CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Northern Illinois preview

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Northern Illinois Huskies

Out of nowhere, into contention

College Football: The New Century

'99: 5-6, 5-3

Coach

Joe Novak (fifth season, 8-36)

Key offensive players

Ryan Diem, OT, Sr.
The two-time All-MAC selection has 1,911 career snaps.

Justin McCareins, FL, Sr.
Had 57 receptions for 906 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1999.

William Andrews, TB, Sr.
The top returning all-purpose yards producer in the MAC.

Key defensive players

Jermaine Hampton, SS, Sr.
The MAC's third-leading returner in tackles with 120.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: LeShon Johnson, TB, 1990-93
"Led I-A in rushing as a senior with 1,976 yards."

Brightest Moment: Winning the NCAA College Division national championship in 1963 for coach Howard Fletcher. Northern Illinois went 10-0, won the Mineral Bowl, and gleaned lots of national publicity behind Little All-America quarterback George Bork, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in August of 1999

Lowest Moment: Suffering through a 23-game losing streak during 1996-98, the nation's longest at that time.

Benji Peacock, CB, Sr.
His total of 11 pass deflections last year was one shy of the school record.

Key newcomer

Jason Hawkins, RB, Fr.
Led the state of Illinois in rushing last year as a high school senior with 2,794 yards and 41 touchdowns.

Throwback player

Offensive guard Kyle Jakubek, an old-fashioned plugger, led Northern Illinois last year in "dominator" blocks with 24.

21st century player

Offensive tackle Ryan Diem is NFL material, big, strong, well-coached and smart. He has a school-record 800-pound squat lift, a 5.08 in the 40, 51.5-inch chest, 43-inch waist, 32-inch thigh, 31-inch vertical jump, and 19.5-inch neck.

Fast fact

Northern Illinois' 5-6 record last year was the school's best since 1992.

Outlook

Since being hired before the 1996 season, Novak has patiently built this program. Don¹t be surprised if the Huskies challenge Toledo for the MAC West title. Northern Illinois has good runners, a solid offensive line and an experienced defense. Keys will be quarterback Chris Finley completing some key passes and getting a few questions answered in the kicking game.

--Stan Crawley