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December 28, 2008 - Independence Bowl
Northern Illinois (6-6, 5-3 MAC) vs. Louisiana Tech (7-5, 5-3 WAC), 8:15 pm ET
Site: Independence Stadium (Shreveport, LA)
Series: Louisiana Tech leads 5-1. Last meeting: Louisiana Tech 40, Northern Illinois 16 in 1996.
Television: ESPN

Scouting Northern Illinois

Offense – Players to Watch:
QB Chandler Harnish: Freshman signal caller tops Huskies in total offense, averaging 202.2 yards per game and NIU record for total offense in a single season by a freshman with 1,840 total yards this season. Two-time MAC West Offensive Player of the Week in 2008. In eight starts this season, passed for seven touchdowns, completing 57.3% of his passes, averaging 149.1 yards passing per game. Harnish threw only seven picks this season.

Chandler Harnish

RB Me’Co Brown: Another freshman, Brown led the Huskies with 508 yards rushing this past season, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. His best effort this season came in a 37-0 Huskies’ victory over Eastern Michigan when he rushed for 123 yards against Miami. Also a return threat, leading NIU in all-purpose yards with 1,106 all-purpose yards.

RB Chad Spann: In head coach Jerry Kill’s “running back by committee” offense, Spann topped all Huskies with eight touchdowns, including five TDs in his last six games. Third on squad with 350 yards rushing this season, behind Brown and QB Harnish (547 yards).

WR Marcus Perez: NIU’s leading receiver, Perez caught 32 passes for 436 yards and a pair of TDs this season. Recorded at least one reception in ten of NIU’s last eleven games.

TE Reed Cunningham: Second-leading receiver for NIU with 20 receptions and 226 yards, averaging 11.3 yards per reception. Topped all NIU receivers with three touchdowns this season.

Defense – Players to Watch:

Larry English

DE Larry English: The heart and soul of the Huskies’ team. Was named the MAC’s Defensive Player of the Year and winner of the Verne Smith Leadership Award (MVP) for two years running which is voted on by the league’s coaches. English is the NCAA’s career active leader in QB sacks (31.5), including a team-leading 8 sacks this season. Also the nation’s career active leader in sack yardage and tackles for loss. Has not missed a snap this season despite playing with a fractured hand that required surgery.

DB David Bryant: NIU’s leading tackler with 76 stops this season, including 44 solo stops and two tackles for loss. Ended the regular season with a personal-best 12 tackles against Navy.

LB Tim McCarthy: Playmaking linebacker recorded six tackles for loss this season and ranks sixth all-time at NIU with 145 career assisted tackles.

LB Alex Kube: Made transition from safety where he was Freshman All-American (FWAA) in 2007, Kube recorded 6.5 tackles for loss this season

P Andy Dittbenner: Named to preseason Ray Guy Award watch list. Averaged 39.1 yards per punt this season and placed 10 of 36 punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line.

Scouting Louisiana Tech

Offense – Players to Watch:

QB Ross Jenkins: Started seven games this season, passing for 1,011 yards, averaging 101.1 yards per game, tossed seven TDs and only three interceptions. Completed 54.4% on the year. Emerged as starter midway through the season taking over for Georgia Tech transfer Taylor Bennett who started five games.

Daniel Porter

RB Daniel Porter: First-team All-WAC performer, the junior RB rushed for 1,086 yards in 2008. Averaged 5.3 yards per carry and crossed the goal-line eight times this season. Appeared in all 12 games, starting in seven contests this past season.

RB Patrick Johnson:Louisiana Tech’s fifth all-time career leader in rushing yards (2,815), rushed for eight touchdowns this season and 644 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Jackson also caught a team-high three touchdowns this past season.

WR Phillip Livas: Earned first-team All-WAC as a return man. Led Bulldogs with 589 yards receiving, averaging 15.1 yards per catch. Topped the WAC, and ranks 16h nationally, in all-purpose yards, averaging 157.4 yards per game.

WR Philip Beck: Second-leading receiver on squad with 23 catches for 251 yards. Has caught a pass in 22 of 24 games played.

Defense – Players to Watch:

S Antonio Baker: First team All-WAC selection each of the past two seasons. Averaged 8.9 tackles per game, led Bulldogs with 111 tackles on the season, registered 4.5 sacks. Preseason watch list nominee for Jim Thorpe and Bronko Nagurski Awards.

Antonio Baker

DT D’Anthony Smith: Another first team All-WAC honoree, the junior topped the Tech D-Line with 64 tackles and had a team-leading eight tackles for loss this past season.

CB Weldon Brown: Led Louisiana Tech with four interceptions this season also returned a blocked punt 50 yards for a TD in victory over SE Louisiana.

LB Brannon Jackson: 12-game starter after missing entire 2007 campaign due to injury. Was fourth on team with 59 tackles, including 3.5 tackle for loss.

P Chris Keagle: Second team All-WAC selection, averaged 40.0 yards per punt with 23 of his 60 punts being downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. Was on preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award.

GAME OUTLOOK: Northern Illinois will be making its first appearance in a bowl game outside of the State of California while Louisiana Tech will be making its fifth all-time bowl appearance, and fourth appearance in its home-state bowl game in Shreveport.

NIU and Louisiana Tech are actually former conference mates, having each competed at one time in the Big West Conference but have not met since 1996.

Both teams excel on defense and taking care of the ball. The Huskies top the MAC in scoring defense, total defense and pass defense. NIU’s pass defense is also ranked fifth nationally, allowing only 18.1 points per game. In the Huskies’ six wins this season, they forced 13 turnovers but have recorded only one interception in its past six games.

Like the Huskies, the Bulldogs have been getting it done with defense and also are a bit of a turnaround story, especially on defense. The Bulldogs have the second-best scoring defense turnaround over the past two seasons, right behind Temple. Louisiana Tech has allowed an average of 24.8 points this season, down from 41.7 just two seasons ago.