Northwestern University Athletics
Six Wildcats Earn Offensive All-Big Ten Recognition
12/4/2025 12:00:00 PM | Football
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Six players on Northwestern's offense have been awarded All-Big Ten honors, the conference announced Thursday.
Three members of the Wildcats' offensive line — graduate students Caleb Tiernan and Evan Beerntsen, as well as redshirt first-year Ezomo Oratokhai — were presented with All-Big Ten recognition, as the Wildcats averaged 167.1 rushing yards per game, the team's most since the 2019 season. The group paved the way for All-Big Ten redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe to record one of the best seasons by a Northwestern running back in recent memory.
Pass catchers junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde and graduate student tight end Hunter Welcing also earned All-Big Ten nods, as they helped Preston Stone become the first NU quarterback to eclipse 2,000 yards passing since Clayton Thorson in 2018.
Additionally, graduate student running back Cam Porter was named Northwestern's sportsmanship honoree, which is awarded to a student-athlete that set themselves apart through hard work, sportsmanship and honorable behavior.
Caleb Tiernan | OL | 6'7" | 325 lbs | Gr.
All-Big Ten Second Team (Coaches), All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media)
For the second consecutive season, Tiernan has been awarded All-Big Ten honors. Tiernan started all 12 games for Northwestern at left tackle and posted an 86.2 PFF Pass Blocking Grade, ranking third in the Big Ten seventh nationally among offensive tackles.
The Livonia, Mich., native was named to the national PFF Team of the Week twice this season, coming against Western Illinois (9/5) and Oregon (9/13). Protecting graduate student quarterback Preston Stone's blindside, Tiernan allowed zero sacks in eight of the nine conference games.
Griffin Wilde | WR | 6'2" | 200 lbs | Jr.
All-Big Ten Third Team (Coaches), All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media)
Wilde, a transfer from South Dakota State, instantly became one of the Big Ten's top wide receivers in the Big Ten. Appearing in all 12 games, Wilde recorded 61 catches for 783 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.
Wilde's 783 receiving yards — which rank seventh in the Big Ten — mark the most by a player in the David Braun era and the most by a Northwestern player since 2016 Austin Carr led the conference with 1,247 receiving yards. Wilde had nine games with 50+ receiving yards and scored a touchdown in four consecutive contests from Sept. 27 to Oct. 18.
Caleb Komolafe | RB | 5'11" | 210 lbs | R-So.
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Coaches/Media)
Komolafe burst onto the scene this season as the Wildcats' feature back, as he took 175 carries for 886 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He ranked sixth in rushing yards and eighth in rushing touchdowns among Big Ten players. Through the air, Komolafe turned nine receptions into 51 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
886 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns are both the most by a player in the Braun era. The last Northwestern player to post at least 850 rushing yards was Evan Hull in 2022, and the last Wildcat to notch at least 10 rushing scores was Justin Jackson in 2017. Komolafe had four games with 100+ rushing yards and 1+ touchdown.
Evan Beerntsen | OL | 6'4" | 310 lbs | Gr.
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Coaches/Media)
Joining the Wildcats as a graduate transfer, Beerntsen asserted himself as a staple of the offensive line. The Green Bay, Wis., native started all 12 games at right guard for Northwestern and allowed zero sacks or quarterback hits throughout the entire season.
Beerntsen's 77.6 PFF grade ranks fourth among Big Ten guards, as does his 79.4 PFF Run Blocking Grade. Beerntsen was named to PFF's National Team of the Week in the Wildcats' tilt against USC (11/7).
Hunter Welcing | TE | 6'3" | 250 lbs | Gr.
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Coaches/Media)
In his final year of eligibility, Welcing stepped up to become Northwestern's top pass catcher at the tight end position and logged 27 receptions for 283 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
His 283 receiving yards on the year marked the most by a Wildcat tight end in the Braun era, and most since Garrett Dickerson had 401 in 2017. Against Michigan on Nov. 11, Welcing hauled in four catches for a career-high 81 yards, which marked the most yards by a NU tight end since Sept. 16, 2017, when Dickerson had 150 receiving yards.
Ezomo Oratokhai | OL | 6'4" | 310 lbs | R-Fr.
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Coaches)
As the youngest starter on an experienced offensive line, Oratokhai proved he belonged in the Wildcat trenches. Starting all 12 games as Northwestern's left guard, Oratokhai allowed zero sacks or quarterback hits in the last 11 games of the season.
Oratokhai was named to The Athletic's midseason national All-Freshman team in mid-October. The Austin, Texas, native posted a 79.9 PFF Pass Blocking Grade, ranking 11th among Big Ten guards.
