Northwestern Captain Joseph Himon II Makes History

Joseph Himon II has already left his mark on Northwestern football, but the veteran running back is entering his final season of eligibility with another opportunity to add to his legacy.

Himon is the only player in Northwestern history to record an 80-plus-yard rushing touchdown, an 80-plus-yard reception and a 90-plus-yard kickoff return, a unique combination that highlights the explosiveness he has brought to the Wildcats throughout his career.

That explosiveness was on full display in Northwestern’s season opener.

With the Wildcats leading South Dakota State 27-18 late in the fourth quarter, Himon took his fourth carry of the night 80 yards for a touchdown, putting the game away and giving Northwestern a 34-18 victory.

The run was the longest by a Wildcat since Evan Hull had a 90-yard touchdown against Ohio in 2021. Himon finished with 87 rushing yards on only four carries while adding a 15-yard reception for 102 yards from scrimmage.

It was an ideal introduction to what Himon can provide in Chip Kelly’s new offense.

While Himon was not the most heavily used running back against South Dakota State, he once again showed why his ability to create explosive plays makes him such a valuable piece. 

Northwestern had 224 rushing yards in the opener, with Gavin Sawchuk and Caleb Komolafe also making significant contributions. The three backs give Kelly different styles to work with, creating opportunities for the Wildcats to keep defenses guessing.

For Himon, though, this season is about more than simply finding holes and making big plays.He is now one of the leaders of the team.

Himon was one of six players named Northwestern captains ahead of the 2026 season, joining Braydon Brus, Jackson Carsello, Aidan Chiles, Robert Fitzgerald and Griffin Wilde. The honor reflects how much the Wildcats value his experience and presence inside the locker room.

Himon enters his fifth season with Northwestern after appearing in 11 games last season and rushing for 486 yards on 99 carries. He also contributed 118 receiving yards and 131 kickoff-return yards in 2025, showing the versatility that has become a major part of his game.

That versatility could become even more important under Kelly. 

Northwestern has plenty of talent in its running back room, but Himon brings something that cannot necessarily be taught: experience in the program and the ability to turn a routine play into a game-changing one.

His 80-yard touchdown against South Dakota State was proof.

As Northwestern prepares for Colorado on Sept. 19, Himon will have another two weeks to recover, prepare and continue developing within Kelly’s system. The Wildcats will have to determine how they want to distribute touches among their talented backfield, but Himon has already shown he can make an impact even without a large workload.

Now entering the final season of his Northwestern career, Himon has one more opportunity to add to a resume that already includes some of the most explosive plays in program history.

If his season opener was any indication, the Wildcats may want to find as many ways as possible to get the ball into the hands of their veteran captain.