NIU expects big things from defensive lineman LeRoy
DeKALB - It's hard to imagine being considered undersized at 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 255 pounds.
But when Ben LeRoy started in 2016 on the Northern Illinois defensive line as a true freshman, he definitely was at a disadvantage.
"When I first got here, I was 255 playing three technique against grown men, 21, 22 years old, who were all 310 at least," LeRoy said. "I had to eat a lot more, I had to sleep a lot more. I had to put more efforts into recovery. That's something I've really harped on the past two years."
Now LeRoy is entering his junior year on the interior of the Huskies line and is listed at 302 pounds. He started 12 games last season, and both he and NIU coach Rod Carey are expecting a leap in production this year, which starts Saturday at Iowa.
The last time he played in a Big 10 stadium, he recorded a sack in a win at Nebraska.
"(The expectations are) to take the next step and not just be a solid starter but to be a guy who can execute the plays everywhere on the field no matter what we're doing," Carey said.
LeRoy is on the same line as consensus All-America Sutton Smith, who will be a redshirt junior this season. Smith set the NIU record for sacks and tackles for a loss last season, and scored twice on fumble returns.
LeRoy said nothing really changes, at least from a mental standpoint, with having Smith down the line from him, drawing the attention of opponents, if not double teams.
"It's always the same mindset - you have to go," LeRoy said. "You have to be able to attack the guy in front of you. It doesn't really change anything. Even if you know everyone's paying attention to him, you still have to do your job and execute."
LeRoy played eight games a freshman after being pressed into service because of injuries, making four tackles. Last year he had 37 tackles, 7.5 for a loss and two sacks.
"Ben is one of those guys, I don't want to call it a casualty, because he played real well in '16," Carey said. "But we had such an injury thing going on that year with the whole team, he played as a true freshman at 260 pounds, maybe. He probably was not ready. But he was good enough to play, and then he's matured. So fast forward into his true junior year he's 300 pounds, he's experienced, he's played extremely well at a high level in his mind and his body."
LeRoy's best game last year came at Central Michigan, a 31-24 loss for the Huskies in the regular-season finale. He had a career-best seven tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. He also had a sack.
"I started to get into a little roll at the end of the year," LeRoy said. "But it was my first year starting in college football, so it was a lot of learning on the fly. But I say it was a pretty good year."
The Huskies failed to make a bowl in 2016, snapping an eight-year streak. But last year, the team qualified for the postseason.
LeRoy said he's hoping for the Huskies - who were picked to win the MAC West in the preseason media poll - to make another leap forward.
"We have a lot of talent going into this defensive line, as well as the overall defense and offense," LeRoy said. "I think it's going to be pretty special."