#36

Jake Ference

P · Northern Illinois · Fr. · #36

Returning to Northern Illinois for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Jake Ference

P · Northern Illinois · Fr · #36

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
Northern Illinois
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Northern Illinois3-9HC: Thomas Hammock · Run-heavy, slow tempo

How he plays

Play style

Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Northern Illinois

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Punter · Northern Illinois

Returning around him

  • 53% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • Transfer portal: -16 net (6 in / 22 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Northern Illinois · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #125 · 2026 recruiting class #81

DNA match

Player DNA

Steady

Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.

P

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Ian Ratliff’s 2025 season.

Ian Ratliff

80%match

App State · 2025

#2

Palmer Williams

Baylor · 2023

76%
#3

Damon Greaves

Colorado · 2025

70%
#4

Damon Greaves

Kansas · 2024

69%
#5

AJ Winsor

Oregon State · 2025

68%

Matches Ian on

Yards / punt
In-20 rate
Weight

Differs from Ian on

Class year (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Palmer Williams's freshman season at Baylor (2023).

Baylor · 2023

All-Big 12
#2

Stewart McDonald

Missouri State · 2025

61%
#3

Bernardo Rodriguez

North Texas · 2020

56%
#4

Aaron Rodriguez

New Mexico · 2021

All-Mountain West
54%
#5

Ethan Slike

Akron · 2021

53%

Matches Palmer on

In-20 rate
Yards / punt

Differs from Palmer on

Class year (lower)
Weight (lower)
Height (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #15601

Final rank
#15601
Avg #15692.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #15601 this season.