Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Defensive Line Unit Looks to Continue Momentum After Strong Showing Against UCLA
10/2/2025 8:10:00 AM | Football
The Northwestern defense trotted back onto the field with 1:29 remaining in its contest against UCLA, up just three points and needing to thwart a potential game-winning (or game-tying) drive.
Situated on their own 20-yard line, the Bruins had to pass to move the ball down the field, and the Wildcats knew what was to come. Their job was simple: rely on the defensive line to get to the quarterback.
"It's a defensive lineman's dream to end the game in a two-minute situation," Defensive Line Coach Christian Smith said. "When you know it's pass rush versus the offensive lineman, you got to go win."
Northwestern's defensive line got the job done. On the second play of UCLA's drive, redshirt junior defensive lineman Anto Saka came off the edge and combined with redshirt junior linebacker Braydon Brus for a sack with under 40 seconds remaining in the contest to thwart the Bruins' chance at victory.
It marked the second half-sack of the game for Saka, who was named the No. 56 player on Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks List" prior to the season.
"I was just trusting what I was doing the entire week, trusting my keys, trusting my coaches and the gameplan they put out," Saka said. "It wasn't anything really special. It was just me being patient, waiting for my opportunity, and not being scared when the opportunity presented itself."
In Saturday's matinee, the Wildcats tallied three sacks, their most in a Big Ten competition since Oct. 11, 2024 at Maryland. Graduate student defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard and junior defensive lineman Michael Kilbane both recorded 0.5 sacks.
While Smith still sees room for improvement among the defensive line, such as consistency and better fundamentals, he said he has only seen an upward trajectory since Week 1 of the campaign.
"It was good to get a couple sacks out, hit the quarterback a couple times, and really see how the guys responded," Smith said.
Northwestern's defensive line features a flurry of playmakers beyond Saka, Hubbard, and Kilbane. Boasting depth that few position groups on the roster can rival, the Wildcats frequently rotate players on the defensive line, but they never skip a beat.
Hubbard said that since Smith entered the fold ahead of the 2023 season, there has been a night and day difference in the defensive line room. Saka voiced similar praise among his position coach, noting the strong attention to detail that Smith brings day in and day out.
Over time, the room's depth has flourished.
"Guys start out having a smaller role, then thriving in that role helps gain confidence and elevate their game in all phases," Smith said. "We've been able to develop and create depth that deserves to play. It's not guys we rotate because we want to be nice. We got guys who don't start that can could start somewhere else."
Smith pointed to graduate student defensive lineman Richie Hagarty specifically. After starting 10 games in the 2023 season, Hagarty missed the entire 2024 slate due to injury and is back to form this year coming off the edge.
At several points during this campaign, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun has pointed toward player leadership being a key component of the 2025 team's identity.
That sentiment has resonated particularly in the defensive line room, led by a group of veterans who have seen what it takes to win.
"Player leadership has been really different," Saka said."Every guy in this room has been able to step up and call guys out if they're not upholding the standard. That's been really powerful because not everything can be on the coaches. At the end of the day, we're out on the field playing."
Graduate student defensive lineman Carmine Bastone has been at the forefront of that leadership. Voted to don the No. 1 jersey this year, Bastone's journey has led him from being a walk-on to the program's 20th two-time captain.
Joining Bastone, who had 1.5 sacks against Western Illinois earlier this season, on the interior of the defensive line are graduate student Najee Story and redshirt junior Brendan Flakes. Kilbane played plenty of snaps on the interior last season, but with his strong versatility, he has found himself back off the edge, a role he played during his first-year campaign in 2023.
With a tilt against ULM on the horizon this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT, the Northwestern defensive line will look to wreak havoc right before getting fully into Big Ten play.
"We're off to a pretty good start, but obviously we're not happy with where we are," Hubbard said. "We're not going to be complacent. We're always looking to grow and improve. I think we're going to start to trend upwards in the next few weeks."
Situated on their own 20-yard line, the Bruins had to pass to move the ball down the field, and the Wildcats knew what was to come. Their job was simple: rely on the defensive line to get to the quarterback.
