Northwestern University Athletics
#B1GCats Introduce 2016 National Signing Day Class
2/3/2016 8:02:00 AM | Football
"Every year this is an exciting day for the future of our football family, but more importantly a transformational day for these young men and their families," said Fitzgerald. "Each will contribute to our pursuit of a Big Ten championship on the field, and earn the best education in college football. Our staff has had the opportunity to get to know each recruit extensively over the last several years, and we look forward to welcoming them to Evanston this summer."
In addition to 20 scholarship signees, one of whom is already on campus as an early enrollee, Fitzgerald introduced a pair of student-athletes that will join the program as walk-ons this fall.
Northwestern won 10 games last season for the fourth time in program history, including victories over the eventual Pac-12 champions and five opponents that went on to win a bowl game. The Wildcats return three players that earned All-Big Ten honors last year, led by All-American linebacker and First Team honoree Anthony Walker Jr.
Chicago's Big Ten Team will open the spring practice schedule on Tuesday, Feb. 23, and will host an open-to-the-public practice at Ryan Field on Saturday, April 2.
The Wildcats kick off the 2016 season on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Ryan Field against Western Michigan. The 2016 campaign is the first that will feature a nine-game Big Ten slate, with Nebraska, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois set to visit Evanston, along with non-conference opponents Duke and Illinois State.
2016 Signing Class Notes (excludes walk-ons)
- Northwestern's recruiting class features 11 student-athletes on the offensive side of the ball [offensive line (4) quarterback, running back (2), superback, wide receiver (3)] and nine on defense [defensive back (3), defensive line (3), linebacker (3)]
- The 2016 class represents eight states and Ontario, led by eight student-athletes from Ohio and four from Texas
- One member of the class, Tommy Carnifax, completed his high school studies in December and has already enrolled at Northwestern for the 2016 Winter Quarter
- Nineteen of the 20 signees verbally committed to Northwestern prior to the start of their senior year of high school
- The Wildcats will welcome a pair of high school teammates in Katy, Texas, products Paddy Fisher and Travis Whillock, one year after adding a pair from Baltimore's Gilman School (Jelani Roberts, Alonzo Mayo) and Chicago's Oak Park-River Forest (Adam Lemke-Bell, Lloyd Yates)
- Eighteen of the 20 signees made official visits to campus on the same weekend in January
Find complete information on the 2016 Wildcats class at Signing Day Central by clicking on the image below:
2016 National Signing Day Bios (Alphabetical)
JESSE BROWN
Running Back
5'11/190/Lilburn, Ga. (Brookwood)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 27 All-Purpose Back in the nation … Piled up more than 3,300 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns for the Broncos … Two-time Second Team All-County … Three-time Gwinett County Touchdown Club Player of the Month … 2013 Great American Rivalries Game MVP … 2013 Gwinett Gridiron Newcomer of the Year … Earned four varsity letters in track & field, copeting in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay events … Member of NG3 non-profit service organization … Volunteer youth football coach … Volunteer at Rainbow Village transitional housing community … Ranked in the Top-5% of his graduating class at Brookwood … Four-time Brookwood Scholar-Athlete … Selected as the Outstanding Senior by Brookwood teachers.
Personal: Born Jesse Jahkeem Brown in Fort Myers, Florida … Son of Oliviere and Deborah Brown … Brother Jonathan earned First Team All-SEC honors in rugby at Georgia … Brother Joshua is a running back at the United States Naval Academy … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Mechanical Engineering.
BRIAN BULLOCK
Defensive Back
5'11/175/Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports … Team captain led Round Rock to back-to-back district championships in 2014 and 2015, playing both cornerback and safety … Totaled 81 tackles and three interceptions as a senior, and 184 tackles and nine interceptions over the course of his varsity career … 2015 First Team All-District … 2015 Third Team All-Central Texas … 2014 Second Team All-District … Also ran track and played baseball and basketball during his high school career … Two-time Academic All-District.
Personal: Born Brian Michael Bullock in Austin, Texas … Parents James and Michelle Bullock … Anticipated major at Northwestern is undecided.
