Rocky Lombardi added to crowded NIU QB room as Hammock looks for offensive improvement during spring practices

Throughout last season, NIU coach Thomas Hammock spoke highly of the young quarterbacks backing up starter Ross Bowers.

But when the Huskies brought in junior transfer Rocky Lombardi from Michigan State, Hammock said they couldn’t pass up that opportunity.

“You never want to go into a season with a young room, no matter how talented you think you are,” Hammock said. “Anytime you have an opportunity to add a guy with experience, especially Big Ten experience, it’s huge.

“Also from a leadership perspective. Sometimes as a freshman or a young guy, you may not take the leadership of the team as your responsibility. You just think, ‘If I play my game, I’ll be good.’ But at the quarterback position, which is unique, it takes a guy who wants to be different, wants to be respected and not liked. And Rocky has that demeanor about him.”

As the team is set to start spring practices Friday, Hammock said all four quarterbacks – junior Rodney Thompson, second-year freshman Dustin Fletcher and first-year freshman Ethan Hampton along with Lombardi – are in competition for the spot.

“Obviously, when you take a transfer, nothing was guaranteed to Rocky, and he understands that,” Hammock said. “But he’s earned the respect of his teammates the way he works. He has great football IQ. High, high, tremendous passion for the game.

“But we have [three] guys that are going to compete with Rocky.”

Hammock said he is hoping for mobility out of the quarterback spot this year and said all four quarterbacks have the ability to run.

Thompson and Fletcher both saw fleeting playing time behind Bowers last year. Hampton is an early graduate from Aurora Christian this year, joining NIU early.

“He’s not a typical freshman,” Hammock said. “He’s not going to take a back seat to anybody. I can see him being very competitive in this quarterback competition.”

Hammock said the goal of the offseason is to work on the offense, which struggled throughout the year as the Huskies finished 0-6 in the shortened 2020 season. It was a free season in terms of eligibility, with no players using any eligibility throughout the NCAA.

A lot of seniors decided to leave, with only seven seniors on this year’s roster for NIU. That includes running back Clint Ratkovich, a transfer from Western Illinois who Hammock describes as a flexible, Kyle Juszczyk type.

Juszczyk, the 49ers’ All-Pro, just signed a $27 million dollar extension with the team. And with the ability to catch the ball and block, Hammock sees some similarities.

“I sent Clint Kyle Juszczyk’s contract the other day. I think he got five years, $27 million,” Hammock said. “The thing I told Clint was I remember when Kyle was in his second year, it was my first year in Baltimore. His ability to help the offense in a bunch of different spots is value. We played him at halfback. He played him at fullback. He played some wide receiver. He played some tight end. And that’s the way we plan to use Clint.

“This guy is one of the strongest guys on our team. We have to find creative ways to find mismatches to get him the ball.”

Tight end Luke Mallette, wide receiver Tyrice Richie, offensive lineman Brayden Patton, punter Matt Ference and linebackers Lance Deveaux and Kyle Pugh are the other seniors on the roster. Nine seniors from last year’s roster elected not to return.

“It was big for us to add Rocky, to add Clint, you get Kyle Pugh back, you get Lance Deveaux back, Brayden Patton, Marques Cox,” Hammock said. “Guys that have been in the program and understand what it takes to lead, and they’re respected. We have a nice balance of veteran leadership. And then we have enough guys that have played and understand, ‘I can be a leader. I am going to do things right on and off the field.’ ”

But the No. 1 focus of the spring, Hammock said, is scoring points.

“Offensively, we have to become a more explosive and dynamic unit,” Hammock said. “No. 1, we have to protect the football, but No. 2, we have to create big plays.

“Watching the guys run, watching the quarterbacks operate, I’m excited to see that group.”