With just five starters returning off the 2024 Northern Illinois University football team, 2025 spring practices opened on March 27 with plenty of opportunity for players who redshirted a year ago or saw limited action in a special teams or back-up role, to prove themselves.

As the sixth practice of spring wrapped up Tuesday morning in the Chessick Practice Center after a two-hour workout in full pads, NIU head coach Thomas Hammock talked about just some of the returnees, some familiar names and some not so familiar, who have “made a jump” so far this spring.

In terms of returning players ready to take on starting roles, Hammock first mentioned linebacker Marc Pretto (Montclair, N.J./St. Peter’s Prep/Fordham) and offensive lineman Izzy Ozoh (Hazel Crest, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor HS). Pretto was injured during the early part of 2024 and did not make his Huskie debut until the ninth game of the season in a special teams role. Ozoh, who came to NIU as a 215-pound walk-on tight end in 2021, enters his redshirt senior season as a 281-pound tackle after moving to offensive line prior to last season.

“Marc Pretto has been outstanding,” Hammock said. “He has been the man in the middle. He redshirted last year after playing at Fordham, and we knew he was a tremendous player and this spring, he has been a man among boys. It’s been good to see. He would be one to me that jumps off the tape.

“Then, Izzy Ozoh. He moved to offensive line last season, and he has really taken to the position now. He looks like a natural. He has been really, really good; he has the ability to play both tackle positions which gives us flexibility on the offensive line.”

When injuries hit the Huskie running backs room a year ago, Telly Johnson Jr. (Augusta, Ga./Hephzibah HS) stepped in and gained 480 yards on 103 carries over the final six games of the season to finish third on the team in rushing. He recorded 20 or more carries in three of those games and tallied back-to-back 100-yard rushing games against Western Michigan (141 yards) and Akron (104). He is back, and better, says Hammock, who also listed redshirt freshman back Romelo Ware (Orlando, Fla./Olympia HS) on his returnees to watch list.

“Telly Johnson is greatly improved,” Hammock said. “He’s much faster; he has a better understanding of how to run the ball and has better vision. Romelo Ware is another running back that was young, he got himself ready and played in the bowl game. He has made a jump [this spring].

Another player who made plays late in the 2024 season, including a 28-yard catch in the bowl win over Fresno State, and has stood out this spring, is redshirt freshman wide receiver La’Don Bryant (Savannah, Ga./Benedictine Military School). Bryant had another highlight play Tuesday morning as he brought in a long reception from quarterback Jalen Macon (Nashville, Tenn./Hillsboro HS/UAPB).

Macon and fellow quarterback Josh Holst (Marengo, Ill./Marengo Community HS), the MVP of NIU’s 28-20 double overtime bowl win over Fresno State, made Hammock’s list of players who have made a jump as well.

“I think Josh [Holst] is doing a phenomenal job at the quarterback position and Jalen [Macon] is doing a nice job as well,” Hammock said. “This offense is a little bit better suited to their skill sets and they’ve been able to maximize that.”

Another redshirt ready to hear his name called at safety is Taylor Powell (Belleville, Ill./East St. Louis HS), who saw action in the Akron and Central Michigan games, while Mark Hensley (Labadie, Mo./Washington HS), who played in every game as a reserve defensive lineman, enters 2025 as one of the veterans on the interior of NIU’s defensive line.

“Taylor Powell was a young man that redshirted last year, and I see him making the same type of jump as a safety we had last season in the same situation,” Hammock said. “Mark Hensley played in every game behind all those veterans from last year but is ready to play a bigger role.”

Hammock could not help but call out a player who has been hard to miss this spring in senior defensive end Roy Williams (Crestwood, Ill./Alan B. Shepard HS). One of two returning starters on defense (along with Jalonnie Williams), Roy Williams brings 62 career tackles, 35 solo, 12 tackles for loss and 10 sacks into the season. He made a career high 37 stops in 2024 and his 6.5 sacks ranked second on the team.

“Roy Williams has been unblockable,” Hammock said with a smile and a chuckle. “It’s almost intimidating, how well he’s been playing.”

Hammock cautioned that while the players he named were top of mind on Tuesday, the list was far from complete.

“I’m probably missing some guys, but from last year to right now, that’s a pretty good list of guys that have really made a jump” he said.

The Huskies return to practice Thursday morning at 7 a.m. for the seventh of 15 spring workouts with the annual Spring Showcase set for Saturday, April 26 beginning at Noon at Huskie Stadium.

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.