RODERICK CAMPBELL
Defensive Back
6'0/180/St. Louis, Mo. (Chaminade College Prep)
High School: Earned a four-star rating from Rivals, which ranked him as the No. 3 player in the state of Missouri and the No. 19 cornerback prospect in the country … Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports … Four-year starter and three-time team captain led Chaminade to a 12-2 mark and a spot in the 2015 Missouri Class 5 finals as a senior … Recorded 63 tackles, 14 pass breakups, four interceptions and two touchdowns in his final season for the Red Devils … 2015 First Team All-State … 2014 Second Team All-State … Three-time All-Metro … Three-time All-Conference honoree.
TOMMY CARNIFAX
Defensive End
6'4/250/Warren, Ohio (Howland)
High School: Early enrollee joined the Wildcats and began his Northwestern career during the 2016 winter quarter ... Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 24 prospect in the state of Ohio ... Piled up 57 tackles, 5.0 sacks and 16.0 tackles-for-loss as a junior in 2014 and also lined up as a tight end on the offensive side of the ball ... Hails from the same hometown and high school as former Wildcats standout Tyler Scott.
RAMAUD CHIAOKHIAO-BOWMAN
Wide Receiver
6'2/190/Minneapolis, Minn. (Breck School)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 10 prospect in the state of Minnesota … Three-time All-State Metro Team and four-time All-Conference honoree … Recorded a school-record 162 career receptions for 2,517 yards and 24 TD over four varsity seasons … Piled up 3,719 all-purpose yards and 30 TD while seeing time as a QB, RB, WR, FS, CB, KR, PR, kicker and punter for the Mustangs … Established Breck School records for touchdowns in a single game (5) and career receptions (162) … Three-sport athlete earned four varsity letters in basketball and four in track … Set school records in the long jump (22'2") and triple jump (46'5") … Earned four All-Conference honors in track and three in basketball … Two-time Minnesota State Runner-Up in triple jump … Honor roll student … Six-time Headmasters List of Honors recipient … Played drums in Breck Jazz Band.
Personal: Born Ramaud Sakone Chiaokhiao-Bowman in Minneapolis … Parents Phet and Scott Bowman … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Human Development & Psychological Services.
ERIC ESHOO
Superback
6'4/225/Chicago, Ill. (Loyola Academy)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 23 player in the state of Illinois … Helped lead the Ramblers to the 2015 IHSA 8A State Championship … Caught 29 passes for 524 yards and 6 touchdowns as a senior … 2015 Champaign News-Gazette All-State Team … 2015 All-Area Team … Chicago Catholic League All-Conference … 2015 All-USA Illinois Football First Team … Three-sport athlete also competed in basketball and baseball at Loyola.
Personal: Born Eric Austin Eshoo in Park Ridge, Illinois … Parents David and Sherry Eshoo … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
PADDY FISHER
Linebacker
6'3/220/Katy, Texas (Katy)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as one of the nation's Top-50 Inside Linebacker recruits ... 2015 Greater Houston High School Rotary Lombardi Award winner ... Helped lead the Katy Tigers to the Class 6A Division II Texas State Championship and the top spot in the MaxPreps national high school rankings ... Keyed a defense that allowed a total of 62 points in 16 games, including ten shutouts, while winning its first state title since 2012 and eighth overall ... Earned All-State and All-District honors ... Piled up 350 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, eight sacks and eight forced fumbles during his varsity career ... High school teammate of fellow 2016 Northwestern signee Travis Whillock.
Personal: Born Padriac William Fisher in Houston ... Son of Kathiann and Steven (deceased) ... Anticipated major at Northwestern is undecided.
TYLER GILLIKIN
Long Snapper
6'3/215/Atlanta, Ga. (The Westminster Schools)
High School: Captained The Westminster Schools to the 2015 Georgia AAA State Championship … First Team All-State Class AAA … First Team All-Metro Atlanta … Piled up 82 tackles and led the Wildcats with 23 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles as a senior … Played both offense (tackle, tight end) and defense, earning Team Defensive Player of the Week honors four times, and Offensive Player of the Week laurels twice … Helped lead the Wildcats to the 2014 Georgia AAA Semifinals … Three-sport athlete also earned varsity letters in track (high jump) and basketball … National Honor Society … Honor Roll student … AP Scholar.
