Northwestern's Top Five Position Battles to Watch for in Camp
Quarterback
It is no secret that all eyes will be on the quarterbacks over the course of the next couple of weeks to determine the starter. With Peyton Ramsey out the door, the Wildcats have a big question mark as to who will be lining up under center come Week 1 against Michigan State.
The three leading candidates who will be duking it out in camp for the starting job are Ryan Hilinksi, Hunter Johnson and Andrew Marty.
Ryan Hilinksi, a transfer from South Carolina, has the most arm talent out of the three, giving him an upper hand in the competition. He also brings with him the most in game experience, which will also play to his advantage. While not the most mobile, Hilinksi is a pure pocket passer who sees the field very well and can sling it (which is a far cry from what Ramsey and the passing game did last season). Look for Hilinski to have the inside track to start Week 1.
However, don't count out Hunter Johnson. While it is no secret that Johnson struggled the last time he saw game action (in 2019), when he battled injuries and major inconsistencies, he has shown flashes that he has what it takes to be QB1. The 2019 season is one that Wildcat fans and Johnson himself would like to forget, but he still gained valuable playing time and experience. There is no denying he is a talented passer who has the athleticism to get out of the pocket and evade the rush, the question is can he put it all together and be consistent.
The dark horse in this race is Andrew Marty. Out of all three, Marty is the longshot. He is a dual-threat who doesn't have a great arm, but has the wheels to keep defenses guessing. Having more rushing attempts than passing attempts in his career (52 to just 22), Marty faces an uphill battle if he wants the starting job.
Here is what Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald had to say about the quarterback competition at Big Ten Media Day:
"As I look at our quarterback situation I think we got really good depth and I think we have got really good talent. Andrew and Ryan and Hunter, all three have game experience. Hunter in the, Hunter with us, Andrew with us and then Ryan in the SEC. So all three of those guys are going to compete here as we start camp, we'll make a decision, finalize that decision some time during camp, but all three guys had I thought, solid spring practices and we have got younger guys behind them too. So I think we got really good depth there at the quarterback position."
Linebacker
Nicknamed "The Irish Law Firm", senior linebackers Chris Bergin, Paddy Fisher and Blake Gallagher helped lead the Wildcats and their defense all the way to the Big 10 Championship Game last season. They were the heartbeat of that team, who provided a calming presence in the middle of the defense and were looked at as the leaders of that unit. With Fisher and Gallagher moving on to the NFL (taking along with them 733 combined tackles, four All-Big Ten honors and three captainships), Bergin is the lone man returning to guide the new wave of Northwestern linebackers, who are now all of a sudden in need of finding a couple of capable starters.
The most likely candidates to fill the big shoes Fisher and Gallagher left behind are Peter McIntyre (has the most experience), Bryce Gallagher (a more athletic version of his older brother Blake) and Khlaid Jones (talented, but entering his junior year only has a total of three career tackles). Of course that's three players for only two spots, so the competition will be intense and will most likely come down to the wire. McIntyre will have the inside track for the starting Will LB spot, while Gallagher and Jones will battle it out for the Mike LB.
Keep an eye out on freshman Mac Uihlein. While he is a dark horse, the four-star prospect has the explosiveness and quick twitch that coaches love to see in their linebackers. While Uihlein is the youngest out of the group (and having zero experience), don't be surprised to at least see him in the rotation this upcoming season.
Blake Gallagher raising the ball in the air after recovering a fumble his partner in crime Paddy Fisher caused, against Wisconsin running back Garret Groshek.
Offensive Guard(s)
While the offensive line will return stud left tackle Peter Skoronski, Ethan Wiederkehr (moving from right guard to right tackle), and battle tested center Sam Gerak, Coach Anderson will be looking for both his left and right guards over the course of camp. With the departures of Nik Urban and Gunnar Vogel, two new Wildcats will have to step up and carry on the tradition of strong offensive line play in the purple and white.
The leading candidates to claim the open guards spots are sophomore Josh Priebe (LG) and redshirt junior Charlie Schmidt (RG).
