Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Griffin Quinn / Northwestern Athletics
Brenden Deasfernandes, Montae Pate Bolster NU Cornerback Room
4/14/2026 6:38:00 PM | Football
Defensive Backs Coach LaMarcus Hicks considers Northwestern's coaching staff in rare company.
"I walked in front of the entire group a couple days ago and said, 'Man, these three DB coaches in this room are the happiest coaches in the country,'" Hicks said. "Why is that? Because we have a lot of experience at each spot. It's invaluable, just the understanding of our scheme, what we do and how we do it."
While the Wildcats returned 2025 All-Big Ten honorees Josh Fussell, Robert Fitzgerald and Braden Turner and a multi-year contributor in Ore Adeyi, transfers Brenden "Hoss" Deasfernandes and Montae Pate have brought a new dynamic to the cornerback room.
Pate spent the past four years at FCS Weber State, and Deasfernandes joined NU after stops at Central Michigan and Iowa.
"They have both played a lot of ball at their respective schools," Hicks said. "I can see the level of focus those two guys have, their ability to learn and pick up what it is that we're doing. Those guys should be able to provide some help for us right away to go win a bunch of games, and I'm excited to see what they can do."
Last season, Deasfernandes recorded 25 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups. In his final game with the Chippewas, the cornerback posted a career-high four pass breakups in the 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl against Northwestern.
Hicks said the 6-foot-2, 195-pound corner caught his eye in warmups. As Hicks sifted through the tape in the following weeks, he knew Deasfernandes' size, speed and explosiveness would make a marked impact in the NU secondary.
"When I hopped in the portal and they showed interest, I was like 'This kind of makes sense,'" Deasfernandes said. "From time to time, I replay the game because coming from the other side it's like, 'Oh my gosh. I know who this is now.' All in all, it's kind of surreal, but it's honestly a blessing."
Pate, a 2025 First Team All-Big Sky selection, tallied 53 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 5.0 tackles for loss and an interception last season. A Las Vegas native, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound corner played in 34 games at Weber State.
When he took his campus visit this winter, Pate demonstrated an elite football IQ as he broke down concepts on the white board with Hicks.
"The main thing that pushed me to want to come to Northwestern is the brotherhood," Pate said. "When I walked through these doors, you could feel the warmth. Talking with Coach Hicks and just seeing the way he thinks about the game of football, I think in a similar way. We're both strategic and focus on the little details."
Pate and Deasfernandes said they've needed to take their preparation up a notch as they've navigated a new defensive playbook while facing off against Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly's playbook.
For Deasfernandes, Kelly's work with the offense is "nothing short of amazing." Pate said the playcaller's craftiness jumps off the charts.
"Just watching him, I'm able to soak in a lot of the game because what I like to do as I prepare for another team is get in the mind of the offensive coordinator," Pate said. "When you're watching film, you pick up on their tendencies. The thing is with Chip, it's just really unpredictable."
Last year, Deasfernandes conducted a study of NFL corners to see how he could elevate his game. He broke down tape from Patrick Surtain II, Jaire Alexander and Kamari Lassiter, where he observed an innate savviness, physicality and patience to each of their unique playstyles.
Through six seasons of college football, Deasfernandes has learned countless lessons about the standard for success at the highest level.
"My first stop, the University of Iowa, definitely taught me more about the game of football and how to operate within it," he said. "Central Michigan taught me what goes on between the lines and how to operate under distress and tough situations, which got me to this point. Now, I'm looking at it from a bird's eye view."
Pate's path from Weber State to the Big Ten is an experience he wouldn't trade "for anything in the world." He carries the behind-the-scenes work and persistence as a badge of honor.
Pate knew that in leaving the program that first took a chance on him, he needed to compete against the best of the best.
"I'm a real competitor, and I take football real personally," Pate said. "A lot of people say they love football, but then you see certain things they're doing, it's like 'Do they really love it?' When the cameras aren't on and you're at the house by yourself, what are your habits?"
"Something you're going to get from me each and every day is I'm going to bring it. There's going to be some aggression behind it as well."
As Deasfernandes and Pate have adapted to their new school, teammates and city, they quipped that the Chicago area traffic has proven the most significant hurdle.
But above all, the detail-oriented team culture has the duo ecstatic to progress through spring practices.
"Ultimately that goes back to us playing corner," Pate said. "It's all about details. If you slip, it's a touchdown. It's those small steps and those small little routines and tweaks that just make a big difference. That's something I've noticed about this program. It's very vocal.