Personal: Born Tyler Brent Gillikin in Atlanta … Father, Walt, was a swimmer at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill … Mother, Taryn, was an All-American swimmer at the University of Kansas … Twin brother Blake committed to Penn State as a punter … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Biology.
JANGO GLACKIN
Linebacker
6'2/205/Lebanon, Ohio (IMG Academy [Bradenton, Fla.])
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as a Top-50 outside linebacker prospect in the nation … Spent his senior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida … Piled up 58 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery despite being limited to just seven games due to injury … Also earned two carries for 37 yards on the ground … Earned IMG's Top Scholar-Athlete Award … Built a standout career at Ohio's Lebanon High School before transferring to IMG … National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Jango M. Glackin in Dayton, Ohio … Father Gregory Glackin …Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
MARK GOODEN
Linebacker
6'2/225/Reynoldsburg, Ohio (Reynoldsburg)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports … Captained the Raiders to the 2015 Ohio State Playoffs, the school's first postseason appearance in 14 years … Appeared in just six games as a senior due to injury, yet piled up 43 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 9 sacks … Totaled 107 tackles, 19 sacks, 18 tackles for loss over three varsity seasons … Three-sport athlete also played basketball and track & field (shotput, discus, 400m) … 2015 Ohio Capital Conference discus champion … 2015 OCC Scholar-Athlete … Three-year member of the Reynoldsburg Concert Orchestra (cello) … Reynoldsburg Homecoming King … National Society for High School Scholars.
Personal: Born Mark Joseph Gooden in Cincinnati … Parents Mark and Valerie Gooden … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Mechanical Engineering.
CAM KOLWICH
Offensive Line
6'4/265/Beverly Hills, Mich. (Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 20 player in the state of Michigan and the No. 36 offensive guard in the nation … Three-year starter on the offensive line … Team captain led St. Mary's to back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015, guiding the Eaglets to a 24-3 record over his final two seasons … 2015 USA Today All-Michigan Team … AP First Team Division 3/4 All-State … Named to MLive Detroit's Dream Team and the Detroit News Football Dream Team … Selected to compete in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl.
Personal: Born Cameron Daniel Kolwich in Troy, Michigan … Parents Greg and Heather Kolwich … Father played football at the University of Georgia and University of Western Ontario … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
JEREMY LARKIN
Running Back
5'10/175/Cincinnati, Ohio (LaSalle)
High School: Earned a four-star rating from Scout, which ranked him as the No. 4 running back in the Midwest … Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 18 prospect in the state of Ohio and the No. 24 running back in the nation … Rated by Rivals as the No. 10 all-purpose back in the country … Two-time team captain led the Lancers to back-to-back Ohio Division II Championships… Piled up 5,349 rushing yards, 6,399 total offensive yards, 8,326 all-purpose yards and 95 total touchdowns over his final three seasons at LaSalle … Two-time Ohio Division II Offensive Player of the Year … Two-time Ohio Mr. Football runner-up … 2014 MaxPreps Junior All-American … Two-time Greater Catholic League (GCL) Player of the Year … Three-time First Team All-GCL … Three-time LaSalle Player of the Year … Established school records for total offense in a season (3,247), rushing yards in a season (2,585), touchdowns in a season (42) and career rushing touchdowns (76) … High school teammate of current Wildcats defensive lineman Jordan Thompson … Also played four years of basketball at LaSalle … Won three AAU basketball Ohio state championships … Honor roll student.
Personal: Born Jeremy Randy Larkin in Cincinnati … Parents Jeff and Shevelle Larkin … Brother Jeff Jr. plays basketball at Christian Brothers University … Anticipated major at Northwestern is undecided.
