Huskies Insider: Coach Ape Lands 4 more commitments; Huskies Go Bowling For the 1st Time

[Ape]

 

DeKalb, IL: These might be the most exciting days ever for the Northern Illinois football program and we here at Huskies Insider have all the new you Barb City fanatics crave. We’ll tackle recruiting first and talk about our current team afterwards. 
 

Recruiting 

Since the last update here at Huskies Insider, NIU has signed 4 more players, bringing their class to 12 total and now ranked 59th overall, best class in the state of Illinois! Let’s take a look at all these newest Huskies. 
 

Ruben Saucedo: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Speed Running Back from Mayfield High in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Overall: C

Potential: B+ 

The Huskies continue to add on to their future offensive backfield with Ruben Saucedo from Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Huskies add him to Oscar Brinkley (3* C/A+ FB) and Jermaine Morgan (3* C/A- QB) in their future backfield. Coming in at 5’10”, 192lbs Saucedo has a quickness to the outside in his game. With his signing the Huskies now have the possibility of having a 1A and 1B type situation in their backfield in years to come. Coach Ape spoke more about the signing. “What drew us to Ruben was his speed. We were really surprised that New Mexico State didn’t target this young man who played right under their nose, their loss.” 
 

Christopher Anderson: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Coverage Outside Linebacker from Boylan Catholic in Rockford, IL

Overall: C

Potential: B 

Coach Ape continues to add to his defensive front 7 with another Illinois recruit in Boylan Catholic’s Christopher Anderson. Anderson has been a long time target for the Huskies who have pursued him almost all cycle. The Oregon Ducks made a late push for his commitment but he has chosen to state in state instead and come represent Barb City. His high school coach has said he’s great at making plays in space and will rack up some tackles at the next level. His potential has all of us here at Huskies Insider geeked when thinking about pairing him with Mario Glenn (4* C/B ILB) in the future 

David Litzinger: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pass Blocking Center from Hancock High School in Kiln, MS 

Overall: C

Potential: B

The Huskies have landed their 3rd offensive lineman of this class. They now have recruited a tackle, guard and center. Coach Ape is clearly trying to build up the trenches with this class. At 6’4’’ and 290lbs Litzinger is certainty built for being an offensive lineman. Litzinger will need to work on run protection to reach his full potential at the FBS level. Definitely a coup to get someone of this potential this late in the cycle out of the Deep South though. 
 

Ralph Morales: ⭐️⭐️⭐️Run Blocking Guard from Heritage High School in Romoland, CA

Overall: C

Potential: B- 

Another beefy boy! The Huskies were an underdog for this one, so this was a coup for Coach Ape. Morales is a mountain of a man, 6’3’’ and 301 pounds, who plugs up the holes on the offensive line. Guard is probably the weakest position group on the line for the Huskies and Morales might need to step in before the other recruits that Coach Ape added to the line, despite being perceived as the one with the least potential. 
 

 

Huskies Go Bowling For First Time! 

 

When the final whistle sounded at the Glass Bowl last Friday everyone on the Huskies sideline let out a sigh of relief and jubilation. The Huskies started off the season 5-0 before losing their next three games straight. The team had looked particularly bad the last couple games against Miami (OH) and Central Michigan, but all that built up anxiety finally released. Coach Ape was blunt in his post game presser when asked how the team was feeling, “Excellent.” The Huskies still have three straight home games against WMU, UMass and Ball State. There’s still an outside shot at 10 wins for the Huskies if they can win these next three games and a bowl, but either way this is the best season for NIU yet (having just 9 wins before this season) and we’re proud of what they’ve done.