2014 Northern Michigan Football Preview (by Tony Nicolette, GLIAC contributor)

Head coach Chris Ostrowsky enters his third season leading the program at Northern Michigan, and despite lower win totals than he might like in his first two campaigns (including a 3-7 mark in last year) he exudes enthusiasm about what he thinks his team can do heading into 2014.  Given the enormous amount of youth in his starting line-ups last year, it’s hard to argue with his rationale and the notion that youth giving way to experience will generate more victories.

Injury cut QB Cody Scepaniak’s senior campaign short last year, but opened the door for freshman Shaye Brown to step in and gain value experience as the club’s starter over the 2013 season’s final weeks.  Fellow underclassman Wyatt Jurasin worked his way into the starting role at RB, and wound up leading the team in rushing.  He returns, as does one of the few seniors expected to start on offense in Marcus Tucker who led the ‘Cats in receptions last year.

Defensively, Northern does have several key pieces back.  Most notable of that group is leading tackler Nick Krause who will lead the LB corps.  Also expected to take on a major role in this year’s unit will be FS Levi Perry, who tallied the third highest tackle total on the team in 2013.  As for the line, Trevor Kruzel should continue to be a force at DE, a spot from which he led the team in tackles-for-loss a year ago.

The schedule does favor Northern slightly, with only four its eleven opponents having posted a winning record last season.  Travel for away contests will be tough, however, particularly in weeks two through six will when the Wildcats venture south four times in those five games.  Those four trips will include ventures into Ohio and Illinois in addition to their usual jaunts to various spots in the Lower Peninsula.