NORMAL — Eyad Salem admits “it’s a good story when you think about it.” Since arriving at Illinois State in 2006 as a walk-on transfer from Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead, Salem has authored a spectacular career while scrawling his name all over the Redbirds’ football record book.

Salem completes his third and final season at ISU in Saturday’s noon Missouri Valley Football Conference game against No. 9 Northern Iowa at Hancock Stadium with his place among the top wide receivers in school history secured.

“It’s been a long road. At the Division II school I was at, I envisioned where I wanted to be and where I wanted my team to be,” Salem said. “I’ve never strayed from that.”

Salem needs one catch against UNI to break a tie with Rickey Garrett at 177 for second on the ISU career receptions list. That total also ranks sixth in conference history. If Salem hauls in four passes, he vaults past Laurent Robinson’s 2005 Redbird standard of 86 in a season.

“I’m proud of everything I’ve done so far and how I’ve helped the school and our team try to be the best it can be,” Salem said. “I don’t look back on it too much. I won’t until after the last game when it all hits me.”

Sitting out the 2006 season to satisfy NCAA residency rules, Salem arrived as a Redbird force with seven catches for 106 yards against Missouri in 2007.

He caught 31 passes that season and covered 843 yards on 63 receptions in 2008 to earn first team all-Valley honors. Salem is almost certain to repeat that honor with 83 receptions for 869 yards as a senior.

Salem is third nationally with 8.3 catches per game and 12th at 86.9 yards per outing. He tops the MVFC in both categories.

“Eyad has a good feel for the game. He understands the precision of route running,” ISU coach Brock Spack said. “He has very good ball skills, and that makes him difficult to cover. He understands how leverage works in coverage.”

Salem is fourth on the ISU career lists for receiving yards (2,172) and receiving touchdowns (17). He didn’t just match the school record of 14 receptions in a game. He did it in back-to-back games against North Dakota State and No. 1-ranked Southern Illinois.

A native of Elgin, Salem is proud the 5-5 Redbirds have a chance for a winning season after a 3-8 record in 2008.

“I’ve always told myself if the team does well everything else falls into place,” he said. “From where we were at last year and where we’re at now, that somewhat shows. That’s why I try to be that team person.”

Blow to return: After missing the past two games with an ankle injury, senior tailback Geno Blow expects to play against Northern Iowa. 

“I finally think I’m prepared to play. I’ll test it out and see how it goes,” said the No. 10 career rusher in ISU history. “I want to finish my senior year on a good note. I’ll try my hardest. If it holds up, it holds up. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

If able, Blow will share the tailback duties with Cliffton Gordon.  

Up front: Center Cal McCarthy will miss his second straight game with a sprained knee. Nick Bledsoe again moves from his normal guard spot to center.  

Guard Charles Dennis (ankle) has practiced on a limited basis this week and will likely be part of a three-man rotation at guard with Keenan Wimbley and Mike Cross.