Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera
Wildcats Announce Addition of Seven Preferred Walk-Ons
5/18/2016 4:33:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Northwestern Wildcats will add seven preferred walk-ons to the program this fall, Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald announced on Wednesday.
In addition to 20 student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent in February to join the Wildcats, Drew Luckenbaugh (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove), Cody Link (Madison, Wis./Edgewood), David McCuskey (Orono, Minn./Orono), Jason Goosen (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood), Jack Tirmonia (Canton, Ohio/Jackson), Parker Oliver (Dallas, Texas/Texas Christian Academy) and Tyler Gillikin (Atlanta, Ga./The Westminster Schools) will join Chicago's Big Ten Team as preferred walk-ons.
"We are excited to have these young men join our football family later this year," said Fitzgerald. "They're a critical part of our program."
Find complete information on the newest Wildcats below:
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.
JASON GOOSEN
Offensive Line
6'8/305/Virginia Beach, Va. (Tallwood)
High School: Played in Virginia National Guard Under Armour High School East vs. West All-Star game … 2015 Tallwood Lineman of the Year … 2014 and 2015 All-757 Honorable Mention … Lettered all four years for Tallwood … 2016 Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award … 2014 Latin Honor Society inductee.
Personal: Born Jason Tyler Goosen in Virginia Beach, Va. … Parents are Theodore Goosen and Teresa Plasse-Goosen … Brother Theo plays offensive line at Cornell … Cousin, Jennifer, played lacrosse at Niagara University … Cousin, Erin, ran cross country and track & field at Union College … Anticipated major at Northwestern is STEM or Engineering.
CODY LINK
Linebacker
6'5/220/Madison, Wis. (Edgewood)
High School: Recorded 92 tackles and scored two defensive touchdowns senior year … Named to 2015 All-City team … All-Conference linebacker (2015) and tight end (2014, 2015) … Named team MVP senior year … Captained Edgewood to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs last year, the team's third playoff appearance in four years … Three-sport athlete all four years … Turned down scholarship offers to play college baseball … All-State Academics in 2015 … Honor Roll student … National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Cody Patrick Link in Naperville, Ill. … Parents are Patrick and Kelly … Mother is in the UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame for track and cross country ... Sister, Courtney, runs track and cross country at St. Louis University … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
DREW LUCKENBAUGH
Kicker, Punter
6'1/200/Spring Grove, Pa. (Spring Grove)
High School: Recorded 52 points (eight field goals, 28 PATs) and 23 touchbacks senior year … Booted 45-yard game winner, his longest of the season … Totaled 76 points (14 field goals, 34 PATs) sophomore year, 68 points (10 field goals, 38 PATs) freshman year … Set school record with 47-yard field goal freshman year … Led Spring Grove to Division I co-championship in 2012 … First Team All-County Kicker all four years … Second Team All-County punter senior year … Most field goals in the state of Pennsylvania in 2013 … Wendy's Heisman State Finalist … Second in graduating class … 4.0 GPA, class president, Distinguished Honor Roll every semester … National Honor Society … Placed eighth nationally at 2015 Team America Rocketry Challenge.
Personal: Born Andrew Myles Luckenbaugh in York, Pa. … Parents are Joseph and Lisa Luckenbaugh … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Computer Science.
DAVID MCCUSKEY
Running Back
5'11/180/Orono, Minn. (Orono)
High School: Totaled 2,108 all-purpose yards (1,727 rushing), 170 rushing yards per game, 26 touchdowns and 7.5 yards per carry as a senior captain at Orono … Racked up 4,350 all-purpose yards (3,558 rushing yards) and 40 touchdowns during high school career … All-State, team MVP … Holds school record for rushing yards and touchdowns … Academic All-State … Yale Book Award recipient … Honor Roll student … Junior class president … AP Scholar.
Personal: Born David J McCuskey in Edina, Minn. … Parents are Connie and Dave … Great grandfather, David McCuskey, was Hall of Fame wrestling coach for Iowa … Anticipated major at Northwestern is political science.
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 are Greg and Stephanie Oliver … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
JACK TIRMONIA
Wide Receiver
6'3/190/Canton, Ohio (Jackson)
High School: Recorded 44 catches, 645 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior year captain … All-Ohio Division I Second Team … First Team Division I Northeast Ohio Inland All-District … First Team All-Stark County … First Team All-Federal League … Invited to Blue-Grey All-American Game at AT&T Stadium (declined to participate), selected for Stark County East-West All-Star Game … Class vice president junior year … National Honor Society … Honor Roll student.
Personal: Born Jackson Nicholas Tirmonia in Canton, Ohio … Parents are Michael and Allison Tirmonia … Michael was Honorable Mention All-American in golf at Wittenberg University … Grandfather, Jerry Krisher, won 1954 football national championship at Ohio State, drafted in fifth round by Philadelphia Eagles … Undecided on anticipated major at Northwestern, interested in Economics.
