DeKALB — Spring ball is nearly in the books, which means a new era is about to begin for NIU football.
With just two practices left before they break until summer — when they’ll officially join the Mountain West Conference — the Huskies are hoping to turn the page after having one of the worst offenses in the Football Bowl Subdivision last season.
NIU averaged just 285.9 yards and 17.1 points per game in 2025. Those numbers simply won’t cut it against a much stronger 2026 schedule. Interim head coach Rob Harley, who took over following Thomas Hammock’s departure for the NFL in February, brought in former Illinois State offensive coordinator Tony Petersen to give the unit a new direction.
The team’s annual Spring Showcase on Saturday gave an early glimpse of what the Petersen-led offense might look like — and just as important, who might be starting in the season opener at Iowa. So without further ado, here’s an early projection of NIU’s two-deep heading into fall camp.
Quarterback
Starter: Jalen Macon (R-Sr.)
Backup: Brady Davidson (So.)
Reserves: Ean Hamric (R-Sr.), Bryshawn Brown (Fr.)
Summer enrollees: Asa Johnson (Fr.), Cole Latimer (Fr.)
Analysis: Another spring, another quarterback battle in DeKalb. For the third consecutive year, the Huskies will finish spring practices without deciding on a starting QB. While NIU hasn’t officially narrowed the competition, all signs suggest it’s a two-man race between returners Brady Davidson and Jalen Macon.
Both quarterbacks have flashed at different points this spring, with little separating the two, and the battle will likely run deep into fall camp. That said, Macon seems like the better choice at this point in the offseason. The former Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer not only has more experience than Davidson, but he’s also a better fit for the explosive, vertical-oriented offense NIU wants to run under Petersen, given his strong arm and scrambling ability. Still, it’s a tight race. Davidson could just as easily be the Week 1 starter against the Hawkeyes.
As for who backs them up, Charleston transfer Ean Hamric seems like the natural choice. Hamric brings the most experience of anyone in the QB room, albeit at the Division II level, with 17 starts in 26 games played. It also doesn’t hurt that his best season came when co-OC Quinn Sanders was his head coach at Charleston. Early enrollee Bryshawn Brown rounds out the group for now, with fellow freshmen Asa Johnson and Cole Latimer set to join the team this summer.
Running back
Starter: Telly Johnson Jr. (Jr.)
Backup: Elijah Porter (R-So.)
Reserves: Romelo Ware (R-So.), Triston White (R-Fr.), Reginald Craig (R-Fr.)
Summer enrollees: Jaidaun Cranford (Fr.), Devion Cross (Fr.), Da’sean Howard (Fr.)
Analysis: To no surprise, Telly Johnson Jr. is the Huskies’ clear-cut RB1 heading into 2026. Johnson is the most complete back on the roster and has proven he can be the cornerstone of the offense. The rising junior is fresh off a season where he was one of the most explosive rushers in the Group of Six, averaging 5.74 yards per carry. All four of his touchdowns went for 40-plus yards, including a career-long 80-yard run against Eastern Michigan.
Meanwhile, Elijah Porter appears poised to take over the No. 2 role after working into the rotation late last season. He had 80 yards on 12 carries in 2025 and was on the receiving end of NIU’s longest passing play of the season — a 67-yard touchdown reception against UMass. Romelo Ware, Triston White and Reginald Craig should also be in the mix for spot carries throughout the year.
Wide receivers
Starters: DeAree Rogers (R-Sr.), Cam Thompson (R-Sr.), George Dimopoulos (Jr.)
Backups: La’Don Bryant (R-So.), Rickey Taylor Jr. (R-So.), Kenji Lewis (R-Sr.)
Reserves: Afy Ibekwe (R-Fr.), Tavaris Coles (Jr.), Kevin Holmes Jr. (R-Jr.), Jermaine Green (Fr.), Braylon Agee (Fr.), Zaire McKinney (Fr.)
Summer enrollees: Justin Faulkner (Fr.)
Analysis: The wide receivers are going to be the strength of this team, which feels unusual to say about NIU given its historic identity as a run-heavy offense. But with the explosive DeAree Rogers and the speedy Cam Thompson leading the way, the Huskies should have one of the most potent receiving corps in the Mountain West.
