In the evolving world of college football, programs are not immune to changes that seem to occur daily. Not even NIU can escape the sweeping landscape.
An elite NIU running back has announced his transfer portal decision following the departure of head coach Thomas Hammock, who left to join the Seattle Seahawks.
NIU RB Lazaro Rogers Heads into Transfer Portal
A day after Haddock left the program to take a running backs coaching position with the Seahawks, Lazaro Rogers decided to enter the transfer portal. The rising sophomore will have three seasons of eligibility remaining as he leaves DeKalb. He took to social media to make the announcement official, writing:
“I’m officially putting my name in the transfer portal 🙏🏽.”
I’m officially putting my name in the transfer portal 🙏🏽.
— LAZARO ROGERS (@LazRogers2) February 18, 2026
Coming out of Lehigh Acres, Fla., Rogers was a three-star prospect, according to 247Sports. During his freshman campaign at NIU, he carried the ball 33 times for 189 yards and 1 touchdown.
In the passing game, he contributed 1 catch for 2 yards. While it may not appear to be a tremendous loss for the Huskies, it stands as another recent development. Last year, the school agreed to leave the Mid-American Conference and join the Mountain West as a football-only program.
Hammock’s departure holds a double meaning for the team. First, defensive coordinator Rob Harley takes over as interim coach. The program will enter its new conference with a coach under the interim tag.
Previously, Harley served as Arkansas State’s defensive coordinator. The transitions come at a time when Northern Illinois’ future is in flux. Most importantly, the roster can enter the portal, and the potential lack of numbers could greatly affect how the Huskies fare during the upcoming season.
Rogers was the No. 3 running back on the depth chart. As a result, with few carries, Rogers did not rank on the PFSN CFB WR Impact Rankings. The two backs listed ahead of him, Chavon Wright and Telly Johnson Jr., held the No. 123 and No. 247 positions.
Where Rogers heads next remains uncertain. The only other FBS school to offer him was Boise State. At present, the Broncos have two backs (Dire Riley and Sire Gaines) who combined for 2,167 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns. Another possibility for Rogers could be a return to his home state of Florida.
NIU will begin its season Sept. 8 against the University of Iowa. Between now and then, the team’s roster could look different. How that will affect the program going forward remains to be seen.
