CHICAGO, Ill. -- Returning 61 Vikings while welcoming 45 newcomers, fifth-year Head Football Coach Kyle Rooker has plenty of reasons to look forward to the 2023 season. Of the 61 Vikings coming back for another year on the gridiron in Chicago, 51 saw varsity action in 2022. Most notably, All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) awardees Jason Adkinson (Jr./DB), Carson Blatchford (Sr./P/K), AJ Harris (Sr./WR), Jaydin Miller (Jr./LB), and Juan Nieves (Jr./DB/RS). Additionally, two-year starting quarterback Matt Eck (Jr.) second-leading tackler Theo Smith (So./LB), leading rusher Marcel Love (Jr./RB), and second-leading receiver Wesley McCloud (So./WR) are all back for more in 2023.
"We are excited for the 2023 season to begin," said Coach Rooker. "This year's team is the deepest and most experienced group that we've had since our staff's arrival. We have players with starting experience at nearly every position, four fifth-year seniors, and five players who have been named to the All-CCIW team in previous seasons. Most importantly, this group continues to work extremely hard, grows closer together by the day, and has become a player-led team. We have lots of reasons for optimism. Now, it's time to execute."
Adkinson was a Second Team All-CCIW selection in 2021, leading the Vikings with 11 pass breakups. That same year, he totaled 26 tackles (15 solo), intercepted a pass, and broke up three passes against both Wheaton and Carroll. Last year, he broke up five passes, picked off a pass, recovered an onside kick, and totaled eight tackles.
Blatchford proved to be the league's top punter in 2022, earning First Team All-CCIW accolades in his second season with the Vikings. He led the league with eight punts that went for more than 50 yards, including a 67-yarder against Augustana. In league play, he booted seven punts inside his opponents' 20-yard line and forced five touchbacks. He also kicked off 36 times, averaging 49.9 yards per kickoff.
Harris secured 2021 First Team All-CCIW honors as a wide receiver after leading the Vikings in receptions (50), yards (845), and yards per reception (16.9). He also functioned as kickoff returner, leading the team with 326 yards over 18 returns (18.1 avg), including a team-high 87 yard return against Carthage (10/16). In 2022, he led the Vikings with 488 receiving yards in 41 catches, adding three touchdowns via the pass, three on the ground, and one via kick return (89yds).
Miller embraced a quality sophomore season as one of the league's top linebackers, leading to Second Team All-CCIW honors in 2022. His 69 tackles were good for fifth-most and his 12 tackles for a loss of 49 yards was good for the ninth-most in the CCIW. He totaled 6.5 sacks for 47 yards (7th in CCIW) and added an interception against Augustana. Alongside Nieves, he accounted for the only other punt return touchdown in the CCIW; a 62-yarder against Elmhurst. Overall, he led the Vikings with an eye-popping 13.5 tackles for a loss of 62 yards and added 7.5 sacks (-54yds).
Nieves is a two-time All-CCIW selection, earning second team honors as a freshman in 2021 before First Team recognition in 2022. As a freshman, he tied with Adkinson for the team lead in pass breakups (11), led NPU with three interceptions, and recorded 64 tackles (41 solo). Last year, he was an All-CCIW pick as both a return specialist and defensive back, averaging 28.29 yards per return and 198 yards. He accounted for the CCIW's only punt return TD (alongside Miller) which was a 90-yarder against Millikin. He added a 99-yard kick return TD against WashU. Defensively, he totaled three picks and 10 pass breakups in CCIW action, adding 40 tackles, six for a loss of yards. Finally, he added 2.5 sacks (-22yds), forced a fumble, blocked two kicks, and added a QB hurry.
Eck has won the starting QB gig at North Park since his 2021 freshman season. Since then, he's completed 340 passes for 3,998 total yards, accounting for 26 TD's. He's thrown a career long 70-yard pass and added a rushing TD last season. He threw for a season-high 378 yards with four touchdowns against Augustana last year and secured a completion percentage of 63.2 at Wheaton (24-of-38).
Smith enjoyed a standout freshman campaign in 2022, becoming the Vikings' second-leading tackler with 52 (31 solo). 2.5 tackles went for a loss of three yards and he continued to terrorize his opposition by breaking up three passes, picking one off, forced a fumble, and recovered two. Against WashU, he forced and recovered a fumble while securing a season-high 10 tackles at Illinois Wesleyan.
Love was the Vikings' leading rusher in 2022 netting 239 yards while adding a touchdown against Augustana. He rushed for a season-high 73 yards against Elmhurst and added 120 receiving yards off 18 catches. He found the endzone via the pass twice, both against Augustana and Elmhurst.
Finally, Wesley McCloud was the second-leading target for North Park in 2022, totaling 362 receiving yards on just 20 catches. He led North Park with 18.10 yards per catch and had a season-long reception of 67 yards at Millikin. He totaled 91 yards on four catches against Carthage and had a pair of touchdowns on the season.
Coach Rooker also returns key targets in Bryan Boyd (25 catches for 293yds), Caleb Jones (12 catches, 169yds, TD), Jakob Dreksler (15 catches, 133yds), Joseph Kalas (20 catches, 2 TDs), and Thomas Knight (8 catches, TD).
Defensively, Jeff Fisher (5th/DB), Mo Carter (Sr./DB), and Jonathan Thomas (So./DE) are three of the top returning tacklers from 2022. Fisher was fourth on the team with 48 tackles (30 solo) while breaking up a pair of passes. Carter played in only seven games but accounted for 30 tackles and a pair of interceptions. Thomas was the Vikings' sixth-leading tackler with 35 (20 solo) and led the way with four QB hurries and two fumble recoveries.
North Park will open their season at Manchester University on Saturday, September 2, before opening up their CCIW schedule at home, September 16, against Carroll University.
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