RILEY LEES
Wide Receiver
6'0/185/Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 18 player in the state of Illinois … Two-time team captain led the Wildcats to the Class 7A state semifinal as a junior and to the 7A title game as a senior in 2015 … Totaled 4,437 yards and 68 touchdowns on the ground, 2,989 yards and 38 touchdowns through the air and 750 receiving yards and three touchdown catches, along with a kick return touchdown, in his Libertyville career … Two-time Daily Herald Player of the Year … Chicago Tribune First Team All-State … Two-time Daily Herald/Chicago Tribune All-Area … Two-time IHSFA All-State … Two-time Libertyville MVP … Two-time North Suburban Conference (NSC) All-Conference … Also played baseball for the Wildcats … Honor roll student.
Personal: Born Riley James Lees in Libertyville, Illinois … Parents Ed and Lisa Lees … Brother Sean is a running back at Wofford College … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Finance.
JESSE MEYLER
Offensive Line
6'5/285/Toronto, Ontario (Episcopal [Arlington, Va.])
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports … Captained Episcopal to the IAC Championship … First Team All-State … First Team All-Met … First Team All-Conference … Three-sport athlete also competed in basketball and track & field (discus).
Personal: Born Jesse Jor-Anthony Meyler in Toronto, Ontario… Parents Tony and Denise Meyler … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Psychology.
ALEX MILLER
Defensive Line
6'3/260/Houston, Texas (Stratford)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports … Registered 183 tackles, 11 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and four pass breakups during his varsity career at Stratford … 2015 District Defensive MVP … 2015 Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Second Team … Three-time First Team All-District … 2015 Academic All-District … National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Alexander Wangdi Miller in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia … Parents Greg and Yeshey … Father was an All-Conference defensive lineman at the University of Nevada-Reno … Mother is from the Kingdom of Bhutan and the family lived overseas for eight years in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan … Anticipated major at Northwestern is undecided.
PARKER OLIVER
Wide Receiver
5'11/180/Dallas, Texas (Texas Christian Academy)
High School: Filled the stat sheet with 715 receiving yards, 578 passing yards and 492 rushing yards to go along with 16 touchdowns as a senior captain at Trinity Christian …. Totaled 4,255 all-purpose yards and 40 touchdowns (25 receiving, eight rushing, seven passing) during a three-year varsity career with the Trojans … 2015 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 5A Male Athlete of the Year … Two-time TAPPS 5A All-State Offense … Two-time First Team All-District … Two-time Academic All-State … Trinity Christian Offensive MVP as a senior … Also earned four varsity letters in track, competing in the 100m, 200m, 4x100 relay, long jump and triple jump … Two-time TAPPS 5A 100m State Champion … 2015 TAPPS 5A Triple Jump State Champion … Holds Trinity Christian records in the triple jump and as part of the 4x100 relay … National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Parker Scott Oliver in Dallas … Parents Greg and Stephanie Oliver … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
JAKE SAUNDERS
Defensive Tackle
6'3/275/Loveland, Ohio (Loveland)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 20 player in the state of Ohio and a Top-50 defensive tackle prospect in the nation … Totaled 150 tackles and 18 sacks during a three-year career at Loveland … 2016 Anthony Munoz Foundation DII Defensive Lineman of the Year … 2015 JJ Huddle All-State … Two-time First Team All-District … Two-time First Team All-Conference … Two-time Special Mention All-State … Two-time Loveland Defensive Player of the Year … Piled up 45 tackles and 5.5 sacks as a sophomore while helping lead the Tigers to a 15-0 record and the Ohio Division II State Championship … Also threw the shotput and discus for the Loveland track team … Four-time Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) All-Academic … Honor roll student.
Personal: Born Jacob Christian Saunders in Cincinnati, Ohio … Parents Steve and Kim Saunders … Anticipated major at Northwestern is undecided.
BENNETT SKOWRONEK
Wide Receiver
6'4/205/Fort Wayne, Ind. (Homestead)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 12 prospect in the state of Indiana … Recorded a school-record 133 receptions for 2,181 yards and 26 touchdowns during his varsity career … Also registered 52 tackles, three tackles for loss and three interceptions at safety and returned kickoffs and punts … Captained the Spartans to the 2015 Indiana 6A Sectional championship … 2015 Indiana Mr. Football positional winner … Associated Press All-State … IFCA All-State … Three-time First Team All-Conference (SAC) … Three-time All-Area … Two-time All-Northeast Indiana … Two-time Fab15 selection … IFCA Top-50 selection … Led his 7v7 team to the NFA national championship along with fellow 2016 signee Aidan Smith … Also played basketball for Homestead, earning two varsity letters and winning the Indiana 4A state championship … Honor roll student.
