Marcus Childers - NIU Huskies

1) Marcus Childers is the starting quarterback for the Northern Illinois University Huskies football team who play in the Mid-American Conference.

2) Marcus was selected as the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2017 by league coaches.

3) Marcus Childers attended Adairsville High School in Adairsville, Georgia where he passed for more than 1,000 yards and ran for over 1,500 yards in two seasons as starting quarterback. Marcus also led the Adairsville Tigers to the most points in a season in school history with 499 points in 12 games. 

Photo credit Sean King/ Shaw Media

J: What other sports did you play besides football in high school?

Marcus Childers: I played everything. Basketball, baseball, track. I just wanted to show coaches that I was versatile.

J's Follow Up: He's so good at football because he played all those sports in high school.

D: Who is the toughest college team you have played so far?

Marcus Childers: Probably Duke to open up last season but I would say Toledo is a close second.

J's Follow Up: I think Duke and Toledo are both really good. I think Toledo will probably the hardest game this year too but Utah and Iowa are good.

D: What is your favorite vegetable?

Marcus Childers: Broccoli.

D's Follow Up: Broccoli is my second favorite veggie behind carrots. Almost all players say they love broccoli.

On Saturday, August 4th, the boys and I made our way back to Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium in Dekalb for NIU's family day and the first practice of summer camp. While at camp, the boys and I hoped to go face to face with our favorite college QB who runs the show for our favorite college football team, the NIU Huskies. 

Photo credit Kurt Steiss/ The Toledo Blade

We waited in line in hopes to talk to Marcus, take a photo, and J and D were hoping he would sign the cleats that they had just purchased at the first ever NIU gear sale. The cleats are just like the ones that the Huskies wear during practice or on game days. Sure enough, the boys were able to get up close and personal with the redshirt sophomore QB who will help lead the Huskies into Kinnick Stadium to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes to kick off the 2018 season. Marcus was friendly, signed their cleats, and happy to answer their questions. They talked about him all the way home.

It feels like we've waited forever for football to be back and we are so excited that the day has finally arrived. We look forward to cheering Marcus Childers and his teammates on and we hope they can knock off the Hawkeyes from the Big Ten in their season opener. We'll see Marcus in person next week at Huskie Stadium as our Huskies battle Utah in the home opener. These Huskie Pup Club members will hope to high five Marcus before the game and I'm sure they'll be on the lookout for him after the game to say hi. Thanks to Marcus for the cool experience and we wish him a great season ahead!

Sutton Smith - NIU Huskies

1) Sutton Smith is a defensive end for the Northern Illinois University Huskies of the Mid-American Conference. 

2) Smith had a breakout 2017 season where he led the nation in sacks (14), tackles for loss (29.5), and quarterback pressures (73). Sutton was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year, First-team All-Mac, and a Consensus All-American. He enters his junior year as one of the top returning pass rushers and defenders in the country.

3) Sutton Smith attended Francis Howell High School in Missouri where he was a star RB while also playing other positions. He finished his career as a First Team All-State running back and was also named Large School Player of the Year. 

J: What sports did you play growing up?

Sutton Smith: I ran track in high school. I played soccer all the way up to 8th grade and I played a little bit of tee ball. I lived in Texas for 10 years of my life and football is a religion in Texas. So we base most stuff around football. So I mostly played football.

J's Follow Up: I'm thinking about doing long jump in track and I love to play soccer. I've been playing soccer since first grade and I love to watch it on TV too. I play flag football in the summer. I'm guessing Sutton Smith was really fast in track because he's so fast getting to the quarterback and getting sacks.

Photo credit / Getty Images

D: Who is the toughest college team that you've played?

Sutton Smith: The hardest team was probably Toledo. Last year, Toledo was a really good team. They had quarterback Logan Woodside who was pretty good. He was a gunslinger.

D's Follow Up: Toledo is a good team. I think the Huskies will beat them this year. Alabama would be the best team he's played against if they played each other.

D: What are your favorite healthy foods?

Sutton Smith: I like smoothies. You can't really go wrong with them. I like them with strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, blackberries, and bananas. I also love chicken breast too, any way you want to make it.

D's Follow Up: I love smoothies too. My favorite smoothies have mangoes, strawberries, blueberries, and juice. Sutton's smoothie sounds good too. I like chicken like Sutton too.

Photo credit / Getty Images

On Saturday, August 4th, the boys and I made our way back to Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium in Dekalb for NIU's family day and first ever gear sale. NIU is my alma mater along with Jen and we love to make it back with the boys to cheer on the Huskies as often as we can. With an opportunity to purchase some amazing items that NIU athletes have worn and to have the chance to meet them after practice, you can count us in every time!

The gear sale was amazing. We wish we had gotten to the Chessick Center (practice facility) a little earlier but we were still able to get t-shirts, golf polos, volleyballs, shorts, bags, and we even bought a few pairs of cleats that NIU athletes would wear on game day. The boys had two players in mind that they had hoped would sign their cleats, Sutton Smith and QB Marcus Childers. Fortunately for them, they got them both!

    

                            QB Marcus Childers

Sutton Smith was very approachable and was happy to answer J and D's questions. They were excited to hear about Sutton's favorite healthy foods, the sports he played growing up, and D is still proud that Sutton told him he saw a vein while flexing his muscles.

Sutton Smith is one of the best college football players in the nation and like most NIU players, he is still underrated and doesn't get the recognition he has earned. The Huskies do things The Hard Way and NIU opponents learn quickly what that means when the ball is kicked off on Saturdays (or Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, lol). They are motivated and excited to prove to the nation what they are all about. We can't wait for the season to kick off on Saturday, September 1st in Iowa vs. the Hawkeyes and we'll be in the house for the home opener against Utah on September 8th. You'll find us in our Huskie gear as we cheer as loud as we can for our favorite team in red and black. Until then, Sutton and the Huskies will grind through fall camp and continue to do things #TheHardWay.