NORMAL, Ill. - Former Illinois State offensive lineman Joe Niklasch (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead HS) has signed a professional contract to play with the Bloomington Extreme of the Indoor Football League. Niklasch joins teammate Jonathan St-Pierre as Illinois State football players from the 2008 team that have been selected to play in the professional ranks. St-Pierre was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the 10th pick overall of the 2008 CFL Draft.
Niklasch began his career for Illinois State at left guard, where he started 13 games for Illinois State in 2006. He switched to right guard prior to the 2007 season, a position that he also played at in 2008. He earned honorable mention Missouri Valley Football Conference honors for the Redbirds last season.
Niklasch started 42 games during his four-year career, which included 35-straight starting assignments from 2006-08. His consecutive games started streak was the longest among all Illinois State players last season.
The Hartland, Wis., native was part of an Illinois State offensive line that allowed the Redbirds to amass 2,169 rushing yards on the season, the 10th-highest total in school history. ISU's 197.18 rushing yards per game average in 2008 was the third-best in The Valley Football Conference and ranked 18th in the nation.
"We are excited to get the best Illinois State football prospect from this season hands down," said Bloomington Extreme head coach Kenton Carr. "Joe is a throwback guy who you want on your side when you go to battle each and every week. He gives you everything he has, every play of the game, and his toughness and work ethic are very hard to find."
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