The 2011 Scouting Report: Begins the fall as the backup behind starting left guard Brian Mulroe ... Also has the experience to play the center position if needed ... A veteran player who figures to play a prominent reserve role ... Continuing to get stronger.

2011:Reserve center ... Backs up starter Brandon Vitabile ... One of 10 NU seniors who is enrolled in graduate school ... Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

2010: Reserve center ... Academic All-Big Ten ... Played in all 13 games in 2010.

2009: Reserve center/guard ... Played in 12 games ... Named team's offensive practice player of the week vs. Towson and Illinois.

2008: Reserve offensive lineman ... Played a backup offensive guard position ... Academic All-Big Ten.

2007: Did not see action.

High School: Rivals.com All-Region, SuperPrep All-Midwest and Velocity/PrepStar All-Region offensive lineman ... Ranked 19th among all players in SuperPrep Illinois player ranking and 22nd among all players (seventh among offensive linemen) in Rivals.com Illinois player ranking ... Class 7A all-state selection and a two-time All-East Suburban Catholic Conference tackle ... ESCC's 2006 Offensive Lineman of the Year ... Two-time all-city choice ... Chicago Tribune All-State special mention ... Daily Herald All-Area and all-city mention for Naperville/Lisle ... Redwings' team MVP on offense ... Three-year starter and letterwinner ... Team captain ... Helped the Redwings reach the playoffs his sophomore and senior seasons, with the 2006 squad advancing to the second round ... Also lettered in basketball (once) and track and field (three times) .. Four-year Honor Roll student ... NHS and Illinois State Scholar ... Coached by Gary Goforth.

Personal: Born Colin O'Donnell Armstrong ... Son of Mark and Bridget Armstrong ... During prep career, played against current NU players Kevin Frymire and Chris Jeske ... Economics major.

The Armstrong File

Q: Name five favorite songs (and artist) on your I-Pod:
A: 1. Whats my age again (Blink 182) 2. As the Word Turns (Eminem) 3. Castaway (Benassi Bros.) 4. Pulse of the Maggots (Slipknot) 5. Little Weapon (Lupe Fiasco)
Q: What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned?
A: Hard Work is always rewarded
Q: A song that best describes you?
A: What's my Age Again by Blink 182
Q: Something people would be surprised to know about me is:
A: I participated in a demolition derby
Q: My favorite place to visit is:
A: The Bahamas
Q: Facebook or Twitter?
A: Facebook
Q: Which current NU football player is the biggest jokester on the team?
A: Kevin Mitchell
Q: My favorite thing about NU is:
A: How close it is to Chicago
Q: Best part about being a Northwestern football player is:
A: Hanging out with all the guys on the team
Q: Describe Coach Fitzgerald in five words or less:
A: Intense
Q: Describe your position coach in five words or less:
A: Smart and passionate
Q: Most humbling experience:
A: My first padded practice at NU
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
A: Playing college football
Q: The best book I have ever read is:
A: East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Q: When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be:
A: Jerome Bettis
Q: My favorite pregame ritual is:
A: Reading the program
Q: If you could have a starring role in any film already made, which movie would you pick?
A: The Matrix
Q: My favorite food is:
A: Pizza
Q: My favorite thing about playing at Ryan Field is:
A: Our fan section is right by where we warm up
Q: My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be:
A: Scoring a touchdown off a fumblerooski
Q: My favorite television show is:
A: Family Guy
Q: If I were not playing football, I would be:
A: Playing paintball
Q: The three words that best describe me:
A: Fun, relaxed, and easy going
Q: My football-related superstition is:
A: Always put my right knee brace on first