"Anybody could speak up. I've seen younger guys speak up to older guys, and the older guy listens. That's just amazing to see. You fall in love with it."
"I walked in front of the entire group a couple days ago and said, 'Man, these three DB coaches in this room are the happiest coaches in the country,'" Hicks said. "Why is that? Because we have a lot of experience at each spot. It's invaluable, just the understanding of our scheme, what we do and how we do it."
While the Wildcats returned 2025 All-Big Ten honorees Josh Fussell, Robert Fitzgerald and Braden Turner and a multi-year contributor in Ore Adeyi, transfers Brenden "Hoss" Deasfernandes and Montae Pate have brought a new dynamic to the cornerback room.
Pate spent the past four years at FCS Weber State, and Deasfernandes joined NU after stops at Central Michigan and Iowa.
"They have both played a lot of ball at their respective schools," Hicks said. "I can see the level of focus those two guys have, their ability to learn and pick up what it is that we're doing. Those guys should be able to provide some help for us right away to go win a bunch of games, and I'm excited to see what they can do."
Last season, Deasfernandes recorded 25 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups. In his final game with the Chippewas, the cornerback posted a career-high four pass breakups in the 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl against Northwestern.
Hicks said the 6-foot-2, 195-pound corner caught his eye in warmups. As Hicks sifted through the tape in the following weeks, he knew Deasfernandes' size, speed and explosiveness would make a marked impact in the NU secondary.
"When I hopped in the portal and they showed interest, I was like 'This kind of makes sense,'" Deasfernandes said. "From time to time, I replay the game because coming from the other side it's like, 'Oh my gosh. I know who this is now.' All in all, it's kind of surreal, but it's honestly a blessing."
Pate, a 2025 First Team All-Big Sky selection, tallied 53 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 5.0 tackles for loss and an interception last season. A Las Vegas native, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound corner played in 34 games at Weber State.
When he took his campus visit this winter, Pate demonstrated an elite football IQ as he broke down concepts on the white board with Hicks.
"The main thing that pushed me to want to come to Northwestern is the brotherhood," Pate said. "When I walked through these doors, you could feel the warmth. Talking with Coach Hicks and just seeing the way he thinks about the game of football, I think in a similar way. We're both strategic and focus on the little details."
Pate and Deasfernandes said they've needed to take their preparation up a notch as they've navigated a new defensive playbook while facing off against Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly's playbook.
For Deasfernandes, Kelly's work with the offense is "nothing short of amazing." Pate said the playcaller's craftiness jumps off the charts.
"Just watching him, I'm able to soak in a lot of the game because what I like to do as I prepare for another team is get in the mind of the offensive coordinator," Pate said. "When you're watching film, you pick up on their tendencies. The thing is with Chip, it's just really unpredictable."
Last year, Deasfernandes conducted a study of NFL corners to see how he could elevate his game. He broke down tape from Patrick Surtain II, Jaire Alexander and Kamari Lassiter, where he observed an innate savviness, physicality and patience to each of their unique playstyles.
Through six seasons of college football, Deasfernandes has learned countless lessons about the standard for success at the highest level.
"My first stop, the University of Iowa, definitely taught me more about the game of football and how to operate within it," he said. "Central Michigan taught me what goes on between the lines and how to operate under distress and tough situations, which got me to this point. Now, I'm looking at it from a bird's eye view."
Pate's path from Weber State to the Big Ten is an experience he wouldn't trade "for anything in the world." He carries the behind-the-scenes work and persistence as a badge of honor.
Pate knew that in leaving the program that first took a chance on him, he needed to compete against the best of the best.
"I'm a real competitor, and I take football real personally," Pate said. "A lot of people say they love football, but then you see certain things they're doing, it's like 'Do they really love it?' When the cameras aren't on and you're at the house by yourself, what are your habits?"
"Something you're going to get from me each and every day is I'm going to bring it. There's going to be some aggression behind it as well."
As Deasfernandes and Pate have adapted to their new school, teammates and city, they quipped that the Chicago area traffic has proven the most significant hurdle.
But above all, the detail-oriented team culture has the duo ecstatic to progress through spring practices.
"Ultimately that goes back to us playing corner," Pate said. "It's all about details. If you slip, it's a touchdown. It's those small steps and those small little routines and tweaks that just make a big difference. That's something I've noticed about this program. It's very vocal.
"Anybody could speak up. I've seen younger guys speak up to older guys, and the older guy listens. That's just amazing to see. You fall in love with it."
Players Mentioned
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