Kendall Short is motivated for his senior football season at Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kan.

He hopes to bring that motivation and earn a leadership role with the team since he, who made a verbal commitment to Northern Illinois on June 15 and will be at the college level in 2013.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound running back was impressed with NIU’s facilities and everything the coaches had to offer. Short said the coaches made him feel comfortable and that he already felt like a member of the team while he was on his recruiting trip to DeKalb in June. Short seemed really impressed with, and looks forward to working with, coach Dave Doeren.

“I love him. He’s a nice guy. Straight to the point,” Short said. “I could tell he’s going to be a great coach who will look after me and put me in the right directions.”

Short, who said he never followed Huskies football too closely in the past, had an offer from the University of Kansas to work out at camp Tuesday, but did not attend because he knew his heart was set on NIU and he was making a smart choice.

Coincidentally, Kansas plays at NIU on Sept. 22.

“I’d rather be in a school that’s in the reloading process that wins a lot of games every year,” Short said. “I really like the college town and how the stadium is in the middle of campus.”

Short was recruited by linebackers coach Kevin Kane after the coaches saw Short’s recruiting profile on the NCSA website. Short said Kane told him to call defensive coordinator Jay Niemann about recruitment, and the rest was history when Short made his verbal commitment to the Huskies.

Short already knows what he wants during his time as a Huskie – to be a part of a successful team.

“I look forward to hopefully more bowl games, more MAC championships and more winning seasons.” Short said.

Before making his NIU debut, Short still has one more year at Mill Valley High and will focus on the upcoming season. Short ended his junior year with a total of 691 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

The senior believes his Mill Valley team has a good chance to make it deep in the playoffs after the team made it to the second round of high school playoffs in Kansas and ended with a record of 7-3 last season. Short believes that by making the verbal commitment to NIU, he will help motivate his teammates at Mill Valley.

“I think that by making a verbal commitment, I will be able to focus more on my teammates next year so I won’t be so selfish,” Short said, “but I’m really looking forward to playing for Northern Illinois.”