Fitzgerald Inks 15 in Early Signing Period

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern welcomed 15 new Wildcats that signed National Letters of Intent as a part of the NCAA early-signing period, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald announced on Wednesday.

Fitzgerald welcomed six student-athletes on offense and nine on defense as part of the incoming Class of 2021. The class includes Jack Lausch (Chicago, Ill.), Joseph Himon II (Little Rock, Ark.), Reggie Fleurima (Naperville, Ill.), Chris Petrucci (Park Ridge, Ill.), Nick Herzog (Olathe, Kan.), Danny "Deuce" McGuire (Chicago, Ill.), Austin Firestone (Niceville, Fla.) Brendan Flakes (Winter Garden, Fla.), Anto Saka (Phoenix, Md.), Braydon Brus (Glendora, Calif.), Robert Fitzgerald (Dallas, Tex.), Devin Turner (Little Elm, Tex.), Evan Smith (Birmingham, Ala.), Braden Turner (Mobile, Ala.) and Kenny Soares (New Canaan, Conn.).

Braydon Brus • LB • Glendora, California • Glendora High • 6-1 • 205

Verbally committed to Northwestern on June 15, 2021...Ranked as the No. 41 athlete in the country and No. 49 overall recruit in California...Finished his senior season with 125 tackles, including 22 TFLs...Added three sacks and an interception...Also played receiver and running back for Glendora…Finished fourth-place in his age group at the 2019 World CrossFit Games

Austin Firestone • DL • Niceville, Florida • Niceville High • 6-5 • 260

Verbally committed to Northwestern on July 7, 2021...Ranked as the No. 62 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 58 overall recruit in the state of Florida...Recorded 90+ tackles as a senior, including 35 TFLs...Also played offensive line for Niceville

Robert Fitzgerald • DB • Dallas, Texas • West Jesuit High • 5-11 • 200

Verbally committed to Northwestern on June 23, 2021...UIL District 7-6A MVP...Built Ford Tough POTW...Dallas Morning News Bobble Head MVP...Dallas Morning News Hero of the Week...Team MVP and All-State in 2021...Snagged three interceptions and recorded six pass breakups...Also played running back for West Jesuit, rushing for 897 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior...National Honor Society

Brendan Flakes • DL • Winter Garden, Florida • West Orange High • 6-4 • 260

Verbally committed to Northwestern on December 4, 2021...Central Florida Defensive Player of the Year...6A 2nd team All-State, First Team All-Metro in 2020...Helped lead West Orange to the state title game in 2020 and a district championship in 2021...Received the National Congress of Future Medical Leaders Award of Excellence...Anticipated major is Psychology

Reggie Fleurima • WR • Naperville, Illinois • Naperville Central High • 6-2 • 205

Verbally committed to Northwestern on March 17, 2021...Naperville Sun-Time Player of the Year... Chicago Sun-Times All Area...Naperville Central Offensive MVP...Three-time Academic All-State Team...Also returned punts for the Redhawks...Dad and Uncle played football at Notre Dame...Anticipated major is Economics

Nick Herzog • OL • Olathe, Kansas • Blue Valley High • 6-4 • 270

Verbally committed to Northwestern on June 10, 2021...First Team All-State from the Kansas Coaches Association...Ranked as the No. 36 offensive lineman in the country and No. 3 overall recruit in the state of Kansas (247)...Also an All-State wrestler in 2021...Anticipated major is undecided

Joe Himon II • RB • Little Rock, Arkansas • Pulaski Academy • 5-9 • 180

Verbally committed to Northwestern on July 11, 2021...Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021...Helped lead Pulaski Academy to an Arkansas state championship in 2021...Ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns in state title game...Hootens/Farm Bureau 5A Offensive POY...All Conference, All State, Max-Preps Player of the Year and Max Preps All American in 2021...Honor Roll Student...Anticipated major is Sports Medicine

Jack Lausch • QB • Chicago, Illinois • Brother Rice High • 6-2 • 190

Verbally committed to Northwestern on December 13, 2021...2021 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year...2021 CCL Blue Player of the Year...2021 Daily Southtown Football Player of the Year...All-CCL Blue, All-Area and All-State Team in 2021... Threw for 2,447 yards with 20 touchdowns on 164-for-269 passing in 2021... Rushed for 1,084 yards and 21 touchdowns on 142 carries

Danny "Deuce" McGuire • OL • Chicago, Illinois • Marist High • 6-5 • 300

Verbally committed to Northwestern on August 1, 2021...CCL Blue Lineman of the Year and All-Conference Team in 2021...Chicago-Sun Times, Chicago Tribune and IHSFA All-State Selection...Chicago Sun-Times Lineman of the Year...Honor Roll Student...Anticipated major is undecided

Chris Petrucci • TE • Park Ridge, Illinois • Maine South High • 6-4 • 210

Verbally committed to Northwestern on April 14, 2021...Two-time All Conference and Academic All-State Team...Helped lead Maine South to the Illinois state championship game in 2021...Former high school teammate of Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski...Anticipated major is undecided

Anto Saka • DL • Phoenix, Maryland • Loyola Blakefield • 6-4 • 230

Verbally committed to Northwestern on July 17, 2021...Ranked as the No. 37 edge rusher in the country and the No. 13 overall recruit in the state of Maryland...Racked up nine sacks in eight games as a senior (Hudl)...Added 46 tackles and two forced fumbles...Also ran track & field in high school, posting an 11.5 second 100-meter dash time

Braden Turner • DB • Mobile, Alabama • McGill-Toolen Catholic High • 5-11 • 175

Verbally committed to Northwestern on June 25, 2021...Ranked as the No. 114 cornerback in the country and the No. 49 overall recruit in Alabama (247)… Came up with five interceptions and recorded 40 tackles in his last full season at McGill...High school teammates with Northwestern wide receiver Jordan Mosley

Devin Turner • DB • Little Elm, Texas • Lone Star High • 6-1 • 190

Verbally committed to Northwestern on June 21, 2021...Ranked as the No. 66 safety in the country and the No. 129 overall recruit in Texas (247)...Won the Dallas Tournament with his AAU team True Buzz...Played against future Wildcat Robert Fitzgerald in high school...National Honor Society member...Anticipated major is Communications and Mechanical Engineering

Evan Smith • DB • Birmingham, Alabama • Oak Mountain High • 5-10 • 170

Verbally committed to Northwestern on July 3, 2021...Shelby County Player of the Year in 2021...1,000+ passing yards and rushing yards per season as the four-year starter at Oak Mountain...Seond Team All-State...Unanimous OTM Player of the year...All- South Metro Player of the Year...First Team All-County...Anticipated major is Business

Kenny Soares • LB • New Canaan, CT • Avon Old Farms High • 6-3 • 220

Committed to Northwestern on December 15, 2021...Ranked as the No. 138 linebacker in the country and the No. 3 overall recruit in Connecticut...First team All-New England...First team All-Founders League...Helped lead Avon Old Farms to a New England Championship in 2021

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics

Fitzgerald Inks 15 in Early Signing Period

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