2017 Northwestern Wildcats

[Vanilla_Sky]

Since 2005, Northwestern has started 12, 13, 15, 14, 15, 16, 15, 11, 11, 11, 12 and 9 Whites. After a disappointing dip into single digit starers for the first time last year, Northwestern looks to bounce back by featuring 12 white starters this year, including two wide receivers and a snow plow along the OL! DT Tyler Lancaster is an athletic and physical beast while WR Flynn Nagel should be a main target and the lead kick returner. Northwestern has had some white friendly recruiting classes as of late so this should be one of the few teams worth rooting for in the coming years. There are a large number of white WRs on the roster vying for time this year.

Offense -
QB - Clayton Thorson
WR - Flynn Nagel
WR - Bennett Skoworek
LT - Blake Hance
LG - JB Butler
C - Brad North
RG - Tommy Doles
RT - Gunnar Vogel

Defense -
DE - Joe Gaziano
DT - Tyler Lancaster
LB - Nathan Fox
LB - Brett Walsh

Notable back ups include QB Matt Alviti, WR Macan Wilson, WR Charlie Fessler, LG Ben Oxley, RG Trey Klock, RT Andrew Otterman, DE Trent Goens, DT Alex Miller, DE Tommy Carnifax, LB Jango Glackin, LB Paddy Fisher, and S Travis Whillock.

 

[celticdb15]

Another Big Ten team to root for! Iowa,Northwestern,Minnesota, and Wisconsin all very white friendly in the West. Hoping one or all of the teams mentioned can give OSU and Michigan trouble throughout the season especially come Championship week.

Thorson coming off of a 3k passing season and their RB lead conference in rushing last year plus I'd say with the rest of the makeup of the team they'll be a dangerous yet underrated team!

 

[Leonardfan]

Thorson's improvement from year one to year two as a starter was as remarkable a development I can recall in a college QB. Looking forward to seeing what he does as a junior.

 

[Riggins44]

Another Big Ten team to root for! Iowa,Northwestern,Minnesota, and Wisconsin all very white friendly in the West. Hoping one or all of the teams mentioned can give OSU and Michigan trouble throughout the season especially come Championship week.

Thorson coming off of a 3k passing season and their RB lead conference in rushing last year plus I'd say with the rest of the makeup of the team they'll be a dangerous yet underrated team!

Michigan State also could have 11 white starters. Its interesting how basically all the teams with 10 or more white starters are in the Midwest. The Midwest teams have largely stayed very white, while almost all teams in the Mountain West or West Coast that used to be majority white (BYU, Boise State, Utah, Idaho, many others) are now majority non-white. I am wondering why that is.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Northwestern just released their updated depth chart for Week 2, and the changes include a "Blizzard" at the wideout position but a loss of the "snow plow."

QB - Clayton Thorson - the 6-foot-4 junior went 28-38 for 352 yards, 2 touchdowns with 1 interception. he also has some mobility, putting in 2 short touchdowns on the ground.
X receiver (and punt returner) - Flynn Nagel - the 5-foot-11 junior had 4 catches for 29 yards.
Y receiver - Macan Wilson - 6-foot senior has emerged as a dynamic, big-play threat. of his 3 catches, he pulled in a 33-yard touchdown and a 41-yard bomb.
Z receiver - Bennett Skowronek -the 6-foot-4 sophomore hauled in game-highs with 8 catches for 123 yards. he is likely to become their top red-zone target.
left guard - Blake Hance
center - Brad North
right guard - Tommy Doles

notable: redshirt freshman wideout/returner Riley Lees is one to keep an eye on. he's explosive in the open field and reeled in a 19-yard touchdown, en route to 2 catches for 35 yards in his first ever collegiate action.

defensive end - Joe Gaziano
defensive tackle - Tyler Lancaster
middle linebacker - Paddy Fisher (redshirt freshman)
weakside linebacker - Brett Walsh

Northwestern drops to 11 White starters, but the visibility of playmakers in the passing game perhaps offsets the loss of two tackles on the o-line.