Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Griffin Quinn / Northwestern Athletics
Veteran Leadership, Depth Power NU Safeties’ National Ambitions
4/23/2026 8:35:00 AM | Football
Jon Jon Stevens Jr. didn't have time to dwell on fulfilling a childhood dream of playing Power Four football when injuries threw him into the fire of Northwestern's 2025 Big Ten opener against Oregon.
The 6-foot, 190-pound safety had a quick acclimation period from the high school level to seeing significant reps with the Wildcats as a true first-year. The Columbus, Ohio, native recorded 15 tackles and a tackle for loss last season, including a career-high six stops against the Ducks.
For Stevens, the experience proved invaluable.
"I felt that trust when I was in high school," Stevens said. "Being their first safety offered and just knowing what this coaching staff did for me, it meant a lot for me that they believed in me. So, I'm going to keep believing that they have a plan for me and just work every day to get toward what I want to do."
A young playmaker in a safety room stocked with veteran contributors, Stevens has seen significant action on Northwestern's special teams unit. He considers the responsibility a crash course in getting up to speed in the Big Ten.
"Everything happens so quickly," Stevens said. "You miss one step, it's going to cost you. You have to be really intentional with everything you're doing and just focus on what your job is. You have to do your job because when everybody's doing their job, everything will fit together perfectly."
It's a path many of the team's current defensive standouts have taken, with Robert Fitzgerald, Braden Turner and Braydon Brus each embracing the initial proving grounds before rising atop their positions' depth chart.
Now, Fitzgerald sets the standard in the secondary. The Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2025 returns for his final season in Evanston with soaring expectations for the Wildcat sky team. He posted 115 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery last year.
"It's just a model of consistency that he provides," safeties coach Drew Gray said. "There's obviously a huge leadership role, which he's really embraced. He's modeled it for so long. The success we're seeing for Rob Fitzgerald is the fruits of his labor for the last four years. It's fun to see how he's turning more and more into a leader, how vocal he's becoming."
After playing in just three games last season due to injury, Damon Walters has returned to the fold and found his footing in spring ball. A 2024 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honoree, Walters said he gained a different perspective as he watched the bulk of NU's 2025 season from the sideline.
For Gray, Walters' on-field presence is a "blessing" for the defensive staff.
"We all know the type of player Damon is," Gray said. "When you go through a situation like he did, it's easy for him to lose sight of what type of player he is. It's just really good to see him back and just gaining more confidence as spring goes on."
"He went through one of the hardest times of his life not being able to play football last year. It's really fun to see him getting back and making plays and being more confident. I'm super proud and just super excited for his continued growth. He's a great leader and is doing a great job for us."
This spring, Walters and Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun have held discussions about how the safety can step into a more intentional leadership role. During Walters' first three years with the program, he shared meeting rooms with a plethora of veterans who taught him countless lessons in preparation and accountability.
Walters now looks to provide a similar model for young players like Stevens. He said his time away from the game helped him fine-tune his vocal command as he grew through adversity.
"It was definitely tough mentally," Walters said. "But I knew I had to stay focused with the team. I was one of the guys who really knew the defense well, so I was able to help the younger guys and just elevate them. A lot of the things going through that were just rehab every day and trying to focus on what I can do better in my routine to keep myself healthy."
With Fitzgerald and Walters leading the charge at safety — and Stevens continuing to build on a stellar debut season — defensive backs coach LaMarcus Hicks said the 'Cats possess a dynamic corps at the position that helps keep the entire defense in check.
As for Gray, who shifted into the safeties role after he oversaw an All-Big Ten campaign for Turner at nickel, the excitement around NU's safeties is palpable.
"We should be the best safety group in the country," Gray said. "That's our goal. That's what we want to be. It's not just the Big Ten. We want to be the best in the country. I believe that if we put two guys on the field that are producing at their best this fall, or this spring or tomorrow, we're going to be the best safety group in the country."
The 6-foot, 190-pound safety had a quick acclimation period from the high school level to seeing significant reps with the Wildcats as a true first-year. The Columbus, Ohio, native recorded 15 tackles and a tackle for loss last season, including a career-high six stops against the Ducks.
For Stevens, the experience proved invaluable.
"I felt that trust when I was in high school," Stevens said. "Being their first safety offered and just knowing what this coaching staff did for me, it meant a lot for me that they believed in me. So, I'm going to keep believing that they have a plan for me and just work every day to get toward what I want to do."
A young playmaker in a safety room stocked with veteran contributors, Stevens has seen significant action on Northwestern's special teams unit. He considers the responsibility a crash course in getting up to speed in the Big Ten.
"Everything happens so quickly," Stevens said. "You miss one step, it's going to cost you. You have to be really intentional with everything you're doing and just focus on what your job is. You have to do your job because when everybody's doing their job, everything will fit together perfectly."
It's a path many of the team's current defensive standouts have taken, with Robert Fitzgerald, Braden Turner and Braydon Brus each embracing the initial proving grounds before rising atop their positions' depth chart.
Now, Fitzgerald sets the standard in the secondary. The Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2025 returns for his final season in Evanston with soaring expectations for the Wildcat sky team. He posted 115 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery last year.
"It's just a model of consistency that he provides," safeties coach Drew Gray said. "There's obviously a huge leadership role, which he's really embraced. He's modeled it for so long. The success we're seeing for Rob Fitzgerald is the fruits of his labor for the last four years. It's fun to see how he's turning more and more into a leader, how vocal he's becoming."
After playing in just three games last season due to injury, Damon Walters has returned to the fold and found his footing in spring ball. A 2024 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honoree, Walters said he gained a different perspective as he watched the bulk of NU's 2025 season from the sideline.
For Gray, Walters' on-field presence is a "blessing" for the defensive staff.
"We all know the type of player Damon is," Gray said. "When you go through a situation like he did, it's easy for him to lose sight of what type of player he is. It's just really good to see him back and just gaining more confidence as spring goes on."
"He went through one of the hardest times of his life not being able to play football last year. It's really fun to see him getting back and making plays and being more confident. I'm super proud and just super excited for his continued growth. He's a great leader and is doing a great job for us."
This spring, Walters and Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun have held discussions about how the safety can step into a more intentional leadership role. During Walters' first three years with the program, he shared meeting rooms with a plethora of veterans who taught him countless lessons in preparation and accountability.
Walters now looks to provide a similar model for young players like Stevens. He said his time away from the game helped him fine-tune his vocal command as he grew through adversity.
"It was definitely tough mentally," Walters said. "But I knew I had to stay focused with the team. I was one of the guys who really knew the defense well, so I was able to help the younger guys and just elevate them. A lot of the things going through that were just rehab every day and trying to focus on what I can do better in my routine to keep myself healthy."
With Fitzgerald and Walters leading the charge at safety — and Stevens continuing to build on a stellar debut season — defensive backs coach LaMarcus Hicks said the 'Cats possess a dynamic corps at the position that helps keep the entire defense in check.
As for Gray, who shifted into the safeties role after he oversaw an All-Big Ten campaign for Turner at nickel, the excitement around NU's safeties is palpable.
"We should be the best safety group in the country," Gray said. "That's our goal. That's what we want to be. It's not just the Big Ten. We want to be the best in the country. I believe that if we put two guys on the field that are producing at their best this fall, or this spring or tomorrow, we're going to be the best safety group in the country."
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