2017 B1G Previews: Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern Wildcats (West Division)

Location: Evanston, IL

Stadium: Ryan Field (47,130)

Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (12^th year): 77-62 at Northwestern/overall, 41-48 v B1G

2016 Northwestern Wildcats (7-6)(5-4)                   2017 Northwestern Wildcats

21        Western Michigan      22                                S2        Nevada

  7        Illinois State                9                                 S9        at Duke

24        Duke                            13                               S16      Bowling Green

13        Nebraska                     24                               S23      idle

38        at Iowa                        31                                S30      at Wisconsin

54        at Michigan State        40                                O7       Penn State

24        Indiana                        14                                O14     at Maryland

20        at Ohio State               24                                O21     Iowa

  7        Wisconsin                    21                                O28     Michigan State

45        at Purdue                     17                                 N4        at Nebraska

12        at Minnesota               29                                 N11      Purdue

42        Illinois                          21                                N18      Minnesota

31        Pittsburgh                    24                                 N25      at Illinois

            (Pinstripe Bowl)

Northwestern Coach Pat Fitzgerald enters his 12^th season in Evanston coming off a rare bowl victory and experience on offense.

The Wildcats have a three-year starter at quarterback in junior Clayton Thorson.  He is a QB that doesn’t run particularly well and he doesn’t throw particularly well, but he has the knack and poise to make the plays when needed.  Thorson completed over 58 percent of his passes a year ago for over 3000 yards and 22 touchdowns, while also adding five scores on the ground.  Thorson will continue his development behind an offensive line that returns four starters in junior RG Tommy Doles, senior center Brad North, junior LG J.B. Butler, and junior LT Blake Hance.  Junior Ben Oxley should get the starting nod at RT.  This is a line that will pave the way for one of the best Northwestern runners ever in senior Justin Jackson who had over 1500 yards a year ago and has over 4,000 yards in his career.  He is poised to break the school career rushing record of 4485 yards by Damien Anderson from 1998-2001.  Jackson also proved to be adept at catching passes out of the backfield with 35 receptions in 2016.  In Northwestern’s bowl victory over Pittsburgh, Jackson had a career-high 224 yards and three touchdowns.  Do-it-all receiver Austin Carr has departed, so the Wildcats will turn to WRs Solomon Vault (sr), Flynn Nagel (jr) and Macan Wilson (sr).  Nagel is the leading returning receiver with 40 receptions for 447 yards and two scores.  Macon and Vault had 22 and 15 receptions respectively.  Jalen Brown, a transfer from Oregon, should also see quite a bit of playing time.

                                            QB Clayton Thorson

Northwestern’s defensive line loses Ifeadi Odenigbo, who had 10 sacks a year ago, but they return seniors Tyler Lancaster at DT and Xavier Washington at DE.  Washington, the most experienced player on their D-line, had 38 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.  Lancaster did almost as well, turning in 28 tackles and 3.5 TFLs.  Sophomore Joe Gaziano and junior Jordan Thompson figure to step in at the other DE and DT spot respectively.  Gaziano turned in 24 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks, while Thompson was just behind, with 20 tackles and two tackles for loss.  Anthony Walker also departs, but the ‘Cats have junior LB Nate Hall, who was third on the team in tackles last year with 73 to go along with his six tackles for loss.  Senior Brett Walsh also returns to that linebacker unit after garnering 37 tackles, two TFLs and a sack.  Walker’s spot has yet to be decided.  Redshirt freshman Paddy Fisher did well in spring drills and is the favorite to be named the starter for their season opener against Nevada.  The Wildcats have leading tackler Godwin Igwebuike back in the secondary.  The senior SS was in on 108 tackles and six TFLs while also picking off two passes.  Also returning is junior CB Montre Hartage with 60 tackles and a team-leading five interceptions.  Sophomore Trae Williams and senior Kyle Queiro should start at the other corner and FS respectively.  Quiero was just behind Hartage in tackles with 53, while also getting 3.5 tackles for loss on the safety blitz, while Williams, started 11 games a year ago, and finished with 42 tackles. 

The dependable senior punter Hunter Niswander is one of the better punters in the conference, returning with a 41.3 average, while true freshman Charlie Kuhbander appears to have won the place kicking job, replacing the departed Jack Mitchell.

                                            SS Godwin Igwebuike

Northwestern is fully capable of making a run to the top of the B1G West, as are the three teams in the division I have ahead of them.  They have to avoid the slow start that plagued last year, so non conference wins over Nevada, Duke, and Bowling Green will have them in better shape as they approach the conference season.  They’ll need it right away, as they open conference play on the road in Madison against Wisconsin, then come home the following week to face Penn State.  Four of their last six games are at home, but they face another big test on the road at Nebraska.  But, if they enter the conference season undefeated and can knock off either Wisconsin or Penn State, a 10-win season is not out of the question..

PREDICTION: 8-4 (5-4) 4^th in B1G West