Rogers is back after a brief stint in the transfer portal. He was one of the most reliable receivers in the FBS in 2025, catching 46 passes without a single drop. Rogers’ run-after-catch ability makes him ideal for quick-hitting concepts, while Thompson complements him as a true field-stretcher. Thompson, who started nine games for NIU in 2024 before spending last season at Mississippi State, can take the top off a defense with his track-level speed — something the Huskies sorely missed while he was in Starkville.
George Dimopoulos will likely round out the starting trio following his impressive spring game performance. The third-year wideout had seven or eight catches on Saturday, including a one-handed snag along the sideline to convert a third-and-very long. Dimopoulos is a versatile receiver who can line up outside or in the slot, making him a candidate to stay on the field in two-receiver sets.
The next two receivers on the depth chart are La’Don Bryant and Rickey Taylor Jr., who each started multiple games last season. Bryant had 40 yards on six catches, while Taylor finished with nine receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown.
After them, it’s really anyone’s guess. Does Kenji Lewis finally carve out a bigger role? Is Afy Ibekwe in the mix? Will one of the JUCO transfers emerge? However it shakes out, NIU should have a better arsenal of weapons at the quarterback’s disposal this year.
Tight end
Starter: Jason Fowler (R-So.)
Backup: Liam Russo (R-Fr.) OR Glen Weber (Jr.)
Reserves: Joe Stein (R-So.), Caleb Haack (R-Fr.), Devin Habermehl (So.), Tyler Klaner (Fr.)
Summer enrollee: Brady Hasquin (Fr.)
Analysis: This will be the most interesting position to watch this season. With Jake Appleget and Pierce Oppong gone, the Huskies need to replace nearly all of their production at tight end, and Jason Fowler is the next man up.
“It’s his time, and he’s definitely embracing this moment,” tight ends coach Joseph Hawkins said of Fowler. “He is stepping into that leadership role, and he’s been doing some great things for us this spring.”
At 6-foot-5, 252 pounds, Fowler makes for a sizable target in the passing game. He recorded his first two career catches in last year’s season finale against Kent State. Fans got a better glimpse of Fowler’s pass-catching ability during Saturday’s showcase, where he was a dependable target for Davidson, finishing with three receptions.
The depth behind Fowler isn’t as clear. Liam Russo appeared to be the No. 2 option, but JUCO transfer Glen Weber made his case with a nice showing in the spring game. There’s also room for the potential emergence of 6-foot-9 Caleb Haack. The former four-star recruit has yet to see the field at the college level as he continues to develop.
Offensive line
Starters: LT Ross Liegel (R-So.), LG Tyler Chambers (R-Fr.), C Landon Hron (R-Jr.), RG Jacob Welch (R-Jr.), RT Lane Mahnesmith (R-So.)
Backups: LT Ben Gustafson (R-So.), LG Luke Skartvedt (R-Jr.), C Ty Mead (Sr.), RG Samir Senenat (R-So.), RT Erik Murray (R-Fr.)
Reserves: Logan Gross (R-So.), Mason Markel (Fr.), Tyler Rindels (R-Fr.), Grey Rumohr (R-So.)
Summer enrollees: Kellen Gamble (Fr.), Brendan Grabot (Fr.), Cian Mahoney (Fr.), Braden Petzel (Fr.)
Analysis: The Huskies will have some fresh faces up front this year as they look to replace three starters from last season. Ross Liegel takes the reins at left tackle following Evan Malcore’s transfer to Miami (Ohio). Liegel played in all 12 games at right tackle in 2025, starting the final six, and now slides over to protect the blind side. Opposite him, 6-foot-8 Lane Mahnesmith steps in at right tackle with 13 games of experience.
Landon Hron provides continuity at center after making 10 of his 12 starts there, and he’ll be flanked by new faces on both sides. Tyler Chambers slots in at left guard as the youngest member of the line, while Jacob Welch gets his long-awaited starting opportunity on the right side. Should any of those three struggle or miss time, Northwood (D2) transfer Ty Mead is a veteran option who can be plugged in anywhere along the interior. Returners Ben Gustafson and Luke Skartvedt figure to be the other top reserves on the line.
NIU is also set to add a quartet of three-star freshmen to its roster this summer. One or more could show enough to earn a spot on the first or second unit, though it’s more likely they spend their first year developing. Until then, the Huskies have solid foundation to work with as they break in a new offense in 2026.
