’Cats hope Thorson can help them shine
The excitement surrounding the Northwestern program is palpable.
The program is coming off another double-digit win season — its second in the past three years — and opens up a new state-ofthe-art athletics center and fieldhouse on the banks of Lake Michigan.
Yet the Wildcats enter the 2018 campaign with some trepidation.
Star quarterback Clayton Thorson is rigorously working to get back onto the field after an ACL injury and fans are eagerly anticipating his return. Meanwhile, the roster features all the hallmarks of a Pat Fitzgerald-led team — hard-nosed and versatile.
As a result, Northwestern is No. 19 in Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel’s preseason 2018 college football rankings. Murschel ranked all 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 129 to our projected No. 1 team. Northwestern
Pat Fitzgerald (87-65, entering 13th season; 87-65 overall)
10-3, 7-2 in Big Ten Conference; second in West Division
Things didn’t start off as expected last season, with Northwestern dropping three of its first five games. Two of those losses, however, came at the hands of top-10 opponents Wisconsin and Penn State. The breakthrough came in a 17-10 overtime win against Iowa that helped the Wildcats win eight straight games to wrap up the year. 4 4
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RB Justin Jackson, WR Macan Wilson, OL Brad North, DT Tyler Lancaster, LB Brett Walsh, DB Kyle Queiro, DB Godwin Igwebuike
QB Clayton Thorson, WR Bennett Skowronek, WR Flynn Nagel, OL Blake Hance, OL J.B. Butler, OL Tommy Doles, OL Rashawn Slater, DE Joe Gaziano, DT Jordan Thompson, DE Samdup Miller, LB Paddy Fisher, LB Nate Hall, DB Montre Hartage, DB Alonzo Mayo
Clearly the biggest question facing Northwestern heading into this season is the overall health of quarterback Clayton Thorson. Thorson suffered a torn ACL during the team’s win in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 29 and has worked tirelessly to get back on the field in time for the Aug. 30 season opener against Purdue.
There are five returning starters on the defensive front seven led by a pair of all-conference selections in defensive end Joe Gaziano and linebacker Paddy Fisher.
Tailback Justin Jackson departs after amassing more than 5,400 yards during four seasons for the Wildcats.
“You can’t replace Justin Jackson. That’s impossible,” Fitzgerald said during Big Ten Media Days, comparing Jackson to former Penn State star running back Saquon Barkley.
Northwestern featured five players with 25 or more receptions last season, with Bennett Skowronek (45 catches, 644 yards) and Flynn Nagel (48 catches, 489 yards) the only two back in 2018.
The secondary was hit hard by attrition, losing safeties in Godwin Igwebuike (78 tackles, two interceptions) and Kyle Queiro (60 tackles, five interceptions).
Northwestern is riding the third longest win streak at the FBS level, right behind UCF (13) and FAU (10). A lot of the team’s success could hinge on Thorson’s recovery. If he’s healthy and the offense can identify a suitable replacement for Jackson, Northwestern can contend for the Big Ten West crown.