NIU linebacker Brown cleared to play this season

DEKALB -- Northern Illinois learned Wednesday afternoon that junior linebacker Phil Brown, projected as a starter after spring practice, will be eligible this season.

The NCAA approved NIU's petition on behalf of Brown, who needed a waiver on the rule that requires student-athletes to have enough credit hours to show normal progress toward a degree.

According to Huskies coach Joe Novak, Brown's case involved a change of majors intermingled with "extenuating circumstances."

"Two weeks ago, we felt like there was a 20 percent chance for him," Novak said. "That's why I didn't bring him into camp. We're fortunate, and he's fortunate."

Brown made his practice debut Saturday and worked with the second-string defense Wednesday, but Novak doesn't expect much help in Saturday's opener against Iowa at Soldier Field.

"He'll be dressed," Novak said. "I would say he'll only play in an emergency situation."

• Freshman running back Chad Spann spent less than a month as an invited walk-on. That's a good thing for him and the Huskies.

The Indianapolis product signed scholarship papers last Thursday after impressing the NIU coaches throughout fall camp.

Spann, who rushed for 1,935 yards and 22 scores in his senior year at North Central High School, joined the Huskies as an invited walk-on after receiving no scholarship offers from Football Bowl Subdivision schools.

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound Spann quickly climbed up the depth chart and will see a decent number of snaps in Saturday's opener.