MWC · 2026

Northern Illinois

2025 record 3–9 2–6 MAC conference
Postseason No bowl
Head coach Rob Harley Year 1
Scheme Multiple / 4-2-5
Conference
D+

Harley Y1, winner +6000, O3.5 coin-flip, and empty chart rows outweigh

Portal
C

Portal #7; high-school pipeline depth is the tell, not a market override

Depth
D+

Sparse depth chart with empty WR-X and OL gaps is the two-deep red flag

Market odds

To Win MWC
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
To Make Conf. Championship
Yes TBD
No TBD
Over 3.5 wins
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%

Recruiting ranks

Overall #2 51 commits · 194.34 pts
Portal #7 19 commits· avg 83.71

Roster notes

Leading story

Harley Y1 — Jalen Macon at QB1; Telly Johnson Jr. at RB1

Offense

Empty WR-X player-1; WR Rickey Taylor Jr. / DeAree Rogers. OL: Landon Hron at C / Aidan Tweedy at RG / Ross Liegel at RT with LT/LG first-string gaps

Defense

Roy Williams at RDT / Jay'shon Thomas at RDE; Quinn Urwiler at MLB; Dev'ion Reynolds at LCB / Muhammed Jammeh at SS

Key offense

  1. 01
    Telly Johnson Jr. RB
    Returning
    • 2025: 124 carries, 712 yds, 4 rushing TD. Listed RB1
  2. 02
    DeAree Rogers WR
    Returning
    • 2025: 46 receptions, 506 yds, 3 TD. Listed WR-SL
  3. 03
    Jalen Macon QB
    Portal
    • Listed QB1
    • 2025 NIU line was only 9/21, 105 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT and 45 carries, 216 yds, 5 rushing TD

Key defense

  1. 01
    Quinn Urwiler MLB
    Returning
    • 2025: 141 tackles. Listed MLB1 — the clearest returning defensive name
  2. 02
    Muhammed Jammeh SS
    Returning
    • 2025: 87 tackles. Listed SS1
  3. 03
    Roy Williams RDT
    Returning
    • Listed RDT1 on a sparse defensive depth chart