The Northern Illinois University football team wrapped up its first three spring practices Tuesday morning (April 1) with the team’s first workout in full pads – “real football” – as NIU head coach Thomas Hammock calls it. NIU practiced for two hours, much of it in 11-on-11 situations, in the Chessick Practice Center.

Hammock, who enters his seventh season at the helm of the NIU program in 2025, has emphasized physicality and technique to a roster that features just five returning starters on offense and defense, 34 players who redshirted a year ago and 16 newcomers. On the first day in full pads, Hammock saw physicality, especially from the Huskie defense.

“Our defensive line is still very, very physical,” Hammock said. “They can change the line of scrimmage and make it very uncomfortable. We still have a lot of work to do, a lot of moving parts. Our defense is doing a nice job changing looks and making it difficult.”

Newcomer Jasper Beeler earned one of the turnovers during Tuesday’s workout with an interception as the defense, understandably, came out fired up. While NIU does not tackle to the ground during practices, the intensity level was raised. NIU ranked fourth in the country in total defense and fifth in fewest passing yards allowed and was in the Top 20 in most other defensive categories.

“I think the defense has done a nice job enhancing some things, trying to find a way to create more pressure and finding more creative ways to take the ball away, which they’ve done to their credit,” Hammock said. “We have a lot of new guys on the back end of our defense and those guys have stepped right in.”

In terms of leadership on the defensive side, Hammock pointed to the two returning starters in the Williams’ – defensive ends Jalonnie and Roy (no relation) – as well as senior safety Muhammed Jammeh. While just two starters return, players like Jammeh, Jacob Finley and Cyrus McGarrell are all veterans with a significant number of snaps as Huskies.

“Defensively, Jalonnie, Roy and Muhammed have stepped up and are doing a nice job [as leaders],” Hammock said. “They’ve been in the program a while, they understand how we do things. They understand the expectations and the standards and they’re trying to make sure they do a good job of reinforcing that. Offensively, Evan Malcore and Abiathar Curry on the offense line, along with the quarterbacks, are stepping up as leaders.”

After two days spending a lot of time on the passing game without pads, more time was devoted to the run Tuesday with a deep roster of young running backs showcasing their abilities early.  Hammock said the learning curve for the offense is a little steeper with the installation of a new offense this spring.

“Offensively, it’s all new, so it’s going to be a new look offense with different concepts,” Hammock said. “I think our passing game will be greatly improved because it’s not so predicated on people, it’s more predicated on scheme, so we can be in a bunch of different personnel groupings and execute the same plays.”

One of the most noticeable groups of newcomers through the first three workouts have been the wide receivers, where transfers Gary Givens, Akim Lanieux and DeAree Rogers have all made plays alongside returnees Dane Pardridge, La’Don Bryant, George Dimopoulos and tight end Grayson Barnes.

“I really like the competition at wide receiver,” Hammock said. “I think those new guys have come in and shown what they’re about. From a consistency standpoint, they’re making plays, making contested catches which is important.”

While a lot of concepts and players were introduced to the offense during the offseason, running the plays against a defense provides a new challenge.

“We’ve had a nice plan all offseason of how to install our offense, but now it’s going against a defense,” Hammock said. “Those plays look great on air, but now you have to go against a defensive front, an alignment, people moving, people communicating. Now it’s the process of watching the tape and learning the technique that it takes to execute the plays at a high level.”

The Huskies return to the practice field Thursday at 7 am. The annual Spring Showcase is set for Saturday, April 26 at Huskie Stadium beginning at Noon.

Season ticket prices for the Huskies’ six 2025 home games begin at as little as $110 each for a general admission ticket. With the purchase of the Huskie 4-Pack (four or more tickets), pay $110 each for a reserved seat in sections A, B or F on the West Side. Reserved west side seating begins at $152 with discounts available for NIU alumni, NIU faculty/staff, DeKalb County residents, seniors (62+) and members of the Varsity Club (former student-athletes).

Renew or purchase tickets for the 2025 NIU Football season now online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets. For more information, call the NIU Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225) weekdays between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or email huskiestickets@niu.edu.