Marengo native Josh Holst to battle for NIU's QB1 job in the spring
DEKALB, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Thomas Hammock isn't one to handout starting spots on NIU's football team. He constantly wants his guys competing for jobs. That's why redshirt sophomore Josh Holst of Marengo will have to compete for the QB1 job this spring and possibly into August.Holst saw some action last season for the Huskies after Ethan Hampton went down with an injury. Holst also got the start at quarterback for the Huskies in the Idaho Potato Bowl. He helped the Huskies to a win by passing for 182 yards and two touchdowns.After that performance, he seemed to have the inside track on the start quarterback job going into next season. Hammock though put the brakes on that talk Monday during his pre-camp press conference. Hammock says there are other quarterbacks on the roster who are eager to compete and to show what they can do.Hammock did say that Holst has come a long way since arriving on campus a couple years ago.'You know, Josh is a young man that came to us, he was 165 pounds when he got here, so he needed to develop physically. He has done that. He's 205 pounds as of this morning. He's made jumps and strides every year. And, you know, he's out there commanding it, and he's putting himself in a position to compete. I think he has a lot of guys that want to compete against him.'The Huskies will hold their first of 15 spring practices this Thursday morning.NIU has added 19 players either through the transfer portal or true freshman for spring practices who weren't with the team last fall. Hammock likes how they are fitting in.Hammock says this group of receivers going into next season should be the best he's had in his six years in DeKalb. He also says the offensive line should be deeper than last year, but not as experienced.Hammock also says this is a mentally strong group of players. He says attitude and effort are keys. There is no negotiating when it comes to those two things.This fall will be the Huskies' final season in the Mid-American Conference. They'll join the Mountain West Conference in 2026.
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