Northwestern University Athletics
NU Kicks Off 2003 Spring Season
4/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 1, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern kicked off the 2003 spring football season Tuesday with its first practice at Trienens Hall, NU's indoor practice facility. After a full winter of workouts and conditioning drills, NU head coach Randy Walker, who is entering his fifth year at the helm, said the team made some good first impressions.
Some offseason position changes provided the highlights. Sophomore Jeff Backes (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), who was Ohio's "Mr. Football" as a high school running back, spent time as a running back and a wideout in 2002. However, he saw his first action on the defensive side of the ball today, making the switch to cornerback.
"We want to get our best 11 on the field," Walker said. "I struggled with the decision to move Jeff to defensive back because I still think he has great instincts as a running back. But we need to shore up the defense, and you don't know until you try it. He has great work ethic and has all the right intangibles to get it done. Now let's see if he can cover."
Senior Ray Bogenrief (Cedarburg, Wis./Marquette) also switched sides of the ball, from the defensive line to the tight end position. Bogenrief recorded one of the longest plays from scrimmage during seven-on-seven drills, snaring a pass across the middle for a 30-yard gain.
Redshirt sophomore Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator) and freshman Alexander Webb (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park) took most of the snaps under center, while Derell Jenkins (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) received his fair share. All three will likely factor in the offense come fall.
"We're light years ahead of where we were last spring," Walker said. "The confidence level of the offense is high. Our kids believe in Brett. He's a third-year quarterback now, and the other two guys are in their second year. Derell and Alexander can do some other things too. They both ran 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. If we want our best 11 on the field, you might see them line up elsewhere at times."
NU returns to the field Thursday, when the second practice is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
Session One Notes
The 'Cats, who will remain indoors for much of the spring season to help keep the practice fields in shape for the fall, were inside Tuesday ... Backes, Cory Dious (Atlanta, Ga./ Mays) and Marquice Cole (Hazel Crest, Ill./Hillcrest) -- all defensive backs -- ran 4.3 second (or better) 40-yard dashes at pro timing day ... Junior cornerback Marvin Ward (Landover, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) showed promise, returning from an ankle injury and recording the defense's only interception during seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills. The defense also picked up a fumble recovery ... Sophomore wide receiver Eric Batis (San Antonio, Texas/Central Catholic) posted the longest play of the day, catching a long touchdown pass ... Senior linebacker Pat Durr (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles) sat out the first day for precautionary measures. Durr, who tore his ACL on the sixth play of last season, could still join the team for some limited drills.
