchers looking to make a leap.

NIU football: Up 15 pounds, Grayson Barnes looking to make full-time impact at tight end

When Jalen Macon decided to leave Arkansas-Pine Bluff and take his chances in the transfer portal, he said he knew where he wanted to land. One trip to NIU made it official.

NIU football: Transfer Jalen Macon in middle of quarterback battle

The NIU football team has cruised through 10 spring practices so far, with the latest wrapping up Tuesday with the team in light pads after running nearly 100 plays Saturday. Here's what we've learned so far.

NIU football spring practices are two-thirds over. Here’s what we’ve learned so far

Fritz Peterson pitched for the Huskies in the early 1960s before playing 11 seasons in Major League Baseball with the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers. He died at age 82, the school announced Friday.

NIU Hall of Famer, MLB pitcher Fritz Peterson dead at 82

Jaden Dolphin was a 170-pound walk-on safety when he joined NIU before the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Four years later, Dolphin is a 220-pound linebacker and figures to be a key component for the Huskies’ defense.

NIU football: Former 170-pound walk-on safety Jaden Dolphin ready for senior year at linebacker

Jalen Macon definitely showed what he's bringing to the table in the NIU quarterback battle on Thursday. That and a couple of other observations from the Huskies' fifth spring practice.)

Carifio: Three developments from NIU’s practice Thursday

McHenry graduate Gavin Micklinghoff is off to a blazing start with McHenry County College and just committed last week to play at Northern Illinois University next year.

Baseball: McHenry grad Gavin Micklinghoff, off to hot start with MCC, commits to NIU

After the first official practice of the spring, here are some takeaways on what's in store for Northern Illinois football.

NIU football: Four observations from Tuesday’s first spring practice

The Northern Illinois University football team was forced inside the Chessick Practice Center due to the weather Tuesday for the teams first spring practice.

Photos: Northern Illinois University football holds first spring practice

There's more to this spring than the team's first wide-open quarterback competition since 2017, although that is kind of a big deal. We look at four storylines to keep an eye on ahead of NIU spring camp March 25.

Carifio: 4 things to keep an eye on as NIU ramps up spring football practices

NIU announced Friday that All-American and Heisman Trophy Finalist Jordan Lynch will be inducted into both the NIU Athletics and Mid-American Conference halls of fame in 2024, 10 years after the completion of his record-setting career.

Jordan Lynch named to NIU, MAC halls of fame

Sycamore wins boys track, NIU falls in MAC quarterfinals. That and more in Wednesday's roundup.

Fuentes scores game-winner for Genoa-Kingston: Daily Chronicle sports roundup for Wednesday, March 13

The NIU women won their MAC tournament tune-up on Saturday while the men won their season finale on Friday.

NIU women secure sixth seed, men win season finale

Good: An actual bye week. Bad: A six-day week late in the season. Ugly: The team's track record with FCS teams of late. We break down NIU's recently released 2024 football schedule.

Carifio: The good, the bad and the ugly of the 2024 NIU football schedule

NIU’s pro day was decidedly short on targets for quarterback Rocky Lombardi to throw to when it came time to show off his abilities in drills. So he reached out to a couple of former Huskies and current Canadian Football League players Clint Ratkovich and Cole Tucker to step in.

‘Canada’s finest’ Clint Ratkovich, Cole Tucker return to help Rocky Lombardi at NIU pro day

The NIU football team will be home on Saturdays this year. A lot.The Huskies will play five Saturday home games, including homecoming against rival Toledo, in the schedule released by the school and the Mid-American Conference on Tuesday.

NIU football to play five Saturday home games in 2024, including homecoming vs. Toledo