The Northwestern football program has had some difficult times since winning the Western Division in 2020. The Wildcats have just two conference victories and are 4 – 20 since that division title. Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald has been forced to make some difficult changes in his coaching staff and added players from the transfer portal in order to spark his team in 2023. The Northwestern offense averaged only 13.8 points per game last season and needed a shot in the arm. That’s why they added Cincinnati transfer Ben Bryant as a crucial piece to the puzzle. The defense has just five returning starters and a new defensive co-ordinator.
On offense, the Wildcats were one of the worst in the country in scoring finishing 128th overall. They also finished 123rd in yards per play and 130th in turnovers with 31. OC Mike Bajakian is back despite the poor numbers and he will need to get more out of the group that lost first-round NFL draft pick LT Peter Skoronski. The Wildcats also lose running back Evan Hull, who rushed for 2,732 yards over the last two seasons.
Adding Bryant from Cincinnati will definitely help Northwestern on offense. He has experience and is a proven starter at the Division I level. Bryant will have transfer Cam Johnson as one of his main targets. Johnson had 120 receptions at Vanderbilt before transferring to Arizona State. Michigan transfer AJ Henning was added to the roster after spring practice. Bryce Kirtz and Jacob Gill will also see added playing time.
The running game should still be a strength despite losing Hull. Cam Porter is back after tearing his ACL in 2021. Anthony Tyus III and freshman Joseph Himon will add depth to the running back position.
Tackle Caleb Tiernan will lead a line that has been solid under coach Kurt Anderson.
On defense, David Braun takes over as the DC. Braun comes in from North Dakota State and will have the opportunity to simplify the defense and maximize the players talent.
The secondary is the strength of Northwestern’s defense led by Senior safety Rod Heard II. Cornerback Garnett Hollis Jr. is another key player returning. Other experienced players that Northwestern will count on include safeties Coco Azema and Jeremiah Lewis.
Northwestern’s linebackers will have experience with Bryce Gallagher and Xander Mueller returning with a combined 187 tackles.
Up front the Wildcats will have a new DL coach in Christian Smith. Smith will count on Sean McLaughlin and Aidan Hubbard along with nose tackle Najee Story. Several transfers will feel the need inside.
On special teams, Northwestern needed upgrades after finishing last in the conference in net punting and both punt and kickoff returns. Luke Akers returns to handle the punting duties, while the Wildcats will look to kicker Jack Olson to continue to be solid in the kicking game. Who will make the returns is still up in the air, but Henning appears to be the favorite in punt returns.
Head coach Pat Fitzgerald is coming off one of his worst seasons going 1 – 11. Fitzgerald had to reshuffle his coaching staff and bring in new blood in order to get things turned back in the right direction. Northwestern had some limitations in the transfer portal, otherwise they would have had more changes in their personnel. A new defensive coordinator will certainly help, but they must find more explosiveness on offense in order to make strides in 2023.
TRANSFERS
QB Ben Bryant (from Cincinnati)
WR Camron Johnson (from Arizona State)
WR A.J. Henning (from Michigan)
DL Matt Lawson (from Fresno State)
DL Richie Hagarty (from Southern Illinois)
DL Reginald Pearson (from Bethune-Cookman)
2023 BIG 10 FOOTBALL WATCH LIST
OFFENSE
QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
QB Kyle McCord, Ohio State
QB Drew Allar, Penn State
RB Blake Corum, Michigan
RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
RB Devin Mockobee, Purdue
RB Miyan Williams, Ohio State
RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State
RB Roman Hemby, Maryland
RB Josh McCray, Illinois
RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
RB Anthony Grant, Nebraska
RB Sean Tyler, Minnesota
RB Cam Porter, Northwestern
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
WR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
WR Chimere Dike, Wisconsin
WR Chris Autman-Bell, Minnesota
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State
WR Jeshaun Jones, Maryland
WR Cam Camper, Indiana
WR Cornelius Johnson, Michigan
WR Daniel Jackson, Minnesota
WR Julian Fleming, Ohio State
WR Tyrese Chambers, Maryland
TE Cade Stover, Ohio State
TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota
TE Luke Lachey, Iowa
TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
TE Corey Dyches, Maryland
C Drake Nugent, Michigan
C Gus Hartwig, Purdue
C Nick Samac, Michigan State
C Logan Jones, Iowa
OL Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
OL Zak Zinter, Michigan
OL Matt Jones, Ohio State
OL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
OL Trevor Keegan, Michigan
OL Jack Nelson, Wisconsin
OL Isaiah Adams, Illinois
OL Quinn Carroll, Minnesota
OL J.D. Duplain, Michigan State
OL Delmar Glaze, Maryland
OL Julian Pearl, Illinois
OL Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin
OL Marcus Mbow, Purdue
OL Mason Richman, Iowa
OL Hollin Pierce, Rutgers
OL Josh Fryar, Ohio State
OL Matthew Bedford, Indiana
OL Karsen Barnhart, Michigan
OL Caedan Wallace, Penn State
OL Teddy Prochazka, Nebraska
DEFENSE
DL Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
DL JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
DL Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois
DL Chop Robinson, Penn State
DL Aaron Lewis, Rutgers
DL Joe Evans, Iowa
DL Adisa Isaac, Penn State
DL Kris Jenkins, Michigan
DL Mason Graham, Michigan
DL Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State
DL Logan Lee, Iowa
DL Simeon Barrow, Michigan State
DL Andre Carter, Indiana
DL Jaylen Harrell, Michigan
DL Wesley Bailey, Rutgers
DL Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
DL Ty Robinson, Nebraska
DL Jalen Logan-Redding, Minnesota
LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
LB Cal Haladay, Michigan State
LB Junior Colson, Michigan
LB Abdul Carter, Penn State
LB Luke Reimer, Nebraska
LB Aaron Casey, Indiana
LB Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin
LB Michael Barrett, Michigan
LB Jaishawn Barham, Maryland
LB Bryce Gallagher, Northwestern
LB Deion Jennings, Rutgers
LB Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State
LB Nick Jackson, Iowa
LB Steele Chambers, Ohio State
LB Curtis Jacobs, Penn State
LB Seth Coleman, Illinois
LB Nick Henrich, Nebraska
LB C.J. Goetz, Wisconsin
LB Nic Caraway, Purdue
LB Gabe Jacas, Illinois
DB Kalen King, Penn State
DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
DB Will Johnson, Michigan
DB Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
DB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
DB Quinn Schulte, Iowa
DB Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
DB Rod Moore, Michigan
DB Max Melton, Rutgers
DB Quinton Newsome, Nebraska
DB Justin Walley, Minnesota
DB Cam Allen, Purdue
DB Mike Sainristil, Michigan
CB Tahveon Nicholson, Illinois
CB Beau Brade, Maryland
DB Keaton Ellis, Penn State
DB Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
DB Myles Farmer, Nebraska
K Drew Stevens, Iowa
K Parker Lewis, Ohio State
K Caleb Griffin, Illinois
K Nathanial Vakos, Wisconsin
P Tory Taylor, Iowa
P Jesse Mirco, Ohio State
P James Evans, Indiana
P Brian Buschini, Nebraska
KR Jaylin Lucas, Indiana
KR Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
KR Quentin Redding, Minnesota
KR Octavian Smith, Maryland
PR A.J. Henning, Northwestern
PR Cooper DeJean, Iowa
PR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
PR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
2022 RESULTS: https://nusports.com/sports/football/schedule/2022
2023 SCHEDULE: https://nusports.com/sports/football/schedule
2022 STATS: https://nusports.com/sports/football/stats/2022
2023 ROSTER: https://nusports.com/sports/football/roster