The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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134 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Northwestern has been consistent, for the most part, over the past 15 years under head coach Pat Fitzgerald. The Wildcats have had some down years, including when they posted a 3-9 record in 2019, but they've of- ten bounced back. That was on full display in 2020, when the Wildcats went on a run to remember, finishing atop the Big Ten West and winning a New Year's Day bowl game (Citrus Bowl) over Auburn. To prevent a dip back into a subpar season in 2021, Fitzgerald and Co. must replace eight starters on offense — including both quarterbacks who registered stats last year — and seven starters on defense. This isn't a rebuild, since Fitzgerald has the program on such solid footing overall, but it's surely going to be an uphill climb for the Wildcats to find themselves atop their division once again come season's end. Indiana transfer quarterback Peyton Ramsey, a third-team All-Big Ten choice, threw for 1,733 yards and 12 touchdowns during his one season in Evanston. Now, the Wildcats will likely turn to another transfer to lead the offense — sophomore Ryan Hil- inski. The 6-3, 225-pounder started 11 games for South Carolina in 2019 and completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 2,357 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He's the top contender to win the job, with redshirt juniors Andrew Marty and Hunter Johnson, a Clemson transfer, also in the mix. Northwestern leaned on its run game last season, especially late in the year, when freshman running back Cam Porter began to emerge. He scored all five of his touchdowns in the final four games, and churned out 304 of his 333 rushing yards for the season over that span as well. Sophomore Evan Hull averaged 8.4 yards per carry (25 rushes for 209 yards) and scored two touchdowns on the ground. He is expected to be a significant factor in the backfield along with Porter. Paving the way for the two running backs will be an offensive line that has some con- tinuity, with three starters returning. The group, which allowed just 1.4 sacks per game last season, is headlined by freshman left tackle Peter Skoronski, who started ev- ery game a year ago and was named to the All-Big Ten second team. Redshirt junior center Sam Gerak, who has started 21 ca- reer contests, and redshirt junior right guard Ethan Wiederkehr, who boasts 11 career starts, also remain in place. The receiving corps needs some new names to step up, with the team losing all four of its top pass catchers from a year ago. "Bend but don't break" was the name of the game for Northwestern's defense last season. While the Wildcats ranked a respect- able 22nd in the country and fourth in the conference in total defense, allowing 341.2 yards per game, they were downright fantas- tic at keeping opponents out of the end zone. They finished first in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in scoring defense, allowing oppo- nents just 15.9 points per game. Those oppo- nents scored touchdowns on only 29.6 percent of their red zone trips, which was the top mark in the country by more than five percent. A new coordinator will be calling the shots, after Mike Hankwitz, a former Michigan line- backer and graduate assistant, retired follow- ing the 2020 campaign. Jim O'Neil joined the program in February, following a three-year stint with the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders. His first task is to replace Northwestern's top two tacklers from last season, with line- backers Paddy Fisher, a four-time All-Big Ten honoree, and Blake Gallagher, who led the Wildcats in tackles last season, both off to the NFL. Highlighting the front seven is fifth-year senior linebacker Chris Bergin, who was third on the squad in tackles last season with 78, while also racking up four tackles for loss, four passes broken up and one interception. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman safety Brandon Joseph, a ball hawk on the back end, is perhaps the best overall player on the entire team. He earned Associated Press first-team All-America honors last season, after recording six interceptions and two passes broken up. Notes Northwestern held opponents scoreless eight times and to field goals 11 times in 27 red zone trips last year … The Wildcats' rushing offense produced 162.8 yards per game in 2020, which ranked eighth in the Big Ten and 65th nationally. ❑ Freshman running back Cam Porter posted a career-high 142 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Illinois during the 2020 season. PHOTO COURTESY NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS The Wildcats Are Hoping They Have Enough To Reload 2021 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2020 Result Sept. 3 Michigan State L, 29-20 Sept. 11 Indiana State — Sept. 18 at Duke — Sept. 25 Ohio — Oct. 2 at Nebraska W, 21-13 Oct. 16 Rutgers — Oct. 23 at Michigan — Oct. 30 Minnesota — Nov. 6 Iowa W, 21-20 Nov. 13 at Wisconsin W, 17-7 Nov. 20 Purdue W, 27-20 Nov. 27 at Illinois W, 28-10 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Peter Skoronski, Fr., OL Topped the offense last season with an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 81.4 and run-blocking grade of 80.9 … Was the first Northwestern first-year player to be named second-team All-Big Ten (or higher) since Paddy Fisher in 2017. Defense: Brandon Joseph, R-Fr., S His six interceptions in 2020 were tied for the most in the country … Georgia Southern's Derrick Canteen was the one tied with Joseph, but it took him 13 games to reach the mark, while Joseph played in nine … Ap- peared in four games in 2019. GAME 7 • NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS • OCT. 23 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 58-15-2 First Meeting: U-M 10, Northwestern 8 (Oct. 29, 1892 at Chicago) Last Meeting: U-M 20, Northwestern 17 (Sept. 29, 2018 at Evanston, Ill.) Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald, 106-81 at Northwestern and overall (16th year) 2020 In Review: 7-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten (1st West) Final 2020 Ranking: No. 10 in the Associated Press and coaches' polls Returning Starters: 9 (3 offense, 4 defense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2020 ( Vrbo Citrus Bowl vs. Auburn, W 35-19) Returning Leaders Passing: None Rushing: Cam Porter (333 yards, 5 TD) Receiving: Porter (57 yards, 0 TD) Tackles: Chris Bergin (78) Sacks: Adetomiwa Adebawore (2) Interceptions: Brandon Joseph (6)