"It's a defensive lineman's dream to end the game in a two-minute situation," Defensive Line Coach Christian Smith said. "When you know it's pass rush versus the offensive lineman, you got to go win."
SAKA SACK
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) September 27, 2025
??: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/5O92aWLju7
Northwestern's defensive line got the job done. On the second play of UCLA's drive, redshirt junior defensive lineman Anto Saka came off the edge and combined with redshirt junior linebacker Braydon Brus for a sack with under 40 seconds remaining in the contest to thwart the Bruins' chance at victory.
It marked the second half-sack of the game for Saka, who was named the No. 56 player on Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks List" prior to the season.
Anto Saka. ?????????? ??
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) August 4, 2025
6-4, 260 pounds.
36.5" vertical. 10' 4" broad jump.
On @BruceFeldmanCFB's 2025 Freaks List. pic.twitter.com/NOGtUKUSQr
"I was just trusting what I was doing the entire week, trusting my keys, trusting my coaches and the gameplan they put out," Saka said. "It wasn't anything really special. It was just me being patient, waiting for my opportunity, and not being scared when the opportunity presented itself."
In Saturday's matinee, the Wildcats tallied three sacks, their most in a Big Ten competition since Oct. 11, 2024 at Maryland. Graduate student defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard and junior defensive lineman Michael Kilbane both recorded 0.5 sacks.
While Smith still sees room for improvement among the defensive line, such as consistency and better fundamentals, he said he has only seen an upward trajectory since Week 1 of the campaign.
"It was good to get a couple sacks out, hit the quarterback a couple times, and really see how the guys responded," Smith said.
Northwestern's defensive line features a flurry of playmakers beyond Saka, Hubbard, and Kilbane. Boasting depth that few position groups on the roster can rival, the Wildcats frequently rotate players on the defensive line, but they never skip a beat.
Hubbard said that since Smith entered the fold ahead of the 2023 season, there has been a night and day difference in the defensive line room. Saka voiced similar praise among his position coach, noting the strong attention to detail that Smith brings day in and day out.
Over time, the room's depth has flourished.
"Guys start out having a smaller role, then thriving in that role helps gain confidence and elevate their game in all phases," Smith said. "We've been able to develop and create depth that deserves to play. It's not guys we rotate because we want to be nice. We got guys who don't start that can could start somewhere else."
Smith pointed to graduate student defensive lineman Richie Hagarty specifically. After starting 10 games in the 2023 season, Hagarty missed the entire 2024 slate due to injury and is back to form this year coming off the edge.
At several points during this campaign, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun has pointed toward player leadership being a key component of the 2025 team's identity.
That sentiment has resonated particularly in the defensive line room, led by a group of veterans who have seen what it takes to win.
"Player leadership has been really different," Saka said."Every guy in this room has been able to step up and call guys out if they're not upholding the standard. That's been really powerful because not everything can be on the coaches. At the end of the day, we're out on the field playing."
Graduate student defensive lineman Carmine Bastone has been at the forefront of that leadership. Voted to don the No. 1 jersey this year, Bastone's journey has led him from being a walk-on to the program's 20th two-time captain.
Ultimate honor in our program ??
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) August 16, 2025
The moment Carmine Bastone received #??1?? pic.twitter.com/NyIYanNzv7
Joining Bastone, who had 1.5 sacks against Western Illinois earlier this season, on the interior of the defensive line are graduate student Najee Story and redshirt junior Brendan Flakes. Kilbane played plenty of snaps on the interior last season, but with his strong versatility, he has found himself back off the edge, a role he played during his first-year campaign in 2023.
With a tilt against ULM on the horizon this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT, the Northwestern defensive line will look to wreak havoc right before getting fully into Big Ten play.
"We're off to a pretty good start, but obviously we're not happy with where we are," Hubbard said. "We're not going to be complacent. We're always looking to grow and improve. I think we're going to start to trend upwards in the next few weeks."
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