Photo by: Griffin Quinn / Northwestern Athletics
Competitive Fire Breeds Success in the Northwestern Cornerback Room
8/19/2025 5:32:00 PM | Football
By Jake Epstein, NUSports.com
Northwestern cornerbacks coach LaMarcus Hicks has mentored his fair share of impactful defensive backs, including a pair of all-conference honorees, during his tenure in Evanston. But he sees a different standard in the 2025 cornerback room.
"This is going on year three for me here, and I really feel like this is our best group," Hicks said. "From a leadership standpoint, from a productive, athletic standpoint, these guys are hungry for success. And it shows."
The Wildcats, who entered last season with a plethora of first-time starters in the secondary, will combine veteran returners and several new faces at the cornerback position this season. In the thick of fall camp, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun and Hicks have marveled at the depth of talent competing for Day One starting spots.
Graduate student Ore Adeyi is back in the fold after missing the 2024 campaign due to injury, and Hicks said redshirt sophomore Josh Fussell has flashed his potential as an elite corner throughout camp.
"Having competition in the room just makes everybody better," Hicks said. "It pushes every single guy to be their best every single day. They can't take a seat back on the day because someone else could pass them up. It's a really good problem to have."
Fussell carved out a starting secondary role just four games into his redshirt first-year campaign, recording 39 tackles, five pass breakups and a tackle for loss. He faced some of the nation's top pass catchers, and that valuable experience helped fuel his offseason training regimen.
"Knowing you're out there with the best of the best and when the work you do in practice translates to you making plays against some of the more highly talented guys, it just gives you confidence," Fussell said. "We know what we're capable of. We just have to be consistent."
With eight starts at outside cornerback under his belt, Fussell said he's starting to find his voice as a leader in the position group.
Hicks said Fussell has demonstrated significant improvement in his instincts and understanding of situational football.
"The game is really starting to slow down for him," Hicks said. "The guys look up to him because he's always been intentional about his work. There's not a day that I've seen him where he's taken the day off and sat back to just get through today. He's getting better every single day."
While the competition for roles has heated up under the August sun, Fussell said the cornerback room is as close as it's been throughout his time at NU.
Just as he learned the ropes from more seasoned players during his first two years with the program, Fussell wants to help guide younger teammates this season.
"We all coach each other — it's a really open environment," Fussell said. "We know what the goal is, and we're just helping each other, pushing each other every day."
For players like redshirt junior Evan Smith, who saw special teams reps early in his career before earning defensive snaps last season, the 2024 slate showcased just how fine the margins are between winning and losing in the Big Ten.
Smith made four starts last season, amassing 28 tackles, three pass breakups, two tackles for loss and an interception.
"It takes everyone, and it's a commitment every single day," Smith said. "You can't take a day off, can't take your foot off the pedal. You just need to want to get better every single day even if you did have a good game."
Hicks said he's been particularly struck by the progression of redshirt first-year Timi Oke. Although the London native is in just his third year of playing organized football, both Hicks and Fussell made note of the NFL Academy graduate's quick grasp of the 'Cats scheme.
"He's a smart dude, he's coachable and tries to do things exactly the way that I teach him to do it," Hicks said. "He's always been able to run and jump, but he's soaking it all at practice. He's a great note taker and student of the game. All that stuff is helping him become a better player every single day."
The experience of a 4-8 2024 record isn't lost on Hicks, Smith or Fussell. They're not forgetting the feeling, but each said they wish not to dwell on the past.
Instead, they're attacking each day of preparation with a collective goal of a conference championship.
"Win the Big Ten," Smith said of his 2025 goals. "We want to be the best we can be, and then [I'll] do anything I can to help this team. I just want to win. That's all that matters to me."
Northwestern cornerbacks coach LaMarcus Hicks has mentored his fair share of impactful defensive backs, including a pair of all-conference honorees, during his tenure in Evanston. But he sees a different standard in the 2025 cornerback room.
"This is going on year three for me here, and I really feel like this is our best group," Hicks said. "From a leadership standpoint, from a productive, athletic standpoint, these guys are hungry for success. And it shows."
The Wildcats, who entered last season with a plethora of first-time starters in the secondary, will combine veteran returners and several new faces at the cornerback position this season. In the thick of fall camp, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun and Hicks have marveled at the depth of talent competing for Day One starting spots.
Graduate student Ore Adeyi is back in the fold after missing the 2024 campaign due to injury, and Hicks said redshirt sophomore Josh Fussell has flashed his potential as an elite corner throughout camp.
"Having competition in the room just makes everybody better," Hicks said. "It pushes every single guy to be their best every single day. They can't take a seat back on the day because someone else could pass them up. It's a really good problem to have."
Fussell carved out a starting secondary role just four games into his redshirt first-year campaign, recording 39 tackles, five pass breakups and a tackle for loss. He faced some of the nation's top pass catchers, and that valuable experience helped fuel his offseason training regimen.
"Knowing you're out there with the best of the best and when the work you do in practice translates to you making plays against some of the more highly talented guys, it just gives you confidence," Fussell said. "We know what we're capable of. We just have to be consistent."
With eight starts at outside cornerback under his belt, Fussell said he's starting to find his voice as a leader in the position group.
Hicks said Fussell has demonstrated significant improvement in his instincts and understanding of situational football.
"The game is really starting to slow down for him," Hicks said. "The guys look up to him because he's always been intentional about his work. There's not a day that I've seen him where he's taken the day off and sat back to just get through today. He's getting better every single day."
While the competition for roles has heated up under the August sun, Fussell said the cornerback room is as close as it's been throughout his time at NU.
Just as he learned the ropes from more seasoned players during his first two years with the program, Fussell wants to help guide younger teammates this season.
"We all coach each other — it's a really open environment," Fussell said. "We know what the goal is, and we're just helping each other, pushing each other every day."
For players like redshirt junior Evan Smith, who saw special teams reps early in his career before earning defensive snaps last season, the 2024 slate showcased just how fine the margins are between winning and losing in the Big Ten.
Smith made four starts last season, amassing 28 tackles, three pass breakups, two tackles for loss and an interception.
"It takes everyone, and it's a commitment every single day," Smith said. "You can't take a day off, can't take your foot off the pedal. You just need to want to get better every single day even if you did have a good game."
Hicks said he's been particularly struck by the progression of redshirt first-year Timi Oke. Although the London native is in just his third year of playing organized football, both Hicks and Fussell made note of the NFL Academy graduate's quick grasp of the 'Cats scheme.
"He's a smart dude, he's coachable and tries to do things exactly the way that I teach him to do it," Hicks said. "He's always been able to run and jump, but he's soaking it all at practice. He's a great note taker and student of the game. All that stuff is helping him become a better player every single day."
The experience of a 4-8 2024 record isn't lost on Hicks, Smith or Fussell. They're not forgetting the feeling, but each said they wish not to dwell on the past.
Instead, they're attacking each day of preparation with a collective goal of a conference championship.
"Win the Big Ten," Smith said of his 2025 goals. "We want to be the best we can be, and then [I'll] do anything I can to help this team. I just want to win. That's all that matters to me."
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