(Photo Credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Evan Hull, OC Sam Garek, OG Ethan Wiederkehr, OT Peter Skoronski, DE Adetomiwa Adebawore, LB Chris Bergin, CB A.J. Hampton, CB Cameron Mitchell, FS Brandon Joseph, and PK Charlie Kuhbander, and PT Derek Adams.
Key Players Departing:
QB Peyton Ramsey, RB Drake Anderson, RB Isaiah Bowser, WR Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman, WR/PR Riley Lees, WR/KR Kyric McGowan, TE John Raine, OG Nik Urban, OT Gunnar Vogel, DE Earnest Brown, DE Joe Gaziano, DE Andrew Leota, LB Paddy Fisher, LB Blake Gallagher, CB Greg Newsome, and SS J.R. Pace.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: WR Jordan Mosley (Mobile, Alabama), LB Mac Uihlein (Lake Forest, Illinois), and OT Caleb Tiernan (Franklin, Michigan).
3 Star Recruits: DE Najee Story (Solon, Ohio), RB Anthony Tyus (Portage, Michigan), QB Brendan Sullivan (Davison, Michigan), LB Aidan Hubbard (Cleveland, Ohio), CB Theran Johnson (Indianapolis, Indiana), QB Ryan Hilinski (South Carolina transfer), and TE Lawson Albright (Greensboro, North Carolina).
2020 Results:
G01 MARYLAND W 43-3
G02 at Iowa W 21-20
G03 NEBRASKA W 21-13
G04 at Purdue W 27-20
G05 #10 Wisconsin W 17-7
G06 at Michigan State L 20-29
G07 ILLINOIS W 28-10
B10 vs. #4 Ohio State L 10-22
BOWL vs. Auburn W 35-19
Team info:
2020 Record: 7-2 (1st in Big Ten West)
Home: 4-0
Away: 2-1
Neutral: 0-1
B10: 6-1
Non-B10: 1-1
Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald
Northwestern: 106-81
Career: 106-81
Bowls: 5-5
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Evan Hull (25 car., 209 yards, 8.4 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Charlie Mangieri (7 rec., 53 yards, 7.6 yards, 2 TD)
TDs Scored: Evan Hull/Charlie Mangieri (2)
Sacks: Adetomiwa Adebawore (2)
Tackles: Chris Bergin (78)
Tackles For Loss: Adetomiwa Adebawore (6)
Interceptions: Brandon Joseph (6)
Pass Deflections: A.J. Hampton (5)
Forced Fumbles: Jordan Butler (1)
Kick Returns: Coco Azema (2 ret., 57 yards, 28.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Charlie Kuhbander (9-12 fg/fga., 75%, 27-27 xp/xpa., 54 pts.)
Punting: Derek Adams (44 punts, 1840 yards, 41.8 avg., 16 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 15 Hunter Johnson (RS SR/TR)
RB: 26 Evan Hull (RS SO)
WR: 5 Stephon Robinson (GR/TR)
WR: 3 J.J. Jefferson (SR)
WR: 6 Malik Washington (JR)
TE: 89 Charlie Mangieri (SR)
LT: 77 Peter Skoronski (SO)
LG: 68 Josh Priebe (SO)
OC: 52 Sam Gerak (RS SR)
RG: 69 Charlie Schmidt (RS JR)
RT: 76 Ethan Wiederkehr (RS SR)
KR: 5 Stephon Robinson (GR/TR)
PK: 14 Charlie Kuhbander (GR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 91 Samdup Miller (GR)
DT: 96 Trevor Kent (RS SR)
DT: 1 Joe Spivak (GR)
DE: 99 Adetomiwa Adebawore (JR)
LB: 40 Peter McIntyre (RS SR)
LB: 32 Bryce Gallagher (RS SO)
LB: 28 Chris Bergin (GR)
CB: 2 Cameron Mitchell (RS SO)
CB: 11 A.J. Hampton (RS JR)
FS: 16 Brandon Joseph (RS SO)
SS: 00 Coco Azema (RS SO)
PR: 5 Stephon Robinson (GR/TR)
PT: 36 Derek Adams (GR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/03 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS | Northwestern trails the series 19-40. The Wildcats are 4-4 since 2011, and their last series win (29-19) was in 2018.
09/11 INDIANA STATE SYCOMORES | First meeting between schools.
09/18 at Duke Blue Devils | The series is tied 10-10. The Wildcats lost (7-21) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/25 OHIO BOBCATS | Northwestern leads the series 3-1. The Wildcats won (16-8) the last meeting between schools in 2008.
10/02 at Nebraska Cornhuskers | Northwestern trails the series 6-8. The Wildcats are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series loss (10-13) was in 2019.
10/16 RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS | Northwestern trails the series 1-3. The Wildcats won (18-15) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
10/23 at Michigan Wolverines | Northwestern trails the series 15-58-2. The Wildcats are 0-6 since 2011, and they lost (17-20) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
10/30 MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS | Northwestern trails the series 36-54-5 The Wildcats are 5-4 since 2011, and they lost (22-38) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/06 IOWA HAWKEYES | Northwestern trails the series 28-51-3. The Wildcats are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series loss (0-20) was in 2019.
11/13 at Wisconsin Badgers | Northwestern trails the series 37-60-5. The Wildcats are 4-4 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series loss (15-24) was in 2019.
11/20 vs. Purdue Boilermakers | Northwestern trails the series 33-51-1. The Wildcats are 6-1 since 2011, and their lasts series loss (22-24) was in 2019.
11/27 at Illinois Fighting Illini | Northwestern trails the series 54-55-5. The Wildcats are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (33-47) was in 2014.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Road: 0-5
Neutral: 0-1
B10: 1-8
Non-B10: 2-1
Overall: 3-9 (7th in Big Ten West)
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