Overheard at the Dog Park: What the Huskies are saying ahead of NIU’s game Saturday at Georgia Tech

Freshman safety Devin Lafayette from Brunswick, Ga. – about 4 1/2 hours away from Atlanta – is one of five NIU players returning to their home state on Saturday:

“Mainly, I’m excited to be playing in front of fans and in my state so my family and friends can come and watch. Last year they didn’t come watch due to COVID. So I’m more excited than anything right now and ready to play Saturday.”

Although Kyle Pugh is going to miss the season with an injury, coach Thomas Hammock, who said he doesn’t like to give injury updates, said the team is healthy so far after a very physical preseason.

“We’ve been relatively healthy this fall camp, which is good because of the physicality we had and the mindset we wanted. I think guys, our strength staff had done a phenomenal job getting their bodies right. We’ve had a yoga instructor for flexibility. And then the training staff, the prehab and the rehab and the job Heath [Duncan] had done down there, we’re very pleased with the health of our team.”

Hammock on how junior Rocky Lombardi, a transfer from Michigan State, has progressed as the starting quarterback:

“He runs the offense, but more importantly he runs the team,” Hammock said. “He controls the locker room. And Rocky with his leadership qualities, it’s not going to be too big for him. He’s going to be a calming presence for our wide receivers. He’s going to be a calming presence for our O-line to get guys lined up.”

[ ‘We don’t need Superman:” quarterback Rocky Lombardi adjusting after first week of spring practice with NIU ]

Junior wide receiver Cole Tucker on Lombardi:

“He’s been a great leader. He’s getting us ready for anything we can do to get on the same page as him. He’s done an excellent job of getting us together.”

Hammock on how the team has practiced so far early this week:

“I told the players I’ve been to some practices that are really, really good and then you get beat bad on Saturday. But what we need to be ready to do is respond to adversity. Respond to a bad play. How are we going to play the next snap? That’s the type of mentality we’re going to have.”

Hammock on the physical nature of the practices:

“This morning’s practice really did a lot to calm my nerves with the way the guys came to practice. ... Our camp has been very physical, very tough. We went old school, coach [Joe] Novak style. We conditioned them after practice. We tried to make it as hard as we can make it so nothing should be a shock to them when they get to the game.”

The Huskies have displayed a loaded backfield throughout camps, with returner Erin Collins and Harrison Waylee, transfer Clint Ratkovich, freshman Jay Ducker and true freshman Antario Brown. Hammock on how he’s going to balance that:

“We’re going to find the guys that can get hot. We’re going to go with the hot hand. We’ve got some different ways to get guys opportunities to get in the game and see who becomes the hot players, and we’re going to stick with that. We are talented in the backfield.”

[ NIU freshman RB Jay Ducker ready to make statement after missing 2020 season ]

[ Ratkovich brings versatility to NIU’s offense ]

Tucker on preparing for the blitz-heavy Yellow Jackets:

“Obviously, last year was kind of a weird season, so you have to be ready for anything. We don’t have any film for this year. With them being pass-rush heavy, you have to be ready for a quick gain and stuff like that. Really anything is on the table.”