BUILDING BLOCKS: NSU will look to continue its forward progress in 2022 – Tahlequah Daily Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. Northeastern State took a couple of steps forward in 2021 and will look to advance furthermore this upcoming season.

The RiverHawks got into the win column for the first time since the 2017 season and did so twice, going 2-9. It was the programs first two-win campaign since 2016.

Really excited about the opportunity of the season being right around the corner, said NSU head coach J.J. Eckert Tuesday at the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Football Media Day at Kansas City Convention Centers Little Theater. As you go back and recap 2021, you have expectations. You had the whole 2020 COVID year and the things that went along with that and hopefully youre looking for better things and the opportunity to improve in a lot of areas. I think big picture wise, we were able to do some things as a football program to do that. The problem was that we didnt do the things we had to do down the stretch to be the kind of program that we would like to be.

Eckert, who was joined Tuesday by players Blake Corn and Isaiah Davis, emphasized the differences in the past two offseasons.

You look at that 2-9 and when you come out of September and youre where youre at, you want to work hard as far as trying to improve, so obviously going into the spring that was a big, big, big emphasis was just trying to make sure that we continue to be a mentally and physically tough football team a lot like this league is made of up, Eckert said.

This year got us back on track with a full offseason. You had an opportunity to have an eight-week winter conditioning program, and thats important. In this league there are a lot of guys that are redshirt juniors, redshirt seniors, super seniors like we had last year. Weve got to continue to get bigger, faster, stronger to be the kind of program that we want to be, and I think that was something this year allowed us to do it. This spring was the best weve had up to this point from a weight room standpoint.

In his first full season with the RiverHawks, Corn collected 19 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles for losses, and had 3.5 quarterback sacks and a quarterback hurry in 11 games.

Corn is a former Tahlequah High School standout that has made a big impact for NSU at the defensive end position.

It means everything to me, Corn said of representing NSU Tuesday. Tahlequah is where I grew up. Tahlequah is where Ive lived my whole life, and to play for the university in my hometown its one of the greatest honors, especially being coached by another Tahlequah alum. Its just a great feeling to have to be able to be home.

Davis, a junior running back, rushed for a team-high 346 yards on 85 carries (4.1 yards per carry) with four touchdowns. Davis, who played in all 11 games, also had 14 receptions for 129 yards and a pair of TDs.

Davis feels hes made strides, along with the entire offense.

I think I improved by getting bigger, faster, stronger, Davis said. I feel like as a whole offense we have all taken steps in the right direction. We were young last year, so weve got a bunch of guys coming back that know the offense.

The RiverHawks are currently in search of a defensive coordinator with the start of fall camp less than two weeks away. Former defensive coordinator Michael Conrad departed a couple of weeks ago.

Theres never good timing when you lose a coach in any situation, Eckert said. But at the end of the day I think its important to find a way to make it a situation you can get better from, and the timing piece makes that difficult sometimes. Hopefully we can get something turned around in a quick manner, and hopefully we can get everything situated so come Aug. 1 were ready to roll.

The RiverHawks open fall camp Friday, Aug. 5 and their season opener is Thursday, Sept. 1 on the road against Emporia State. Their home opener is Saturday, Sept. 10 against Missouri Southern at Doc Wadley Stadium.

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BUILDING BLOCKS: NSU will look to continue its forward progress in 2022 - Tahlequah Daily Press