The Chicago Sun-Times: Soldier of Fortune
- NIU | Marine Coffman's latest adventure on Huskies' front line

Jake Coffman's game isn't nearly as polished as his shoes or belt buckle, but it's getting better. And the 23-year-old ex-Marine who served two tours in Iraq before walking on to the Northern Illinois football team last year has worked his way into the Huskies' defensive line rotation.

''We didn't know about him,'' defensive ends coach Mike Sabock said. ''He just showed up and wanted to play football. He was on the scout team and had no idea what he was doing. He'd just run around and hit people.''