An efficient passer, a relentless runner, a tough competitor — Drew Hare proved to be a more-than-competent quarterback during his first year as Northern Illinois’ starter.
Now the junior is working on another important aspect of his game that isn’t reflected on the stat sheet.
More Top Picks Navee Gt3 Pro
“Honestly, leadership is the biggest thing, just being more of a leader around the guys,” Hare said. “Speaking up more. Leaders don’t always have to be the most vocal guys. They have to be the guys that you rely on, the guys you trust.
“I feel I have gotten more vocal. I feel like the guys look up to me a little more too.”
Hare’s teammates have taken notice as they prepare for Saturday’s opener against UNLV at Huskie Stadium.
“He makes sure his voice is heard,” wide receiver Juwan Brescacin said. “That’s a big deal because when he came in as a sophomore last year, he was kind of timid because he was a young guy in his first year. But he has always had our respect.”
This time last year, Hare was in a three-man battle for the starting job. He not only won the job, but also led the Huskies to their fifth straight season with at least 11 wins and their third Mid-American Conference championship in the last four.
Hare’s performance in the second game, a 23-15 victory at Northwestern, earned him the starting job the rest of the way. While he continues to strive for improvement, he at least feels a lot less pressure.
“Being the starter, it’s a whole different feeling than last year’s camp, when I was battling with two other guys,” Hare said. “It’s a little easier in that sense, getting better at my own skills.”
Hare passed for 2,322 yards last season with 18 touchdowns and only two interceptions, fewest in the nation among regular starters.
“Drew got better as the year went on,” coach Rod Carey said. “He won the job on the field. And I know he is looking for more.”
Hare and the Huskies offense hope to get a boost from the return of fifth-year senior wide receiver Tommylee Lewis, who missed all but two games last season because of a leg injury.
“We missed him last year; it’s going to be really fun to have him,” Hare said. “With summer throwing and 7-on-7s, we coordinated. It’s a big difference when he’s out there.”
Senior center Andrew Ness — who preceded Hare in coming to NIU from O’Fallon, Mo., in suburban St. Louis — joked that it took him a while to warm up to Hare.
“Me and Drew were kind of nemeses in high school,” Ness said. “My senior year, his high school (Fort Zumwalt West) beat mine (Christian Brothers), so I was angry at him for a little while. But my high school got payback his senior year, so I don’t let him forget it.
“But I knew he was a good player coming in because he tore us up in high school. He threw a lot.”
That’s not all he can do. Following in the tradition of recent NIU dual-threat quarterbacks Chandler Harnish and Jordan Lynch, Hare rushed for 900 yards and eight touchdowns on 159 attempts last fall.
“It’s always nice when you have a quarterback coming back and you don’t have a quarterback battle,” offensive coordinator Bob Cole said. “You’re pretty much way ahead from day one.”
Reason to believe: The Huskies have proven veterans in key positions and have been the state’s winningest FBS program over the past decade. The return of speedy WR Tommylee Lewis should add a dimension to an offense that has a strong stable of running backs in Joel Bouagnon, Jordan Huff and freshmen Marcus Jones and D.J. Brown.
Reason to doubt: A visit to defending national champion Ohio State on Sept. 19 could inspire early-season confidence — or expose glaring weaknesses. How long will it take for young offensive linemen Luke Shively, Max Scharping and Shane Evans to fit into the rotation?
Big hole to fill: The loss of go-to receiver Da’Ron Brown provides an opportunity for others to step up — or to take a more run-first approach.
Breakout player: Senior DE Perez Ford is on the Lombardi Award watch list after recording 57 tackles (33 solo), nine tackles for a loss, five sacks and three forced fumbles.
More Top Picks Best Premium Roof Jacks For Steep Slope Work
Season is a success if … The Huskies capture another MAC championship and win a bowl game after getting spanked 52-23 by Marshall last December in the Boca Raton Bowl. It was NIU’s seventh straight bowl appearance but third straight loss.