Those few seconds were enough for the Zips to score the go-ahead touchdown in last year's MAC Championship Game, leaving the Huskies wondering what might have been, especially when they were left out of the bowl picture.

Now Joe Novak's squad is back to try to correct the inconsistencies that cost them not just the win vs. Akron but also games against opponents they probably should have defeated but lost.

Novak will hitch his team to running back Garrett Wolfe and hope that the outstanding runner can stay healthy this season. And he's hoping for an improved defense that won't force the Huskies into too many shootouts.

If NIU can play more consistently on the defensive side of the ball and has Wolfe to hand the ball to throughout the season, things should be just fine.

--Former NIU receiver Sam Hurd signed a three-year non-guaranteed contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

2007 DRAFT PROSPECTS: Garrett Wolfe is already drawing scouts to DeKalb to see him play. The shifty speedster could be a solid pick for an NFL team come next year's draft.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Our goal as a team was to come out of the spring as healthy as possible. We had a great spring. I'm very pleased. For the most part, we came out healthy. Everybody is ready to go for the summer." -- Coach Joe Novak.

RB Montell Clanton -- No, Clanton's not going to displace Garrett Wolfe as the starting tailback, but he did establish himself as the favorite for the No. 2 tailback spot. And playing in NIU's offense, that will mean plenty of carries and receptions for the redshirt freshman.

QB Ryan Morris -- The starting quarterback competition looked like it would come down to Phil Horvath vs. Dan Nicholson, but Morris, a redshirt freshman walk-on looked solid in the spring, completing 13-of-23 passes for 126 yards in the spring game.

DE Larry English -- The sophomore may have found himself a job next fall with his play in the spring .The 6-3, 236-pounder registered five stops in the spring game, three of them sacks.

ROSTER REPORT: Quarterback Phil Horvath had a sprained ankle that he rolled during spring practice, limiting his time under center. He's not expected to be effected by the injury in the fall.