Football. NIU Kickers and Punters Having Strong Preseason

The Northern Illinois football team completed the first half of its third two-a-day practice of the preseason on Wednesday, but rain and lightning forced the evening session to be cancelled. One of the focal points at the beginning of practice was special teams. With a very competitive battle between punters Ryan Neir (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) and Josh Wilber (Phoenix, Ariz./Barry Goldwater/Phoenix College) and the return of senior kicker and Lou Groza Award preseason watchlist candidate Mike Salerno (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg/Winona State) the Huskies feel they have one of the best special teams units in the Mid-American Conference.