Personal: Born Bennett William Skowronek in Indianapolis … Parents David and Jodi … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Learning & Organizational Change.
AIDAN SMITH
Quarterback
6'2/200/Fort Wayne, Ind. (Carroll)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 11 prospect in the state of Indiana and the No. 28 Pro-Style quarterback in the nation … Completed 62% of his passes for 3,724 yards and 31 touchdowns, and added 184 carries for 1,078 yards and 18 touchdowns in his varsity career … 2015 First Team All-Summit Athletic Conference (SAC) … 2015 Second Team All-Northeast Indiana … 2015 Associated Press 6A Senior All-State Team … Holds Carroll High School records for passing yards in a season (2,194), completions in a season (174), touchdowns in a season (26), completions in a game (26) and touchdown passes in a game (6) … Led his 7v7 team to the NFA national championship along with fellow 2016 signee Ben Skowronek.
Personal: Born Aidan Robert Smith in Youngstown, Ohio … Parents Tobin and Jane Smith … Anticipated major at Northwestern is undecided.
TRAVIS WHILLOCK
Defensive Back
6'0/180/Katy, Texas (Katy)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports ... Helped lead the Katy Tigers to the Class 6A Division II Texas State Championship and the top spot in the MaxPreps national high school rankings ... Captained a defense that allowed a total of 62 points in 16 games, including ten shutouts, while winning its first state title since 2012 and eighth overall ... Piled up 300 tackles, 12 interceptions and 30 pass breakups during his varsity career ... Earned All-State (2015), All-District (2013-15) and All-Greater Houston (2014-15) honors, as well as 2015 Academic All-State laurels ... Also ran track in high school ... High school teammate of fellow 2016 Northwestern signee Paddy Fisher.
Personal: Born Travis Jack Whillock in Houston ... Father Kirk played football at University of Arkansas ... Mother Judy played softball at Texas A&M, earning All-America honors and helping lead the Aggies to the 1987 NCAA Championship ... Anticipated major at Northwestern is undecided.
NIK URBAN
Offensive Line
6'3/270/Willoughby, Ohio (Willoughby South)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as the No. 25 player in the state of Ohio and the No. 29 offensive guard prospect in the nation … Two-time Willoughby South team captain … 2015 Lake County Lineman of the Year … Two-time All-Ohio selection, including First Team honors as a senior … Two-time All-Northeast Ohio … Three-time All-Lake County … Three-time All-Herald News selection … Piled up more than 100 wins over a four-year wrestling career … Two-time sectional and district wrestling champion, and two-time state qualifier … Academic All-Ohio in both football and wrestling.
Personal: Born Nikolas Howard Urban in Mentor, Ohio … Parents Jennifer Rus and Chip Urban … Anticipated major at Northwestern is undecided.
GUNNAR VOGEL
Offensive Line
6'6/265/Columbus, Ohio (Westerville South)
High School: Earned a three-star rating from 247 Sports, which ranked him as a Top-50 prospect in Ohio … First Team All-State, All-Metro and All-District honoree … Named to the NBC4 Friday Night Lights All-Star Team … Selected to participate in the North-South Ohio All-Star Game … Surrendered just two sacks during his varsity career … Registered 67 knockdowns during his senior season, paving the way for more than 2,100 rushing yards by the Wildcats … Recorded 38 knockdowns as a junior as part of an offensive line that helped pile up 2,000 rushing yards … Earned two varsity letters in track & field throwing the shotput and discus … OCC Scholar-Athlete.
Personal: Born Gunnar Pavl Vogel in Columbus, Ohio … Parents Lori Vogel and James Nordgren … Grandfather Bob Vogel played football at Ohio State and for the Baltimore Colts … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Engineering.
Players Mentioned
