Way-Too-Early Depth Charts: Projecting NU’s 2021 LG Order
This is another iteration of the 2021 Way-Too-Early Depth Chart series. If you would like to find previous depth charts for QB, RB, WR, LT, LB and DB, click on the corresponding links.
For an offensive line that had two seniors last year, Northwestern could only muster 2.22 yards in Football Outsiders’ Line Yards Metric, which measures runs and gives credit to the offensive line. That ranked 119th in the country, and it corresponds to the Northwestern rushing attack only ranking eighth in the Big Ten. According to The Athletic’s Matt Fortuna, Fitzgerald does feel “good” about his offensive line group, which could lead to an improved rushing attack as well.
Out goes Nik Urban, who graduated following the 2020 season. Into his place steps Josh Priebe, a sophomore who Fortuna said has been labeled a potential answer to the left guard question. As a freshman, Priebe appeared in eight of nine games and didn’t look out of place along the line. Priebe could be a potential breakout candidate for the Northwestern offense.
If Priebe can’t play, however, Northwestern won’t be in a major bind. Redshirt Sophomore Dom D’Antonio has appeared in nine games in his Wildcat career, including eight games in 2020. Fortuna notes that D’Antonio is good enough to push Priebe, and if Priebe were to end up as the starter as presumed, D’Antonio can be ready to step in and contribute at the drop of a hat.
Losing Nik Urban’s 21 straight starts could hurt early, but Priebe and D’Antonio’s talent could fill the gap and improve the unit as a whole.
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