Batavia grads, brothers Quinn, Trey Urwiler reunited in NIU spring camp

Northern Illinois University linebacker Quinn Urwiler (right) runs on the field Wednesday, March 30, 2022, during spring practice in the Chessick Practice Center at NIU in DeKalb.

DeKALB – It was all about family – literally and figuratively – for Quinn Urwiler.

The North Dakota linebacker spent a day in the transfer portal before selecting NIU as his new home, reuniting him with his brother, Huskies wide receiver Trey Urwiler.

“I heard great things from Trey about how it’s a family here,” Quinn Urwiler said. “Everyone is so close and everyone is trying to improve each other. You want to be a part of that just because it’s going to make you a better man off the field, too.”

The Batavia graduates are wrapping up their second week of spring camp together with the Huskies.

“It’s been great sharing the field here with Quinn,” Trey Urwiler said. “We feed off each other’s energy, and I think I’m better with him here, to be honest with you.”

Trey Urwiler played four games with the Huskies last year mainly on special teams, retaining his redshirt and freshman classification. Quinn Urwiler mostly played special teams at North Dakota. He’s entering his redshirt sophomore year with NIU.

Aside from reuniting with his brother, the chance to grow as a player was the main driving force behind the transfer.

“I didn’t see my talent improving, I guess you would say,” Quinn Urwiler said. “No matter where I ended up, I always wanted to make sure I could improve each and every single day. And I knew that coming here I could do that with the great coaches that are here.”

Like his brother, Quinn Urwiler said the camp, which wrapped the sixth of its 15 practice sessions Aril 1, has been fun.

“Obviously we’re really close to each other,” Quinn Urwiler said. “We played high school ball together. We played Pop Warner ball together. We played baseball together. We played everything together. Hearing what he had to say about this place and how great it was, I was able to get the opportunity to come here and play. So far it’s been a blast.”

Both players mainly have been with the second teams so far in camp. Trey Urwiler has been used as a check-down safety-type option in the passing game by quarterback Justin Lynch, a Temple transfer.

Head coach Thomas Hammock said he thinks Quinn Urwiler can be a force on special teams this year.

“He’s very explosive and dynamic. Very strong,” Hammock said. “When we talk to guys, we say special teams is a big part of the game. If we can be good on special teams, guys can get on the bus and earn scholarships. So that’s what we’re trying to do, figuring out who are the core special teams guys that can help us out the most. And Quinn is in that conversation.”

Hammock said Trey Urwiler has expanded his knowledge of the game, usually an indicator that a player is ready for bigger things.

“That’s where guys start to make the jump,” Hammock said. “You can put more on them. Obviously he’s a guy who we think has a bright future. And we want to see what he can do this spring.”

Trey Urwiler said he wasn’t surprised when his brother entered the transfer portal and ended up in DeKalb.

“It’s something we’ve talked about for a while, really since a year or two ago,” Trey Urwiler said. “It’s not like it was new. But when he actually put his name in the portal it was like, ‘Here we go.’ Very exciting. I told Quinn not too many people get to be able to do it at the high school level, but to be able to do it at the college level, we need to take advantage of that and savor every moment together. We’re just loving it.”

Have a Question about this Daily Chronicle article?