In addition to 20 student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent in February to join the Wildcats, Drew Luckenbaugh (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove), Cody Link (Madison, Wis./Edgewood), David McCuskey (Orono, Minn./Orono), Jason Goosen (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood), Jack Tirmonia (Canton, Ohio/Jackson), Parker Oliver (Dallas, Texas/Texas Christian Academy) and Tyler Gillikin (Atlanta, Ga./The Westminster Schools) will join Chicago's Big Ten Team as preferred walk-ons.
"We are excited to have these young men join our football family later this year," said Fitzgerald. "They're a critical part of our program."
Find complete information on the newest Wildcats below:
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.
JASON GOOSEN
Offensive Line
6'8/305/Virginia Beach, Va. (Tallwood)
High School: Played in Virginia National Guard Under Armour High School East vs. West All-Star game … 2015 Tallwood Lineman of the Year … 2014 and 2015 All-757 Honorable Mention … Lettered all four years for Tallwood … 2016 Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award … 2014 Latin Honor Society inductee.
Personal: Born Jason Tyler Goosen in Virginia Beach, Va. … Parents are Theodore Goosen and Teresa Plasse-Goosen … Brother Theo plays offensive line at Cornell … Cousin, Jennifer, played lacrosse at Niagara University … Cousin, Erin, ran cross country and track & field at Union College … Anticipated major at Northwestern is STEM or Engineering.
CODY LINK
Linebacker
6'5/220/Madison, Wis. (Edgewood)
High School: Recorded 92 tackles and scored two defensive touchdowns senior year … Named to 2015 All-City team … All-Conference linebacker (2015) and tight end (2014, 2015) … Named team MVP senior year … Captained Edgewood to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs last year, the team's third playoff appearance in four years … Three-sport athlete all four years … Turned down scholarship offers to play college baseball … All-State Academics in 2015 … Honor Roll student … National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Cody Patrick Link in Naperville, Ill. … Parents are Patrick and Kelly … Mother is in the UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame for track and cross country ... Sister, Courtney, runs track and cross country at St. Louis University … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
DREW LUCKENBAUGH
Kicker, Punter
6'1/200/Spring Grove, Pa. (Spring Grove)
High School: Recorded 52 points (eight field goals, 28 PATs) and 23 touchbacks senior year … Booted 45-yard game winner, his longest of the season … Totaled 76 points (14 field goals, 34 PATs) sophomore year, 68 points (10 field goals, 38 PATs) freshman year … Set school record with 47-yard field goal freshman year … Led Spring Grove to Division I co-championship in 2012 … First Team All-County Kicker all four years … Second Team All-County punter senior year … Most field goals in the state of Pennsylvania in 2013 … Wendy's Heisman State Finalist … Second in graduating class … 4.0 GPA, class president, Distinguished Honor Roll every semester … National Honor Society … Placed eighth nationally at 2015 Team America Rocketry Challenge.
Personal: Born Andrew Myles Luckenbaugh in York, Pa. … Parents are Joseph and Lisa Luckenbaugh … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Computer Science.
DAVID MCCUSKEY
Running Back
5'11/180/Orono, Minn. (Orono)
High School: Totaled 2,108 all-purpose yards (1,727 rushing), 170 rushing yards per game, 26 touchdowns and 7.5 yards per carry as a senior captain at Orono … Racked up 4,350 all-purpose yards (3,558 rushing yards) and 40 touchdowns during high school career … All-State, team MVP … Holds school record for rushing yards and touchdowns … Academic All-State … Yale Book Award recipient … Honor Roll student … Junior class president … AP Scholar.
Personal: Born David J McCuskey in Edina, Minn. … Parents are Connie and Dave … Great grandfather, David McCuskey, was Hall of Fame wrestling coach for Iowa … Anticipated major at Northwestern is political science.
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 are Greg and Stephanie Oliver … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
JACK TIRMONIA
Wide Receiver
6'3/190/Canton, Ohio (Jackson)
High School: Recorded 44 catches, 645 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior year captain … All-Ohio Division I Second Team … First Team Division I Northeast Ohio Inland All-District … First Team All-Stark County … First Team All-Federal League … Invited to Blue-Grey All-American Game at AT&T Stadium (declined to participate), selected for Stark County East-West All-Star Game … Class vice president junior year … National Honor Society … Honor Roll student.
Personal: Born Jackson Nicholas Tirmonia in Canton, Ohio … Parents are Michael and Allison Tirmonia … Michael was Honorable Mention All-American in golf at Wittenberg University … Grandfather, Jerry Krisher, won 1954 football national championship at Ohio State, drafted in fifth round by Philadelphia Eagles … Undecided on anticipated major at Northwestern, interested in Economics.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!Players Mentioned
LS
/ Football
WR
/ FootballFootball - ULM Postgame Press Conference (10/04/25)
Sunday, October 05
Football - Northwestern Secures Comprehensive Win Over ULM, 42-7 (10/4/25)
Sunday, October 05
Football - ULM Game Week Press Conference (9/29/25)
Monday, September 29
Football - UCLA Postgame Press Conference (9/27/25)
Sunday, September 28
