Higgins fills gap for NU

Linebacker has been quick study

PHIL HIGGINSLeading tackler

With no trace of cockiness in his voice, Phil Higgins says he has been the fastest inside linebacker at Northeastern since his arrival on campus three years ago.

His coach, Rocky Hager, says Higgins has the ability to go from Point A to Point B "very quickly, he never goes half-speed."

Prior to the season, Higgins was second on the depth chart behind senior Craig Kenney, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last October against Maine. But Kenney tweaked his knee during the summer, his recovery was slower than anticipated, and he was redshirted for the season.

Higgins has seized the opportunity with authority.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 211-pound junior has been a force in the middle, recording a team-high 46 tackles for a unit that is playing with confidence after registering back-to-back victories against Cal-Davis (27-10) and Towson State (35-17) following three straight road losses.

"We felt that we should have won two of those [three games], but everyone has been clicking the last two games," said Higgins, who had nine tackles last week against Towson. "We started a little slow, but we've started to pick it up."

While fellow linebackers Cornelius Bunch (40 tackles) and David Akinniyi (four sacks), tackle Corey Thomas (three sacks) and cornerback Nate Thellen (four interceptions) have supplied plenty of punch, "the guy that kind of sparked it all was Phil Higgins," said Hager. "He's replaced Craig Kenney. If Kenney was completely healthy, Higgins is scratching for playing time."

"I've had to step up and be a leader, I didn't have that role before," said Higgins. "Craig has always been there, in my ear, almost my personal coach, encouraging me."

This afternoon's Colonial Athletic Association matchup at Parsons Field against 13th-ranked UMass (3-2, 1-1) presents a new challenge for Higgins and NU (2-3, 1-0).

"Their offensive line is huge, and very athletic, and running back [Tony Nelson] is pretty good, too," said Higgins.

The Minutemen have their house in order, particularly defensively, after last week's rugged 17-7 win over Delaware. Junior linebacker Josh Jennings has been unstoppable, punctuating his sensational start with a 16-tackle effort last week, earning CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors. "He's absolutely one of the best downhill linebackers I've seen in a long, long time," said Hager.

UMass coach Don Brown will not disagree. "A great player, with tremendous instincts," he said. Jennings leads the CAA in tackles (10.6 per game) with Higgins second (9.2).

Brown sees a Northeastern team that is improving, featuring a talented running back in Alex Broomfield (473 yards rushing, 5 touchdowns) and a quarterback, Anthony Orio, who continues to make great decisions.

"They utilize a lot of formations and try to get you out on the perimeter," said Brown, who as head coach at Northeastern in 2002 guided the Huskies to their only win against the Minutemen in the last 22 meetings. "Going to Northeastern is never easy."

Hager said playing UMass is special. "They're going to be physical, we need to be physical," said Hager. "If you're going to be in the hunt for the CAA North title, the hunt for the championship goes through Amherst."

Fourth-ranked New Hampshire (4-0), which was off last week, welcomes William & Mary (2-2) to Durham today, with both teams capable of lighting up the scoreboard. UNH (38.2 points per game) and William & Mary (36.5) rank second and third behind James Madison (38.3) in overall scoring in the CAA.

Wildcats junior running back Chad Kackert, who leads the conference in all-purpose yards per game (220), is questionable with a knee injury.

"I've been really impressed with how much they've improved defensively," said UNH coach Sean McDonnell. "They are the best all-around team that we have played yet."

In the Ivy League, Harvard (2-1) hosts a Cornell team (3-0) that has been stingy against the run after transitioning to a 3-3-5 scheme.

"They're coming in here with a lot of energy," said Harvard coach Tim Murphy, who was encouraged when his Crimson committed no turnovers in last week's 27-13 win at Lafayette. "[Cornell] was near the bottom of the league last year in defense and now they're giving up 1.4 yards per rush."

Brown travels to Holy Cross for a nonconference clash with promise. In the NESCAC, Tufts at Trinity should be a treat.

Craig Larson can be reached at clarson@globe.com