Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Spring Football Begins April 3
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 29, 1999
New head football coach Randy Walker inherits a young Wildcat team that returns 14 starters and 39 letterwinners from a year ago. In fact, of the 24 players on the depth chart, only four will exhaust their eligibility in 1999. On offense, Brian Hemmerle and Jay Tant are senior starters with John Cerasani, back after breaking his foot in preseason last summer, returning to give the 'Cats depth at tight end. On defense, only fifth-year senior Jeff Dyra enters his final season.
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| Senior Jeff Dyra |
"During the spring, we will implement our offense, defense and kicking game," said Walker. "Not that we need to put together a game plan or a sophisticated attack, but you'd like to get the basic fundamentals and logistics in place for what you are going to try and do in those three aspects of the game in the fall. I'd like the kids to have a good working knowledge of our style of play, our practice tempo and the way we are going to approach trying to become a better football team."
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| Senior Jay Tant |
"We're a balanced offense," said Walker. "But, I would say without question, we start with the run. I think you have to rush the football in order to be a great football team."
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| Sophomore Sam Simmons |
In the passing game, the Wildcats need to find a replacement for All-Big Ten performer D'Wayne Bates at wide receiver. But the 'Cats come into spring ball returning their starting quarterback for the first time in three years and Gavin Hoffman expects to build on the experience he had as a redshirt freshman signal caller in the Big Ten. Hoffman threw for the fourth-most yards in a single-season in NU history and his 13 touchdown passes were also the fourth-best for a season.
"The years I've felt best about our offense is when we throw it half the time," said Walker. "But I know we have to be able to flat rush the football in the Big Ten in order to win. We try to accommodate our personnel as kids do things differently. I like doing what kids can do and execute and we need to find that out during spring practice."
Last season the Wildcat offensive line was riddled by injury as the 'Cats lost their starting center (Ty Garner), starting left guard (Brian Hemmerle) and starting right tackle (Ryan Friedrich) lost games due to injury. But there was a bright side to the carnage, as a lot of young players got a taste of Big Ten football in the trenches. Blake Henry, Lance Clelland, Mike Souza, Wayne Lucier, Adam Fay and Leon Brockmeier each started games last season. Hemmerle, who played the last seven games with a torn ACL, will be the only player on either side of the ball to sit out the spring due to off-season knee surgery.
On defense, expect NU to switch from a read and react defensive scheme to the aggressive attacking scheme that Walker was known for with Miami. The 'Cats return seven starters, 17 letterwinners and Jerry Brown as coordinator on this side of the ball.
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In the middle: Conrad Emmerich |
The interior defensive line should be a strength with Dyra, Darryl Hodge and Javiar Collins back from a three-man rotation last season. Also look for newcomer Pete Chapman to battle for playing time. The ends will feature Dwayne Missouri and Salem Simon, who improved steadily last year as the season went along.
Wildcat fans should have a ton of fun watching this season's linebacking corps. It will be the most athletic group to ever wear the purple and white. Walker expects big things out of middle linebacker Conrad Emmerich. At 6-5 and 255 pounds he has the size to fill holes and the speed to get there in time. At outside linebacker, speed will be the buzz word. Napoleon Harris, Kevin Bentley, Billy Silva and Preston Letts will each vie for time in the front seven. Look for this group to be very active in the Walker defense.
"I want to make sure that we are aggressive and assertive in our approach," said Walker. "I like coming after people and making things happen as a defense. As Bobby Bowden says, 'Hold on to your hats, someone's fixin' to score.' I hope it's us."
In the defensive backfield, two starters return. Safety Mycal Jones and cornerback Harold Blackmon give the 'Cats a solid nucleus to build on. Rashad Morton, who's been waiting for his chance to start for two seasons, is penciled in at the free safety position. The other corner will be a battle between Shegun Cummings-John, Gerald Conoway and Chasda Martin.
Practices are closed to the public and unfortunately due to the reseeding of Ryan Field, there will be no Spring Game this year.
