EVANSTON, Ill. – Six Wildcats were named captains ahead of the 2026 season, Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun announced on Tuesday.
The six Northwestern captains for 2026 are linebacker Braydon Brus, offensive lineman Jackson Carsello, quarterback Aidan Chiles, defensive back Robert Fitzgerald, running back Joseph Himon II and wide receiver Griffin Wilde.
The Wildcats’ six captains are tied for the most in program history, joining the 2020 Northwestern team (Paddy Fisher, Nik Urban, JR Pace, Peyton Ramsey, Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman, Riley Lees).
Entering his fifth season with the program, Brus started all 13 games last season and registered 81 total tackles (41 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, all of which were career highs. After earning the starting Will linebacker role in 2025, he set a career-highs in total tackles (13), solo tackles (8), assisted tackles (15) and sacks (1) against Michigan in his 10th career start. Brus led the Wildcats in total tackles with 11 (four solo) and a pass breakup in the GameAbove Sports Bowl win against Central Michigan.
Entering his sixth year with the program, Carsello returns to Evanston after starting in every game at center a season ago. His PFF grade of 79.8 tied for fourth in the country for centers and third among Big Ten centers, while his 78.9 Run Blocking Grade ranked second among conference centers and fourth nationally in the position group.
Chiles joins the Wildcats in 2026 after stops at Michigan State and Oregon State. Last season for Michigan State, he played in the first nine games (eight starts) and completed 63 percent of his passes (128-of-203) for 1,392 yards and 10 touchdowns before missing the final three games of the season with injury. Chiles led the Spartans last season with six rushing touchdowns, amassing a net total of 227 yards on 81 carries. The senior quarterback served as a captain in each of the last two seasons with Michigan State.
Entering his fifth season with the program, Fitzgerald is the leading returner in total tackles in the Big Ten, recording 115 total tackles (70 solo), 6.0 tackles for loss, an interception, four passes broken up and a fumble recovery in 2025. His total tackles ranked second in the conference and 25th nationally a season ago, and his 70 solo stops led the Big Ten and tied for 2nd most nationally. Since 2005, Fitzgerald became one of just five Wildcat defensive backs to record 100+ tackles in a season and just one of two DBs to record 70+ solo tackles in a season.
Entering his fifth season with the Wildcats, Himon II appeared in 11 games (one start) for the ’Cats last season, rushing for 486 yards on 99 carries and one rushing score. He also amassed 118 yards through the air on 21 receptions and 131 yards on five kickoff returns. In NU’s win at Penn State, Himon II registered 103 yards from scrimmage (65 rushing, 38 receiving) on 17 touches to help the Wildcats to their first victory at Beaver Stadium since 2014.
Wilde enters the 2026 campaign–his second season with Northwestern and his fourth in college football–after a standout first year in the Big Ten after transferring from South Dakota State (FCS). He finished the season ranked in the top-10 in the conference in total receptions (71, 3rd), receiving yards (880, 6th), yards per game (67.7, 7th), and touchdowns (8, 7th), and ranked in the top-50 in each category nationally. His 880 receiving yards in 2025 were the most by a Northwestern player since 2016 and both his receiving yards and total receptions ranked ninth in single-season in program history. Wilde was named the GameAbove Sports Bowl MVP for his efforts in NU’s win over Central Michigan, recording 97 yards and two touchdowns on 10 receptions.
Northwestern is slated to open the season on Saturday, September 5 with a matchup against South Dakota State at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT, with coverage live on Big Ten Network.