Top 10 NIU Huskies of the Decade

I know what you're thinking: Northern Illinois has 10 players worth mentioning for an all-decade team?

Well, do the names Garrett Wolfe, Michael Turner and Larry English mean anything to you?

Thought so.

Those players, along with others, rank among the top Huskies football players this decade.

But where?

10. Eddie Adamski, C, 2005-Present

Eddie Adamski (50) is the four-year starting center and the leader of the Huskies offensive line.
He kick started his career blocking for Phil Horvath and Garrett Wolfe, earning Freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America and honorable mention by The Sporting News.
Adamski continued to earn his stats, helping Justin Anderson rush for over 1,000 yards in 2007 on a 2-10 football team.

Last season he was third team All-MAC and was named to the second team by Phil Steele's Magazine.

In 2009, along with running back Chad Spann and offensive guard Jason Onyebuagu, Adamski was named first team All-MAC by the conference.

He entered the 2009 season with 37 career starts.

9. Sam Hurd, WR, 2001-2005

Sam Hurd was the top producing wide receiver in the late 2000s, leading the Huskies in receptions in 2005 with 65 receptions, 1,074 yards and 13 touchdowns. Hurd is tied for sixth with 143 receptions, third in touchdowns (21) and second all-time with 2,322 yards.

His 13 TDs are the second best in a single season at NIU.

Like many NIU receivers, Hurd's numbers suffered in large part to the great rushing attack of the decade, which featured Garrett Wolfe and Michael Turner in Hurd's time in DeKalb.

In 2005, Hurd had the first and third best receiving games in NIU history, catching 266 yards (vs. Central Michigan) and 232 yards (Miami-OH).

8. P.J. Fleck, WR, 1999-2003

With 2,162 yards P.J. Fleck is third on the Huskies all-time receiving list and is fourth in receptions (179).

Fleck led the Huskies in receiving in both 2001 as a sophomore and 2003 as a senior. In 2003 he hauled in 77 passes for 1,028 yards and six scores. Those 77 grabs were second best in a single season behind Dave Petzke (91).

No catch was more memorable than his game-tying catch versus No. 14 Maryland in 2003. Highlights of that catch are available on YouTube still.

7. Justin McCareins, WR, 1997-2000

Justin McCareins is tops among NIU receivers in all-time catches (204), yards (2,991), and touchdowns (29).

While McCareins only played one decade this season, it was the best of his career. He led the team in receiving from 1998-2000.

In 2000, he posted 66 grabs for 1,168 yards, and 10 touchdowns.

This improved on his junior year numbers of 57 catches, 906 yards, and 10 scores.

His 66 catches are fifth best in NIU history, while the 1,168 yards are second best. He is tied for fifth in most touchdowns in a season with 10.

6. Josh Haldi, QB, 2000-2004

Josh Haldi is the greatest quarterback of the modern day Huskies.

He is third all-time in passing yards (6,015), third in attempts (776), third in completions (427), fifth in percentage (.550), and second in touchdown passes (55).

As a starter from 2002-2004 Haldi had 55 touchdowns to just 19 interceptions, while throwing to P.J. Fleck, Dan Sheldon, Shatone Powers, and Sam Hurd.

He also played with Michael Turner, A.J. Harris, and Garrett Wolfe in the backfield.

Haldi's signature season was 2003. Not only did he lead NIU to a 10-2 record, but he threw for 2,544 yards, 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He completed 59.2 percent of his passes and threw two TD passes to defeat No. 14 Maryland, in DeKalb, in overtime.

5. Doug Free, OT, 2002-2006

It has to be wondered how Doug Free found his way to Northern Illinois.

A Wisconsin native standing 6'7" and weighing 315 pounds, Free dominated the Mid-American Conference. It also helped having Garrett Wolfe in the backfield with him.

Free helped Wolfe set a number of NIU rushing records and helped lead the team to the 2006 San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, though it was a 37-7 loss to TCU.

Free also started games against Michigan and Northwestern in 2005, and the then-No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes in 2006.

4. Thomas Hammock, RB, 1999-2002

Now the running backs coach at Minnesota, Thomas Hammock ranks among the all-time great NIU rushers.

He is ninth in career yards (2,432), ninth in attempts (544), and seventh in touchdowns (25). He led the Huskies in rushing in 2000 and 2001 before handing the reigns over to Michael Turner.

Hammock was the second of five backs to rush for 1,000 yards in nine consecutive seasons under Joe Novak. Willie Andrews in 1999 was the first.

3. Larry English, DE, 2004-2008

Larry English is a two-time MAC MVP, earning the award in 2007 and 2008. The Huskies went 2-10 in 2007, by the way.

English is the all-time leader in sacks at NIU with 31.5 and tackles for loss with 63.

Three times, English placed himself in the Top 10 single season sacks, tying atop the list in 2006 with 12.

His five sacks against Idaho in 2007 set a single game record.

English led the top-ranked MAC defense in 2008 to the Independence Bowl, losing to Louisiana Tech. He also helped lead the team to the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in 2006.

In 2008 the NIU defense, led by English's 16, set a team record with 108 tackles for loss.

English was NIU's highest draft pick this past April, going No. 16 overall to the San Diego Chargers.

2. Michael Turner, RB, 2000-2003

Michael "The Burner" Turner finished his career with an NIU record 6,038 all-purpose yards.

He currently ranks second all-time in rushing yards (4,941), rushing touchdowns (43), 100-yard games (21), and 200-yard games (7).

He led the Huskies in rushing in 2002 and 2003, making a Heisman Trophy in 2003 behind the Huskies' 10-2 season.

While his campaign fell short, Turner's yardage that season ranks sixth all-time. His 1,915 yards in 2002 ranks third all-time.

Turner's 19 rushing touchdowns in 2002 rank tied for first all-time with former quarterback Stacey Robinson.

Turner continued the streak of what was then three straight seasons with a 1,000 yard rusher under Joe Novak, extending it to five seasons when he left.
Turner was drafted by the San Diego Chargers and is now an Atlanta Falcon, garnering MVP votes and Pro Bowl trip last season.

1. Garrett Wolfe, RB, 2002-2006

When Garrett Wolfe came to NIU in 2002 he was ninth on the depth chart. By the time he graduated in 2006, No. 1 was No. 1 in almost every rushing category at NIU.

Wolfe is first in rushing yards (5,164), rushing touchdowns (52), yards per carry (6.40), yards per game (156.5), 100-yard games (22), 200-yard games (10), and consecutive 100-yard games (11).

Wolfe is third in carries with 807.

In 2006 Wolfe gained early season Heisman Trophy talk before an injury hampered him. He still managed to rush for 1,928 yards (second in a single season) and 18 touchdowns (tied for fourth in a single season).

In his three seasons as an NIU starting back he gained 1,000 yards in each year.

Twice Wolfe set the single game rushing mark at NIU with 325 against Eastern Michigan in 2004 and 353 versus Ball State in 2006.

Wolfe was the 2006 MAC MVP and finished his illustrious career tied for 11th on the NCAA career rushing list.

He is tied with Avon Cobourne (1999-2002) of West Virginia and was just 13 yards shy of joining two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin (1972-1975) of Ohio State with 5,177 yards.

Honorable Mention

AJ Harris, Phil Horvath (pictured), Brian Atkinson, Nick Duffy, Shatone Powers, Matt Simon, Steve Azar, Chris Nendick, Dan Sheldon, Tim McCarthy, Cory Hanson, Chandler Harnish, Jake Coffman, Jon Brost, and Jason Onyebuagu.