2012: Redshirt junior season (final year at NU) ... Adopted well to his move late in 2011 from linebacker to superback, assuming a larger role in the offense as 2012 progressed ... At Michigan, recorded the first three rushing attempts of his career, finishing with 11 ground yards and adding a 14-yard reception ... The next week at Michigan State, caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Kain Colter, the second score of his career (first came in 2011 Meineke Car Care Bowl, also on a pass from Colter) ... In regular-season finale vs. Illinois, rushed three times for a career-best 23 yards, including a long of 12 yards ... Closed his career by rushing twice for five yards and catching a 6-yard pass in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl win vs. Mississippi State ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2011: Played in 11 of 13 games, contributing primarily on special teams coverage ... Made the switch from linebacker to superback late in the season and during bowl practices ... His first career catch was a 2-yard touchdown toss from Kain Colter in the fourth quarter of the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, which he held on to while falling out of bounds ... Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
2010: Appeared in 10 games ... Academic All-Big Ten ... Recorded two tackles and his first career forced fumble at Minnesota.
2009: Did not see action ... Named team's defensive practice player of the week vs. Miami (Ohio).
High School: Two-time Class 6A IHSA All-State selection ... Named to first-team all-state teams by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Champaign News-Gazette ... Honored in 2008 as the Offensive MVP for the Southwest Prairie Conference ... Starred as a running back and safety for the Panthers ... Set Oswego's career rushing mark with 4,536 yards (636 carries) for a 7.1 ypc average ... Scored 58 career TD's ... Rushed for 1,886 yards and 26 TD's his senior season and registered 2,038 yards of total offense ... Set a Class 6A state playoff single-game record with 50 carries (for 313 yards) in the second round vs. Rock Island ... Named the Walter Payton Co-Player of the Year for the Southwest Prairie Conference ... Beacon News All-Area first team and Tom Lemming's 2008 Prep Football All-Area football team ... Oswego's team MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and team captain ... Chicago Sun-Times Spotlight Player of the Week for Oct. 25, 2008 ... Old Spice Red Zone National Player of the Year nominee ... Also lettered in basketball, baseball and track ... Three-time IHSA All-State Academic team ... Illinois State Scholar ... Finished fourth (out of 352 students) in senior class ... Oswego's High Honor Roll member all four years ... NHS and Mathematic Honorary Society ... Coached by Dave Keely.
Personal: Born Tim Michael Riley ... Son of Lori Riley and Tim Riley ... His great uncle, Robert Plaskas, was a Big Ten champion wrestler at Northwestern in 1963 ... Economics major.
Riley's Career Stats
The Riley File
Q: Name five favorite songs (and artist) on your I-Pod:
A: Till' I Collapse - Eminem; Forever -- Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem; Not Afraid -- Eminem; Many Men -- 50 Cent; No Love -- Eminem, Lil Wayne
Q: If you could dine with anyone from any period in history, who would it be and why?
A: Chris Farley, because he would be hilarious
Q: What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned?
A: It's not about how you respond when you succeed. It's about how you respond when you fail.
Q: A song that best describes you and why?
A: Till' I Collapse, because it's about working hard until you can't work anymore.
Q: Something people would be surprised to know about me is:
A: My hair would be really curly if I grew it out
Q: My favorite place to visit is and why?
A: Ireland, because it is an awesome country
Q: Which current NU football player is the biggest jokester on the team and why?
A: Stone Pickney, because he is a great actor.
Q: My favorite thing about NU is and why?
A: Reading Week, because there are no classes during it.
Q: Best part about being a Northwestern football player is:
A: Being able to play football at a high level
Q: Describe Coach Fitzgerald in five words or less:
A: Commands respect.
Q: Describe your position coach in five words or less:
A: Crazy
Q: Most humbling experience:
A: Breaking my arm and having to watch the game from the sidelines.
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement and why?
A: Earning a scholarship to play at Northwestern because it is a Division I football school with great academics.
Q: The best book I have ever read is and why?
A: Count of Monte Cristo, because it is a story about revenge.
Q: The person that inspires me the most is:
A: My mother
Q: When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be:
A: Adrian Peterson or Deion Sanders
Q: My favorite pregame ritual is:
A: Listen to music
Q: If you could have a starring role in any film already made, which movie would you pick and why?
A: Gladiator, because Maximus is a stud in that movie.
Q: My favorite food is:
A: Grilled chicken
Q: My favorite thing about playing at Ryan Field is:
A: The game-time atmosphere
Q: Best thing about Northwestern is:
A: The beach.
Q: My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be:
A: Making a tackle on fourth-and-goal to win the Rose Bowl
Q: My favorite television show is and why?
A: SportsCenter, because I like to watch the highlights.
Q: If I were not playing football, I would be:
A: Playing intramural sports
Q: The three words that best describe me:
A: Humble. Focused. Hard-worker.
Q: My football-related superstition is:
A: I don't have one
Q: If the Big Ten expands in the future, pick one school you'd like to see added and why?
A: Notre Dame, because I would love to beat them.
Q: Which FORMER NU football student-athlete has had the most impact on your Wildcat career and why?
A: Tim McGarigle, because he works with the linebackers and I've learned a lot about the position from him.