Marengo grad Josh Holst ready for start in NIU’s bowl game

DeKALB – Josh Holst’s third career start is going to be a big one.

The NIU walk-on redshirt freshman quarterback and Marengo graduate is set to start the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Monday against Fresno State.

“Obviously, it’s a big game, it’s a bowl game,” Holst said. “You can get a ring. ... We just have to go out there, execute the game plan, dominate, start fast and everybody does their job and we’ll be fine.”

With Ethan Hampton in the transfer portal, coach Thomas Hammock said Holst will get the start. Holst appeared in six games this year, starting in losses against Toledo (13-6) and Ball State (25-23).

He also appeared in the Bowling Green game, entering after Hampton was hurt in the second quarter and trailing 7-3. The Huskies won 17-7 and Holst had a 22-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that put them ahead for the first time.

That was his lone rushing touchdown on 33 attempts this year, netting 165 yards and 5 yards per carry. He completed 58% of his passes with no touchdowns and an interception.

Holst said Bowling Green was a great game for him and the team before the slowdowns the next two weeks against Toledo and Ball State.

“But it’s also good experience,” Holst said. “It helps me grow, helps the team grow. It helps me get better as a person to know what I need to get better at, know what I need to do to help this team win. It was just a good experience. It was a good season.”

After the regular season ended for the Huskies (7-5) with a 24-16 win over Central Michigan, the Huskies entered bowl prep mode, which Hammock said was a mix on prepping for the game and developing young talent.

After the portal opened and Hampton jumped in, Holst became the starter. Hammock said Holst has made a tremendous jump over the last couple weeks.

“Sometimes when you’re thrust into that role you see your true character,” Hammock said. “I’ve been proud of Josh. I’m telling you right now he made a major, major jump that we hoped he would have made earlier in the season but sometimes better late than never.”

Hammock said it’s Holst’s leadership that has come along most at all. He said Holst has reacted differently knowing he’s the starter now, as opposed to earlier this year when he was a backup filling in for an injured starter.

“He’s got that alpha personality to him,” Hammock said. “Sometimes when you’re not the guy, it doesn’t quite shine through. But he has shown exactly who he is during this bowl prep and I’ve been excited to see it.”

Holst, however, said his mindset hasn’t changed.

“It kind of feels the same really because I’ve been preparing like that all year,” Holst said. “He was getting the starting reps toward the end of the year, I got some in the middle of the year. It’s not really any different because I’ve been acting like if I get in the game I need to play all year. That’s how most people are in the two-deep, maybe three-deep. You need to prepare to play.”

The Huskies are searching for their second straight bowl win, something they haven’t accomplished since 2010 and 2011.

The portal did take away a lot for the Huskies, but every player expected to start in the bowl game has made at least one start at some point in their careers.

A big reason why is the 30 seniors on the roster, including 20 who have spent their entire career with the Huskies.

Holst said the team is playing for them on Monday.

“We’re feeling super confident and super excited,” Holst said. “We’re all going to play for these seniors, send them off on the right note. Lost some guys, people are stepping up, everybody is excited to get their new role if they haven’t played before. They’re going to play, they’re going to show up and we’re going to dominate.”