C-G grad Kube feels comfortable at new weight

The Cary-Grove graduate, who will be a senior this fall for Northern Illinois’ football team, was 234 pounds, his highest weight ... “ever,” Kube said.

Despite spending the past two seasons at strongside linebacker for NIU, the weight helped Kube come to the realization that he’s in the right spot in the Huskies’ defense.

“I’m more comfortable than I’ve ever been,” Kube said.

That was not always the case.

In 2007, he piled up 111 tackles as a 195-pound redshirt freshman safety. When new head coach Jerry Kill came aboard after that season, Kube was moved to linebacker.

“I didn’t totally buy into it,” Kube said. “I kept coming back to the fact that I was a safety. I was disappointed in the last two seasons.”

This summer, disappointment is far from Kube’s vocabulary. NIU is predicted to win the Mid-American Conference West Division by two preseason publications and he is one of 10 returning defensive starters.

“This is my third year in the system,” Kube said. “I finally put on the weight I needed to. Now, my confidence is just so huge. I expect big things. I don’t want anything less than a (MAC) championship. “

Kube’s expectations grew when the coaching staff said goodbye to the team for a three-week break.

Three days later, “35 guys were there working out, including myself,” he said. One week into the summer break, nearly the entire team had returned to campus to work out together.

“This is the hardest I’ve ever worked,” Kube said. “And this is the best my body has felt.”

Kube also has found a comfort level in being a mentor to younger players because of his experiences.

“I tell them how fragile and how precious the game is,” he said. “You need to have three goals when you become a college football player – graduate, become a better player and become a better person. I’m going to end up doing all three. I couldn’t be any happier.”

UIC’s Horizon stars: Crystal Lake South grads Kellie Schuh and Matt Zaluckyj won individual events last month at the Horizon League’s outdoor track and field championships for Illinois-Chicago.