The Northern Illinois University Huskies continued building the 2024 football roster Wednesday with the addition of nine players, led by Florida running back Romelo Ware, added to the 19 players signed in December.

Ware, a 5-9, 185-pound all-state running back from Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida, was ranked No. 21 in the Orlando Sentinel’s 2024 Central Florida Super 60 rankings. As a senior at Olympia, he gained 1,505 yards on 165 carries with 21 touchdowns and caught seven passes for 69 yards and a score as the Titans earned the district title. During his high school career, Ware totaled more than 5,000 rushing yards with 55 rushing touchdowns.

“We are excited about the addition of Romelo Ware, a big-time playmaker at the running back position,” Hammock said. “He comes from a great family; his dad played at Pitt and in the NFL and, along with the two backs we signed in December, will be a great addition to our running back room.”

The Huskies’ February additions to date include eight who will join the team as walk-ons, although, as Hammock noted, NIU’s current roster includes 28 players who came to the school as walk-ons and have since earned scholarships.

“At this time of year, we are looking to add guys with tremendous character, work ethic, and athletic ability that fit our program,” Hammock said. “We’ve made great strides in our program with walk-ons with 28 current scholarship players that started as walk-ons. We’re excited about this group that decided to join our program and will be adding more names to this list as they go through the process.”

The Huskies’ newest additions:

Name                              Pos.               Cl.                       Hometown                      High School

1. Jason Fowler               TE                Fr.                        Skokie, Ill.                       Niles West HS
2. Logan Gross                OL                Fr.                        Sun Prairie, Wis.               Sun Prairie East HS
3. Jamari McIvory           WR                Fr.                        Guyton, Ga.                      Savannah Christian Prep
4. Tanner Phelps*            DT                Fr.                        Crystal Lake, Ill.               Greenfield HS
5. Elijah Porter               RB                Fr.                        Ankeny, Iowa                   Centennial HS
6. Chase Schutty              TE                Fr.                        Ankeny, Iowa                   Centennial HS
7. Joshua Tillman             S                 Fr.                        Waterford, Mich.               West Bloomfield HS
8. CJ Wade                     DE                Fr.                        Cedar Rapids, Iowa           Prairie HS
9. Romelo Ware               RB                Fr.                        Orlando, Fla.                    Olympia HS

Hammock expects this group plus the 19 signed in December and the January transfer additions, to make a big impact on the Huskie program in 2024.

“The big thing about the 2024 class is we need these young men to come in, learn the standards and expectations of our program and be able to come in and contribute,” he said. “With a senior class of 30 in 2024, this class is critical for us to build on the foundation of what we’ve started.”

The Huskies are coming off a win over Arkansas State in the 2023 Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama to finish the 2023 campaign with three straight victories and a 7-6 record. NIU’s 2023 schedule features non-conference road games at Notre Dame and N.C. State, along with home non-conference games versus Western Illinois and UMass.

Season ticket renewals for the 2024 NIU six-game home football schedule started on Monday, February 5th with new season tickets available beginning February 26. Renewing season ticket members can click here to view their accounts with more information available here, by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225) or emailing huskiestickets@niu.edu.