2021 Football Roster

Rod Heard holding up his fist against Duke.
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler / NUSports.com
Heard, Rod
Jersey Number 24

Rod Heard II

  • Height:
    5-11
  • Weight:
    185
  • Position:
    DB
  • Class:
    Sophomore
  • Hometown:
    Farmington Hills, Michigan
  • High School:
    Farmington Hills Harrison

2023 Redshirt Senior:

  • Played and started in all 13 games, totaling 85 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, four passes broken up and two forced fumbles
  • Ranked third on the team and 16th in the Big Ten in tackles, led the team in forced fumbles and ranked tied for the fifth in the Big Ten
  • Named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
  • Became the first Wildcat to total 85+ tackles, 4.0+ tackles for loss, and 4+ passes broken up since both Godwin Igwebuike and Anthony Walker did so in 2016
  • Made seven tackles against Rutgers (9/3)
  • Had seven tackles and his first career solo sack in a win over UTEP (9/9)
  • Tallied five tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup to help beat Howard (10/7)
  • Notched an interception and two tackles against Nebraska (10/21)
  • Recorded a game-high nine tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss against Maryland (10/28)
  • Made seven tackles and forced one fumble in a win over Wisconsin (11/11)
  • Accounted for a career-high 13 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass broken up in the last game at Ryan Field against Purdue (11/18)
  • Had nine tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass broken up in the win over Illinois (11/25)
  • Totaled a team-high 12 tackles and one fumble recovery in the Las Vegas Bowl victory against Utah (12/23)

2022 Redshirt Junior:

  • Started all 12 games, recording 67 total tackles and 47 solo tackles — both marks ranked fourth on the team — along with 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, two passes defended and one forced fumble
  • Recorded his third career pass breakup in a win over Nebraska (8/27)
  • Made five tackles, four solo, against Duke (9/10)
  • Notched his first tackle for loss against Miami (OH) (9/24)
  • Totaled seven tackles, five solo, and one forced fumble at Penn State (10/1)
  • Posted seven total tackles, four solo, against Wisconsin (10/8)
  • Recorded a career-high 10 tackles, six solo, and 0.5 sack against Maryland (10/22)
  • Made six solo tackles against Iowa (10/29)
  • Totaled six tackles, three solo, against Ohio State (11/5)
  • Notched a season-high eight solo tackles and tied a career-high 10 total tackles, while also tying for the team lead against Minnesota (11/12)
  • Posted eight total tackles, six solo, against Purdue (11/19)
  • Snagged first career interception, totaled five tackles and posted 0.5 sack against Illinois (11/26)

2021 Redshirt Sophomore:

  • Appeared in all 12 games, starting four 
  • Recorded a career-high eight tackles, including his first-career tackle for loss and first two forced fumbles in a career-day against Duke (9/18)
  • Recorded four solo tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss against Iowa (11/6)

2020 Redshirt First-Year

  • Started his first career game against Maryland (10/24) and recorded a career-high six total tackles
  • Made another start on the road against Iowa (10/31), totaling two total tackles
  • Registered one tackle vs. Nebraska (11/7) and vs. Illinois (12/12)
  • Played in the Big Ten Championship against Ohio State (12/19) and in Citrus Bowl vs. Auburn (1/1/21)

2019 First-Year

  • In his first collegiate game, recorded one tackle against UMass (11/16)

High School

  • Three-star prospect verbally committed to Northwestern on March 11, 2018 
  • No. 24 player in the state of Michigan and No. 86 cornerback in the country (247sports)
  • Three-time letter winner and one-time Team Captain 
  • Registered 49 tackles, six pass break ups and an interception on defense with 1,492 yards rushing, 277 yards receiving and 26 total touchdowns as a senior to earn All-State honors from MLive, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News 
  • Had 30 tackles, nine pass breakups and an interception returned for a touchdown as a junior and rushed for 1,566 yards and hauled in 302 receiving yards for 27 touchdowns on offense to earn All-State honors from the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News 
  • Two-time team MVP 
  • Ranks fourth in school history in rushing and scoring 
  • Honor Roll Student 
  • Also lettered three times in track and field 
  • Father Roderick played football at Eastern Illinois 
  • Chose Northwestern over Michigan, Purdue, Syracuse, Iowa State, Indiana, Cincinnati and Army
Football - Western Illinois at Northwestern Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, September 06
Football - 'Cats Roll Western Illinois, 42-7 in Home Opener (9/5/25)
Saturday, September 06
Football - Week 2 Monday Press Conference (9/1/25)
Monday, September 01
Football - Northwestern at Tulane Postgame Press Conference (8/30/25)
Saturday, August 30