Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Nevada
GAME NOTES: Wildcats Open 2017 Campaign versus Nevada
8/29/2017 10:40:00 AM | Football
| NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL: GAME DAY INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | BROADCAST | LIVE STATS |
| Saturday, September 2 | Nevada | 2:30 p.m. | Ryan Field Evanston, Ill. |
TV: BTN RADIO: WGN 720 |
Gameday Central |
| BTN: Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Chuck Long (analyst), Michelle McMahon (sideline) WGN 720: Dave Eanet (play-by-play), Ted Albrecth (analyst), Adam Hoge (sideline) Social: Twitter (@NUFBFamily and @NU_SportsLive) | Instagram (@nufbfamily) | Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern | Nevada | Big Ten |
|||||
Weekly Press Conference
EVANSTON, Ill. — The Northwestern football program will open its 12th season under Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 2:30 p.m. at Ryan Field.
The Wildcats return 16 starters from their team that finished 7-6 last season, capping the season with an impressive 31-24 win over No. 23 Pittsburgh in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl inside Yankee Stadium. The Wolf Pack went 5-7 last season and is led by first-year head coach Jay Norvell.
KICKING THINGS OFF
Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald begins his 12th season at the helm when the Wildcats take on Nevada on Saturday, September 2, at Ryan Field. Fitzgerald is 9-2 in seasons openers during his tenure and has posted an impressive 20-7 record in the month of September over the last five years.
JUSTIN JACKSON CHASING HISTORY
Senior running back Justin Jackson enters the 2017 campaign on the verge of becoming Northwestern's all-time leading rusher. Jackson became the first player in program history to rush for 1,000-plus yards in three-straight seasons with his career-high 1,524 yards last season, capping his junior year with a career-high 224 yards and three touchdowns to earn Most Valuable Player honors in the Wildcats' 31-24 win over No. 23 Pittsburgh in the 2016 New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
Jackson ranks second in program history with 4,129 career rushing yards, just 356 yards shy of Damien Anderson's record of 4,485 yards. The nation's second-active leading rusher, Jackson needs 816 yards to crack the NCAA's top 25 list and already ranks 17th in Big Ten history. A complete list of Big Ten and NCAA leaders is available on page 3.
#HOMEGROWN BACKFIELD
Joining Jackson in the backfield for the third-straight season is #HOMEGROWN talent Clayton Thorson. The junior quarterback enters his third season as the Wildcats' signal caller with a 17-8 record behind center and has already cemented his name in the NU record books with a program-record 22 touchdown passes last season. Thorson needs just 15 touchdown passes to tie Brett Basanez's and Len Williams' program record for passing scores.
FITZGERALD ANNOUNCES 2017 TEAM CAPTAINS
Jackson, Thorson, senior Godwin Igwebuike and senior Tyler Lancaster were announced as the team's captains for the 2017 season at the Wildcats annual Meet the Team Night at Ryan Field on August 25. The four have combined to make 114 career starts for the Wildcats, leading Chicago's Big Ten Team to back-to-back bowl games and just the third bowl victory in program history with the team's win over Pitt last season.
MOTOR ALONG MOTEN
Sophomore running back John Moten IV returns after a breakout redshirt freshman season in 2016 that saw him rush for 340 yards on 53 carries, twice earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. Moten was key for the Wildcats down the stretch, rushing for a combined 247 yards on 30 carries in wins over Purdue and Illinois.
THE NEXT AUSTIN CARR?
After setting program records with 1,247 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, Austin Carr's graduation and signing with the New England Patriots left a void to fill in the Wildcats' passing game. Fortunately for Clayton Thorson, senior superback Garrett Dickerson, senior wide receiver Macan Wilson and junior wide receiver Flynn Nagel all return after posting career-best numbers in 2016. Dickerson earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors after making 34 catches for 318 yards and ranking second among league tight ends with five touchdown receptions. Nagel finished second on the team behind Carr with 40 receptions for 447 yards and two scores, and Wilson led all players with a 13.9 yard-per-catch average.
MORE ON THE BALL CARRIER
Senior running back Justin Jackson was named to watch lists for the Maxwell Award, Doak Walker, Walter Camp and the Wuerrfel Trophy. He was also named a nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team. With 1,000 yards rushing in his senior season, Justin Jackson would join Wisconsin's Ron Dayne (1996-99) as the only players in Big Ten history to rush for 1,000-plus yards in all four seasons.
HE GOES, WE GO
Justin Jackson has rushed for 100-plus yards 20 times during his career with the Wildcats posting a 16-4 mark when he hits the century mark on the ground. In fact, Jackson's success on the ground has truly been the driving force behind Wildcats' victories the last three years. In the 22 wins during his career, Jackson has averaged 26.9 carries and 134.5 rushing yards per game, while averaging just 16.4 carries and 73.1 rushing yards per game in 16 losses.
KICKING COMPETITION
After the Wildcats attempted the third fewest field goals among FBS programs last season, they will turn to true freshman Charlie Kuhbander in the opener versus Nevada. Kuhbander won an open kicking competition during training camp after coming in as the third-ranked kicker in the nation for 2017 by Kohl's Kicking and No. 5 kicker in the nation by both 24/7 and Scout. The Springboro, Ohio, native could become the first NU freshman kicker to attempt an extra point or field goal in a season opener since Slade Larscheid versus Kansas on August 30, 2003.
ONE LAST GO AROUND
After stepping into a starting role midway through last season, senior linebacker Brett Walsh will look to build upon his strong finish as he embarks on his final season for Chicago's Big Ten Team. Walsh made just two tackles in the first seven games last season, but stepped up when called upon by racking up 35 tackles over the final six games. Walsh made a career-high nine tackles in a win at Purdue and picked up eight tackles apiece versus Wisconsin and Minnesota.
DEGREE IN HAND
The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame released a list of 952 student-athletes who have already earned their undergraduate degrees and will be playing college football this fall while pursuing second diplomas, and the Northwestern Football program led the way with 18 members.
BACK TO RETURN
Senior wide receiver and kick return specialist Solomon Vault will miss the entire 2017 season due to offseason surgery and is expected to return to the Wildcats in 2018. The 'Cats will have to replace a two-time All-Big Ten selection that holds the NU single-season kick return touchdown record (2) and career kick return touchdown record (4). Junior wide receiver Jelani Roberts (1 career return for 19 yards) and sophomore running back John Moten IV (0 career returns) are expected to get the first opportunity to step into the role.
IN THE TRENCHES
Northwestern returns three starters on the offensive line, including 2017 Rimington Trophy Watch List selection senior Brad North. The Rimington Trophy is given annually to the nation's top center. Junior guard Tommy Doles also returns after starting all 13 games last season. Junior Blake Hance, who has started 22 consecutive games at left tackle, is listed as the starting left guard on the depth chart for week one versus Nevada.
FITZGERALD INKS LONG-TERM CONTRACT EXTENSION
Northwestern University Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips announced on April 25 the signing of Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald to a contract extension through the 2026 football season.
••••••
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!
