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NORTHWESTERN
WILDCATS
2013
College Football Preview
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| OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
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| KEY
LOSSES |
| OFFENSE:
Demetrius Fields-WR, Patrick Ward-OT,
Brian Mulroe-OG, Neal Deiters-OG |
| DEFENSE:
Brian
Arnfelt-DT, Quentin Williams-DE, David
Nwabuisi-OLB, Quinn Evans-CB, Demetrius
Dugar-CB, Jared Carpenter-S |
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RB
Venric Mark |
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| Running
Back / Skill Positions |
| Mr.
Everything Venric Mark
makes this one of the
best rushing teams in
the smashmouth Big Ten.
He has a chance to be
a Heisman Candidate. This
was the nation's 19th
ranked rushing offense
in 2012. In addition the
quarterback, receivers
and skill people on defense
possess speed and athleticism.
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| Offensive
Line / Passing Game |
The
real team concern is with
the offensive line where
three key players have
moved on. This unit needs
to come together quickly.
The passing numbers aren't
good especially when it
comes to stretching the
field. A dink-and-dunk
offense has become the
norm under quarterback
Kain Colter. |
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DE
Tyler Scott |
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| NORTHWESTERN
2013 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
| OFFENSE |
| QB |
Kain
Colter-Sr (6-0, 190) |
Trevor
Siemian-Jr (6-3, 210) |
| RB |
Venric
Mark-Sr (5-8, 175) |
Mike
Trumpy-Sr (6-1, 210) |
| WR |
Tony
Jones-Jr (6-0, 185) |
Mike
McHugh-RFr (6-3, 185) |
| WR |
Rashad
Lawrence-Sr (6-2, 185) |
Cameron
Dickerson-So (6-3, 200) |
| WR |
Christian
Jones-Jr (6-3, 225) |
Mike
Jensen-Sr (6-0, 180) |
| WR |
Kyle
Prater-Jr (6-5, 215) |
Pierre
Youngblood-Ary-So (6-3, 185) |
| SB |
Dan
Vitale-So (6-2, 220) |
Mark
Szott-So (6-4, 240) |
| OT |
Jack
Konopka-Jr (6-5, 285) |
Shane
Mertz-So (6-8, 295) |
| OG |
Geoff
Mogus-So (6-5, 280) |
Hayden
Baker-Jr (6-2, 280) |
| C |
Brandon
Vitabile-Jr (6-3, 300) |
Ian
Park-RFr (6-4, 295) |
| OG |
Matt
Frazier-So (6-4, 290) |
Adam
DePietro-RFr (6-5, 270) |
| OT |
Paul
Jorgensen-Jr (6-6, 295) |
Eric
Olson-RFr (6-6, 285) |
| K |
Jeff
Budzien-Sr (5-11, 165) |
.. |
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| NORTHWESTERN
2013 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
| DEFENSE |
| DE |
Tyler
Scott-Sr (6-4, 265) |
Deonte
Gibson-So (6-3, 240) |
| DT |
Sean
McEvilly-Jr (6-5, 275) |
Greg
Kuhar-RFr (6-3, 275) |
| DT |
Will
Hampton-Sr (6-3, 285) |
Chance
Carter-Jr (6-3, 270) |
| DE |
Dean
Lowry-So (6-6, 230) |
Ifeadi
Odenigbo-RFr (6-3, 220) |
| OLB |
Collin
Ellis-Jr (6-2, 225) |
Drew
Smith-So (6-1, 205) |
| MLB |
Damien
Proby-Sr (6-0, 235) |
Timmy
Vernon-Sr (6-3, 225) |
| OLB |
Chi
Chi Ariguzo-Jr (6-3, 220) |
Jaylen
Prater-RFr (6-0, 215) |
| CB |
Daniel
Jones-Jr (5-11, 170) |
C.J.
Bryant-Jr (5-11, 175) / Dwight
White-RFr (5-10, 178) |
| CB |
Nick
Van Hoose-So (6-0, 185) |
Jarrell
Williams-So (5-11, 190) |
| S |
Traveon
Henry-So (6-1, 200) |
Jimmy
Hall-Jr (6-2, 210) |
| S |
Ibraheim
Campbell-Jr (5-11, 205) |
Davion
Fleming-Sr (5-10, 200) |
| P |
Brandon
Williams-Sr (6-2, 185) |
.. |
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QUICK
TAKES |
- Losing
seasons are a thing of the past
and going to bowl games is now expected.
This is a pretty big deal considering
Northwestern went 23 straight seasons
from 1972 to 1994 without a winning
record. What's in store for 2013
could even be bigger.
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Head coach Pat Fitzgerald isn't
winning games with magic or wacky
formations. He is winning with good
athletes that play hard. Granted
there are no five-star recruits
dotting the roster but this team
can still run with the teams that
do. Fitzgerald has been able to
spot the talent others may not see.
- Every
good team needs a star and All-American
running back Venric Mark fits the
bill. The do-everything playmaker
is also an All-American punt returner.
- Quarterback
Kain Colter is another playmaker
behind center. He boasts speed and
athleticism but only an efficient
so-so arm. This is primarily a dink-and-dunk
offense. He won't make big plays
downfield throwing the ball but
he does have the ability to be a
1,000-yard rusher.
- The
offensive line needs to mature in
a hurry. This is the big concern.
The Wildcats have a bevy of experience
across the depth chart but not with
this unit as three key blockers
moved on. The early season run will
be crucial for this group.
- One
aspect that has turned this team's
fortunes around has been a more
aggressive defense that will bring
the heat. Tyler Scott is one of
the most unheralded defensive ends
in the business and senior linebacker
Damien Proby is a big hitting middle
linebacker that brings the whole
defense together.
- The
secondary hasn't been horrible but
late game collapses last season
equaled hard losses to swallow.
The secondary has been an Achilles
Heel for a long time but the talent
is finally in place to be a positive
force. VanHoose and Campbell are
nice pieces to the puzzle, Henry
is a rising star and incoming recruit
Godwin Igwebuike was a prep finalist
for Mr. Ohio Football.
- If
Northwestern can win ten games again
they will be happy cats. Even nine
wins has to be considered an accomplishment.
Don't tell the players and coaches
this, they want more. They will
need some breaks to get there. But
this team can beat anyone on any
given day. The Big Ten big boys
better take upset alert notice.
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NORTHWESTERN
2013 SCHEDULE
Aug.
31 - at California
Sept. 7 - Syracuse
Sept. 14 - Western Michigan
Sept. 21 - Maine
Oct. 5 - Ohio State
Oct. 12 - at Wisconsin
Oct. 19 - Minnesota
Oct. 26 - at Iowa
Nov. 2 - at Nebraska
Nov. 16 - Michigan
Nov. 23 - Michigan State
Nov. 30 - at Illinois |
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