However, there are no guarantees as players such as sophomore Ben Wrather, redshirt sophomore Dom D'Antonio and highly touted freshman recruit Caleb Tiernan will look to impress Coach Anderson in camp and push for a starting role.
Northwestern's rushing attack last year was very putrid for the most part and a lot of that could be traced back to the play of the interior line. While their pass protection was solid they simply failed to create holes for their running backs. Doing so this season will be all the more important as whoever ends up starting at quarterback will need all the help they can get from the run game. With fresh new faces competing for the starting guard spots, the offensive line has a chance to be much improved this year, along with their stellar depth.
Wide Receiver
One of the most intriguing battles of camp this August will be at the wide receiver position and being able to see who is able to separate themselves from the competition. The Wildcat's are losing their top three receivers in Riley Lees, Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman and Kyric McGowan. Those three combined for 1,088 yards and seven touchdowns and were the leading catalyst on offense helping the Wildcats capture the Big Ten West Title. With those three faces now gone, it will be up to a handful of players to match and exceed that production.
The good news for Coach Fitzgerald and Wildcat fans is that JJ Jefferson will be returning, after opting out of the 2020 season. Jefferson will be looking to have a breakout campaign and to form a solid repertoire with QB1 (whoever that ends up being). However, there will still be questions surrounding Jefferson, as he hasn't seen live action since 2019, when he recorded 12 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers don't exactly pop off the stat sheet. Jefferson will have to take his game to the next level if wants to help carry this offense.
After Jefferson it isn't as cut and dry, as there are plenty of options on the roster. Junior Malik Washington, the leading returning receiver with a grand total of five catches for 51 yards last season, and redshirt sophomore Bryce Kirtz will look to be the next two up to help alleviate the pressure off of Jefferson. Washington and Kirtz also have game experience, albeit just a small sample size.
Speaking of game experience, grad transfer Stephan Robinson Jr. from Kansas, brings with him 75 receptions, over 1,000 receiving yards, nine touchdowns and 14 yards per catch over his three seasons as a Jayhawk. Robinson Jr. adds a different level of explosiveness and much needed speed to this offense. He will try to carve his way into a starting role this camp.
Other names that will push for snaps and see some game action are redshirt senior Berkeley Holman and redshirt sophomores Genson Hooper Price and Wayne Dennis Jr. With that being said, don't count out the highly touted freshmen CJ Johnson II and Jordan Mosley as well. While it just might not be their time quite yet, those two are the future of this WR core.
JJ Jefferson extends for the over the shoulder grab over the Michigan State Spartan.
Cornerback
With the departures of JR Pace, Cam Ruiz and Greg Newsome II, the Wildcat's secondary will look very different than last year. While there will be competition at the other starting safety spot alongside All-American Brandon Joseph, that spot shouldn't be a cause for concern, simply because of Joseph. Yes, the Wildcat's best and most important player in 2021 will be looking for a new partner in crime on the back end of their defense, but he will be able to mask whatever deficiencies his new partner brings. However, the same can't be said at cornerback, as that position is much more of question mark.
Redshirt junior A.J. Hampton will be looking to cement his status as CB1 this camp. Hampton was able to learn from the best in Newsome II and Ruiz last season, and played well when his number was called. Hampton has plenty of game experience, having started three games last year, racking up one interception and five pass breakups. He will be looking to take that next step as a full-time starter this season.
After Hampton, there will be plenty of legitimate guys battling for the other corner spot. Redshirt sophomore Rod Heard, who has one start under his belt from last season, will look to pull away from the pack that also includes redshirt sophomore Cameron Mitchell and sophomore Garnett Hollis Jr.
Keep an eye out on redshirt senior Trent Carrington who transferred from Presbyterian, after completing his season this past spring. Carrington brings with him 25 career starts, including three interceptions and eight pass breakups. Carrington will compete for both the open safety job and the corner jobs.
September 3rd will be here before we know it, and by that time all these position battles will have been settled and Coach Fitzgerald will send out his best 22 players to battle the Spartans. Until then, strap in, camp is here. The days will be long, the practices will be fierce and there will be jobs to win.
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