DeKALB – Sean Progar didn't originally want to be a Huskie.

Not that he didn't like Northern Illinois, but during his senior year of high school, the Glenbrook South product dreamed of playing in front of more than 110,000 fans at The Big House at the University of Michigan.

With the assistance of former Glenbrook South coach and then-Michigan graduate assistant, Kurt Anderson, a former Wolverine lineman, Progar earned a spot in coach Lloyd Carr's 2008 recruiting class.

But Carr resigned following the Wolverines' 9-4 season in 2007, and Michigan made a flashy hire, bringing in West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez as a replacement.

Progar became another castaway of the college coaching carousel.

To make matters worse after Rodriguez's staff informed the high school senior that he would not have a spot on their roster, Progar's scholarship offers from Minnesota and several Mid-American Conference programs had been claimed by other recruits.

So Progar contacted Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill, who offered the in-state athlete a preferred walk-on position. With few other options available, Progar picked the Huskies.

"I came here and talked to coach Kill, and I don't regret it," Progar said. "Michigan, yeah, it's a Big Ten school, but it's fun here. I love the coaches. I love the players."

Progar – who has since become a scholarship defensive end – isn't playing in front of 100,000 fans each Saturday, but the sophomore is making a Big-Ten impact for the Huskies.

Progar started seven games during his redshirt freshman season and finished second among Huskies with six sacks.

"He has done everything and more," Kill said. "I have a lot of great respect for a kid that young that's done what he's done. He's on his way to a super career."

NIU coaches call Progar, who had an impressive spring, one of the most consistent performers and a leader on the highly-touted defensive line.

"He got that taste of being in that starting role and what it takes to be the starter," NIU defensive line coach Jeff Phelps said. "He's really provided a lot of great leadership in the offseason throughout the winter conditioning, spring ball, over the summer."

The sophomore wants to follow San Diego Chargers' 2009 first-round pick Larry English, Brandon Bice and senior Jake Coffman in the growing line of All-MAC Huskie ends.

"I just want to try and live up to it," Progar said. "Larry English is a great player. I'm just trying to live up to playing as hard as he did every practice. That's one thing I learned from him is he came out to practice every day, worked hard every day."

Many high school recruits pick a college as a stepping stone to the NFL.
Progar saw path hit a speedbump after his Michigan dreams but looks to be getting back on track with the Huskies.

"He's got the want-to," Phelps said, "and the great thing is he has three years left. It's a great deal for us."

Game time change
The start time of Northern Illinois' home football game against Central Michigan has been moved from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate Comcast SportsNet Chicago's broadcast of the game, according to an NIU press release.

The Central Michigan game is one of two games scheduled to air on CSN Chicago this season. It is the third of three straight home games in October, following games against Temple (Oct. 9) and Buffalo (Oct. 16).