The “Huskie Hybrids” as position coach Jason Onyebuagu has dubbed the Northern Illinois University tight ends and fullbacks, take pride in being the most versatile component of the NIU offense, from providing a physical presence in the run game to making – and taking – their opportunities in the passing game to playing key roles on special teams.

Veterans Liam Soraghan (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child HS), Miles Joiner (Dayton, Ohio/Butler HS) and Tristen Tewes (Pleasant Plains, Ill./Pleasant Plains HS) lead the way for a position group that NIU head coach Thomas Hammock called “a big part of our offense.”

“That is a group that we are really developing,” Hammock said. “They are an extension of the offensive line, but they also have to help us in the passing game. Tristen Tewes has had an excellent camp.  Miles Joiner is a guy that we feel can be a big piece for us in the run game and the passing game.  Liam Soraghan has been here; he’s been through the fire with us. He’s a guy that is dependable who we are going to rely on heavily.”

Joiner caught 16 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns while playing in nine games for NIU a year ago after transferring from Youngstown State, while Tewes, who converted to the position after playing linebacker in 2020, made 10 catches for 101 yards in 2021. Soraghan, called on primarily to use his 6-7 frame as a blocker, added four catches for 24 yards.

Onyebuagu said the experience and leadership Joiner and Soraghan bring has benefitted the younger players in his room, including George Gumbs (Chicago, Ill./Simeon HS) – whose skill set has him listed as a wide receiver, and Brock Lampe (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford HS), on the roster as a fullback.

“The experience and the leadership that our super seniors – Liam Soraghan and Miles Joiner – bring to our room puts us in a place where we’re able to bring along the young guys behind them,” Onyebuagu said. “Tristen Tewes is having an amazing camp, George Gumbs is putting himself in position to have a role in our offense and it’s a great opportunity for them to take advantage of this time and they’re doing really well right here in the first part of camp.”

For Onyebuagu, a former Huskie offensive lineman, the position begins with providing a physical presence for the NIU offense.

“If you’re part of NIU football, that starts with a physical mindset,” Onyebuagu said. “We are an extension of our offensive line in the run game. If you’re not going to put your hand in the dirt and play in the trenches and be physical and nasty, tight end at NIU is not for you. We do a great job in the run game. So that gives us some room in our offense to be able to make plays in the pass game as well. We just want to be reliable when our number is called to give our offense the chance to make plays.”

Soraghan echoed the thoughts of his coach.

“On the field we have a job to do and that’s taking every day with a physical mindset whether in the run game or the pass game,” the sixth-year senior said. “It’s our job to set the tone with the offensive line. It’s awesome because you can change a game in either facet, with a great block or with a great catch. It’s a special opportunity at our position. You have the ability to affect the game in any way.”

The versatility of the position extends to the skill set among the players which includes Gumbs, listed as a wide receiver, to Lampe, to scout team quarterback turned fullback/tight end Drew Cassens (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North HS). Redshirt freshman Izuchukwu Ozoh (Hazel Crest, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor HS) and newcomer Kaymar Mimes, a grad transfer from Pittsburgh, round out the room.

“Brock is an important, interchangeable piece for us,” Hammock said. “He’s got some tight end responsibilities but he’s more of a fullback. Transfer Kaymar Mimes gives us another body that can help us in the run game and do some things in the passing game.  Izzy [Ozoh] is really developing in the wings and we like what he can do.”

Cassens had one of the catches of the day for the Huskie offense with a grab in the back of the end zone as Wednesday’s practice included a heavy emphasis on red zone offense and defense.

The Huskies’ versatility at tight end also puts the group in prime position to play important roles on the Huskies special teams, an area on which Hammock puts a premium

“That’s the value of that position,” Hammock said. “A lot of those guys are core special teams guys for us and that’s a big part of how we evaluate our roster. We talk about special teams first and foremost when we are making our 70-man roster for travel and the tight ends are a big part of that. Those guys do a great job.”

“We’re the total package,” said Onyebuagu. “If we need to spread out and throw the ball around, we can do that and if we need to send multiple tight ends in the game and do some heavy short yardage run game plays, we’re built for that too. Being a hybrid is being able to do it all.”

The Huskies’ practiced for two-plus hours Wednesday morning at Huskie Stadium with the defense responding to a couple of good days by the offense with a dominant performance, a fact that brought a smile to Hammock’s face as the “back and forth” between the offense and defense continued.

“The offense dominated yesterday, and the defense came out with a ferocity that was unmatched [today],” Hammock said. “It’s the back and forth, and that’s the making of a good football team. Those guys they made plays, they created energy, they’re stacking days. I told our team, if you have a good defense and a good run game, those things travel.”

Preseason practices continue Friday morning beginning at 10:15 a.m. at Huskie Stadium. Position previews of the team continue throughout camp. Read them online and see the complete camp schedule on the 2022 Camp Central page on NIUHuskies.com.

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