With NIU starters hobbled, Kill sees a chance to build depth

NIU | With so many starters hurt, Kill will build a better bench

DeKALB, Ill. -- Jerry Kill probably learned more about his bench this spring than about his starters.

The new Northern Illinois coach used his 15 spring practices, capped by Saturday's controlled scrimmage at wind-blown Huskie Stadium, to start the transition from retired coach Joe Novak. But with a large number of potential starters watching from the sidelines as they continue to rehabilitate injuries, Kill realizes he and his staff will face a big challenge installing the bulk of their system in August.

''The biggest thing is we've gotta get healthy, we've gotta get personnel back,'' Kill said, noting there were 18 major surgeries for players last year and four or five other players who were unable to take part in spring practice, including defensive end Larry English, the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, who tore a pectoral muscle in offseason workouts and had surgery.

''I think the count is about 25,'' Kill said of his walking wounded. ''It was a thin spring, but we took what we had, and those kids worked hard and did everything we asked of them. If we did anything, we built some depth.''

That's not all bad, considering the system Kill tries to employ.

''We play a lot of bodies,'' he said. ''We play two or three tailbacks, six or seven receivers and rotate seven or eight defensive linemen. That way, at the end of the year, we're usually playing our best football because we aren't beat up so bad.

''I don't know if we have the depth to do that, but this spring helped it, no question. Hopefully we found some guys who'll be able to help.''

Fleet-footed redshirt freshman quarterback DeMarcus Grady at least made a case that he bears watching, completing 4 of 7 passes for 36 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran eight times for 118 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown jaunt.

''I felt like I was able to show what I could do, just spreading it out and just playing,'' Grady said. ''It was kind of tough for us to throw.''

Fellow redshirt freshman Chandler Harnish (6-for-19, 39 yards passing) was the first of three quarterbacks to take the field, but Kill said not to place any significance on the order. Harnish split time with junior Ryan Morris (6-12, 28) and Grady.

Incumbent Dan Nicholson (shoulder surgery) was among the sidelined.

Kill said Harnish started out spring ''like a ball of fire'' and Morris, likely because he's had some playing time backing up Nicholson, was consistent. A majority of the snaps Saturday were taken from the shotgun with a lot of three- and four-receiver sets with one tailback. The team will employ a fullback but didn't show it much.

Freshman Chad Spann led the running backs with 56 yards on 10 carries. Justin Anderson had 13 carries for 35 yards and David Bryant five carries for 49 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown run.

Tight end Jack Marks had two catches for 36 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown pass from Grady.

Linebacker Josh Allen returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown.

Sun-Times News Group