COACH: Jerry Kill (First season; 104-57 in 14 seasons overall).
LAST SEASON: 2-10 overall, 1-6 in MAC (sixth in MAC West).
FINAL 2007 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 117th.
KEEP AN EYE ON: NIU seemingly always has a 1,000-yard rusher, and junior tailback Justin Anderson is coming off a 1,245-yard season. It was the ninth season in a row the Huskies had a 1,000-yard rusher. Anderson also is an excellent receiver. Senior offensive tackle Jon Brost played every offensive snap for the Huskies last season and is the headliner among four returning starters on the line. Brost, who's majoring in electrical engineering and is an excellent student, will be a four-year starter for NIU.
STAR POWER: Senior defensive end Larry English is expected to be the best pass-rusher in the MAC this season. He had 10.5 sacks last season, when he also had 67 tackles and 17 tackles for loss. English has 23.5 career sacks (the MAC career record is 38, by Western Michigan's Jason Babin) and five forced fumbles.
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WEAKNESSES: The passing game needs to be overhauled, and NIU made too many mistakes in that area last season. The secondary was mediocre last season, and the best player – Alex Kube – was moved from strong safety to linebacker. It would help the secondary if someone other than English emerged as a pass-rusher. Four of the first five games are on the road.
THE BUZZ: Kill had a ton of success at Division I-AA Southern Illinois, but is taking over a program that has slipped noticeably in recent seasons. When Kill took over at SIU, he won once in his first season. But the Salukis were in the I-AA playoffs two seasons later. NIU's rushing attack is a given. Kill needs to improve the passing game and upgrade the defense. Expect growing pains this season, with noticeable improvement next season.
– MIKE HUGUENIN
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