Northwestern University Athletics
#B1GCats Preseason Camp Spotlight: Defensive Backs
8/10/2017 2:38:00 PM | Football
Senior defensive backs Godwin Igwebuike, Kyle Queiro and Keith Watkins II started at Northwestern together. They all redshirted their first season in 2013 and have spent three years learning together, playing together and becoming leaders together– they even live together. It is a bond that helped build one of the most tight-knit position groups on the team, and one of the best in the Big Ten and perhaps all of college football.
"Before the summer started, we sat down and told each other that we are the ones who the DBs will look up to and we need to be more vocal for us to get where we have to get," said Watkins after an intense practice on the lakefront at Hutcheson Field, the first with shoulder pads.
Beyond vocal leadership of the #SkyTeam, it helps to have one of the most highly-regarded safeties in the country in Igwebuike, who was named to watch lists for the Bednarik Trophy, Nagurski Award and Thorpe Award this summer. He led the Wildcats in 2016 with 108 tackles and 78 solo stops, and ranked ninth in the country with 6.0 solo tackles per game. He also had at least six tackles in 12 of 13 games, including three double-digit performances. Igwebuike contributed a season-high 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the Big Ten opener versus Nebraska, and helped lead the Wildcats to their Pinstripe Bowl victory with seven tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.
"We're a group that has gone through the fire," said Igwebuike, who was voted Second-Team All-Big Ten by the coaches in 2016, a season in which the 'Cats lost both projected starting corners, Watkins and senior Matthew Harris, for the season by Week 3. "Last year we had guys go down, so many new guys step up, guys get benched, come back, rise to the occasion. It has developed us into a group that is very deep; a lot of guys who have played in big games, guys who have made big plays."
Queiro started 10 games at safety for the 'Cats in 2016, finishing with a career-high 53 tackles, with 32 solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. His interception at Yankee Stadium sealed the Pinstripe Bowl championship for Northwestern, and he was No. 1 on SportsCenter's Top Plays on Saturday, October 22, for a one-handed interception at Ryan Field against Indiana. That type of playmaking ability isn't seen as an outlier for this group heading into camp, it is the standard.
"It's about turning the tide," Queiro said. "Whether it's a big hit, a forced fumble, an interception, we can change the course of the game with one play and that reflects in our goals – no missed opportunities on big plays."
Watkins missed the 2016 season after suffering an injury during training camp. He started two games at cornerback and appeared in 12 in 2015, tying for second on the team at the position with 41 tackles.
Junior Montre Hartage started all 13 games at cornerback for the Wildcats last season, and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the conference media. He led the team with five interceptions, a total that leads all returning Big Ten players in 2017, and nine pass breakups.
Junior Marcus McShepard started the 2016 season at wide receiver before transitioning back to defensive back, contributing 27 tackles over the Wildcats' final six regular-season games. Junior Jared McGee appeared in all 13 games for Northwestern in 2016, making three starts at safety. He finished the season with 36 tackles and three interceptions, including a key pick late in the Pinstripe Bowl.
This is a battle-tested group that finished third in the Big Ten last season with 16 interceptions. They've experienced 5-7 seasons and a 10-3 season. They've taken the blows that come with a Bowl game loss and they've enjoyed the glory that comes with a victory. And now with senior leadership in starting roles and depth that brings big-game experience, these defensive backs are attacking camp with an edge.
"We're getting after it," Igwebuike said. "It's contagious. All it takes is a few guys, and then all of a sudden, it just spreads."
"Before the summer started, we sat down and told each other that we are the ones who the DBs will look up to and we need to be more vocal for us to get where we have to get," said Watkins after an intense practice on the lakefront at Hutcheson Field, the first with shoulder pads.
Beyond vocal leadership of the #SkyTeam, it helps to have one of the most highly-regarded safeties in the country in Igwebuike, who was named to watch lists for the Bednarik Trophy, Nagurski Award and Thorpe Award this summer. He led the Wildcats in 2016 with 108 tackles and 78 solo stops, and ranked ninth in the country with 6.0 solo tackles per game. He also had at least six tackles in 12 of 13 games, including three double-digit performances. Igwebuike contributed a season-high 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the Big Ten opener versus Nebraska, and helped lead the Wildcats to their Pinstripe Bowl victory with seven tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.
"We're a group that has gone through the fire," said Igwebuike, who was voted Second-Team All-Big Ten by the coaches in 2016, a season in which the 'Cats lost both projected starting corners, Watkins and senior Matthew Harris, for the season by Week 3. "Last year we had guys go down, so many new guys step up, guys get benched, come back, rise to the occasion. It has developed us into a group that is very deep; a lot of guys who have played in big games, guys who have made big plays."
Queiro started 10 games at safety for the 'Cats in 2016, finishing with a career-high 53 tackles, with 32 solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. His interception at Yankee Stadium sealed the Pinstripe Bowl championship for Northwestern, and he was No. 1 on SportsCenter's Top Plays on Saturday, October 22, for a one-handed interception at Ryan Field against Indiana. That type of playmaking ability isn't seen as an outlier for this group heading into camp, it is the standard.
"It's about turning the tide," Queiro said. "Whether it's a big hit, a forced fumble, an interception, we can change the course of the game with one play and that reflects in our goals – no missed opportunities on big plays."
Watkins missed the 2016 season after suffering an injury during training camp. He started two games at cornerback and appeared in 12 in 2015, tying for second on the team at the position with 41 tackles.
Junior Montre Hartage started all 13 games at cornerback for the Wildcats last season, and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the conference media. He led the team with five interceptions, a total that leads all returning Big Ten players in 2017, and nine pass breakups.
Junior Marcus McShepard started the 2016 season at wide receiver before transitioning back to defensive back, contributing 27 tackles over the Wildcats' final six regular-season games. Junior Jared McGee appeared in all 13 games for Northwestern in 2016, making three starts at safety. He finished the season with 36 tackles and three interceptions, including a key pick late in the Pinstripe Bowl.
This is a battle-tested group that finished third in the Big Ten last season with 16 interceptions. They've experienced 5-7 seasons and a 10-3 season. They've taken the blows that come with a Bowl game loss and they've enjoyed the glory that comes with a victory. And now with senior leadership in starting roles and depth that brings big-game experience, these defensive backs are attacking camp with an edge.
"We're getting after it," Igwebuike said. "It's contagious. All it takes is a few guys, and then all of a sudden, it just spreads."
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