CEDAR FALLS - D.J. Hord marched toward a different Dome last summer.

His college football career may be getting back into shape.

Hord walked away from Notre Dame - the land of Rockne, the Golden Dome and his personal history with the Fighting Irish. He's now a junior at Northern Iowa, where he's one wide receiver among many.

Getting accustomed to life under the UNI-Dome hasn't neccesarily been easy for the native of Lee's Summit, Missouri. Yet, Hord's game is picking up speed.

Used in extra receiver sets, he's caught at least one pass on three consecutive Saturdays, including a 17-yarder on third down from Pat Grace that led to UNI's first touchdown against Missouri State.

"I came in not trying to jump in front of anybody," said Hord, a 6-foot-1, 198-pounder who's caught a total of six balls as a Panther.

"I just wanted to prove myself and prove I could play. I'm still trying to do that."

Hord sought an opportunity to prove himself all over again after three rough years at Notre Dame.

He arrived at South Bend with a golden resume. Named Missouri's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2004, Hord was chosen for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He owned a time of 10.39 seconds at 100 meters.

As a freshman for the Fighting Irish, Hord played primarily as a kickoff return man, including a 36-yarder in his debut against Brigham Young.

A year later, Hord stood on the sidelines. He had ruptured an Achilles tendon during a voluntary summer workout.

"I mean, it was tough, because I had expected to come in and do some big things for the Irish," he said. "But I say everything happens for a reason. So I sat back and learned from some great receivers there. I just got better."

Hord didn't get much of a chance to put those lessons to use for the Irish. He caught two passes in 2007.

So he broke the huddle of legends that is Notre Dame. Good-bye, Golden Dome. Hello, UNI-Dome, after considering Southern Illinois and Missouri State.

"I went home for the summer and talked to my parents," said Hord. "They felt it was time for me to move on. I felt that way, too. I just did it.

"I looked around. It pretty much depended on how good the program was, if they were winning and how the offense was based. I don't know, really. It was just a perfect fit here. I liked it when I came on my visit, and I just thought this was it."

Hord knew UNI already owned talented receivers like Johnny Gray, Victor Williams and Josh Collins. On the other hand, he didn't really know the offense.

Arriving the day before fall camp opened at UNI, Hord checked into his dormitory and started studying the playbook. Mastery of the offense didn't quite come in a hurry.

"Everything was new," said Hord. "Everything."

Said UNI head coach Mark Farley, "It's just like anything. You don't walk through the door and start playing. You've gotta understand where you fit into the system and get the timing with the quarterback and get to know everyone around you. D.J. has done that."

By the Panthers' third game - the victory over South Dakota State - Hord felt he'd begun to find his comfort zone in his new Dome. Still, he had just two receptions in the Panthers' first seven games.

Against Youngstown State, Hord made his third catch. Then came another the next weekend at Western Illinois, and two more at home in the Missouri State win.

"I think you're starting to see him play with a little more confidence," said Farley. "You're starting to see him play with his speed."

For Hord, it's a chance to find gold under a new dome.

"It feels good to just get out there and help the team win," he said. "I came in kind of struggling a little bit - learning on the fly. But now I'm starting to get the offense down a lot better. So I can contribute."

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com

D.J Hord

Position: Wide receiver

Height: 6-1

Weight: 198

Home: Lee's Summit, Mo.

Career highlights: Transferred to UNI after three seasons at Notre Dame, where he caught two passes and returned seven kickoffs. Has caught six passes as a Panther, including four in the last three games.

Quote: "I came in not trying to jump in front of anybody. I just wanted to prove myself and prove I could play. I'm still doing that." - D.J. Hord.