NIU receiver Chad Beebe returns to roster for senior season

After suffering a right knee injury in practice last July, Northern Illinois wide receiver Chad Beebe sat on the sideline for his entire would-be senior season.

One year later, he is back on the field and practicing with Rod Carey and the Huskies, according to The Daily Chronicle.

Beebe has suffered a slew of devastating injuries during his time in DeKalb, but he is determined to return to field and contribute for Northern Illinois. The receiver also broke his arm in a gruesome manner during the 2014 MAC Championship game — requiring two metal plates and 13 screws to repair.

“Sometimes God puts you through a little adversity to build character and I’m not going to shy away from it at all,” Beebe told The Daily Chronicle this week.

The receiver has been a member of the Huskies program since the 2013 season, when NIU nearly ran the table to earn a BCS bid. From 2013-15, Beebe totaled 36 receptions for 513 yards and two touchdowns, achieving all career highs during the 2014 season.

Beebe has also fielded punt returns for Northern Illinois, accumulating 267 yards on 32 career return attempts. All three of his seasons on the field have resulted in Northern Illinois winning the MAC West. The Huskies fared 5-7 last season, but showed signs of promise toward the season's closure by winning four of their last five.

Despite the team's recent success, Beebe has yet to appear on offense in a bowl game, an opportunity he could achieve during his senior season.

Beebe's father Don was quite the expert in postseason success. Don played in six Super Bowls over the course of a nine-year playing career in the NFL. After coming up short with the Bills four times, he finally brought home a ring with the Packers after Super Bowl XXXI.

Chad already earned his hardware after winning the conference title in 2014, but with his presence and leadership back in Huskie Stadium for 2017, he hopes to lead the Huskies to yet another MAC championship.