Job No. 1 for Northern Illinois interim head coach Rob Harley this season is to fix an offense that averaged just 17 points and 98 passing yards a game last fall.
The Huskies relied on their rushing attack to win games last year, but the offense had little explosiveness. It had no sizzle and rarely threatened defenses with deep passes or explosive plays. The passing attack produced just 4.5 yards per completion and eight touchdowns.
Forcing defenses to respect the passing game begins with naming the right starter at quarterback. A pair of returners and a seasoned transfer were expected to dominate the competition, but a record-setting FCS quarterback joined the party late and may end up claiming the job as his own.
Former Western Carolina starter Taron Dickens originally committed to play for North Carolina this year, but he signed with Northern Illinois in early July. The 2025 runner-up for the Walter Payton Award may be exactly the kind of playmaker the Huskies have been missing since Jordan Lynch scored 91 total touchdowns in 2012 and 2013.
Is Dickens the quarterback to lead Northern Illinois into a new era as a member of the Mountain West? NIU, UTEP and North Dakota State joined the conference this year after Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State and Utah State left for the Pac-12.
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Eye Of The ‘Tyger’
Dickens – whose nickname is Tyger – earned Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors after setting single-season conference records for passing touchdowns (38) and passer efficiency (188.24) last fall. He threw for a school-record 3,508 yards in just nine games, and he was intercepted twice in 365 passing attempts. He added 321 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound redshirt junior led the FCS in completion percentage (74.2%) and passing yards per game (389.8). He also set an NCAA record with 46 consecutive completions against Wofford and an NCAA multi-game record with 50 consecutive completions.
Dickens threw multiple touchdowns in all nine of the games he played in last fall. He threw for 582 yards and six touchdowns in his first start of the season and added 551 yards and seven touchdown passes against Mercer.
The Miami, Florida, native threw for almost 6,000 yards and 64 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Northwestern High in Florida. He was a three-star recruit in 2023, according to 247Sports, and chose Western Carolina over offers from several Group of Six programs, including Jacksonville State, FAU, Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo and Coastal Carolina.
NIU’s Quarterback Competition
Senior Jalen Macon and sophomore Brady Davidson are back after both saw action last season. Davidson played in eight games and threw for 384 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Macon is less polished as a passer, but the 6-5, 230-pounder is more of a dual threat. He started the final three games of last season and finished with one touchdown pass while rushing for 216 yards and five more scores.
University of Charleston transfer Ean Hamric also joined the Huskies this year. He has 17 career starts, and he posted 2,967 passing yards, 957 rushing yards and 42 total touchdowns the past two seasons.
FCS Quarterbacks In The Spotlight
Dickens and Hamric aren’t the only former FCS quarterbacks in the running to start for Mountain West teams this year.
Former Idaho quarterback Jack Layne should retain his starting spot at New Mexico when he returns from an injury that is expected to sideline him throughout fall camp. He threw for 2,486 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Lobos last season.
EJ Colson, who began his career at UCF, is pretty much a lock to start at UTEP after he posted 2,142 yards and 16 touchdowns at Incarnate Word last season. Former William & Mary starter Tyler Hughes is competing to win the starting job at Wyoming, and Nathan Hayes is expected to lead North Dakota State into its first season as an FBS program.
