In the class of 2015, Chicago Heights (Ill.) Bloom Township linebacker Kyle Pugh signed with the in-state Northern Illinois Huskies fresh off a MAC title and 11-3 finish under second-year head coach Rod Carey. Eight years later, the in-state product is still in DeKalb.
NIU has their own version of Van Wilder at Huskie Stadium.
After a redshirt season in 2015, Pugh suffered a season-ending injury in 2017 after playing only four games. After returning to be an All-MAC selection in 2018, the linebacker was again knocked out for the season in 2019 as a redshirt senior after only two games.