Joseph Himon committed to Northwestern on Sunday – as we reported he would more than a week ago – to give the Wildcats 14 commitments for their Class of 2022. He was the third Wildcat to commit in July.
So with the number of scholarships and number of uncommitted prospects with offers dwindling, we take another look at what needs remain and who is left on Northwestern’s board.
Quarterback
Committed: No one
Still on the board: No one
For the time being, not much is brewing at quarterback. Northwestern missed on their top target when three-star Conner Harrell committed to North Carolina. Brandon Rose, another QB who took an official visit to NU in June, pledged Utah.
Right now, there is no one on Northwestern's board at QB. The only possibility still out there is Treyson Bourguet, whom offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian worked out in June in Evanston. Bourguet told WildcatReport last week that NU coaches were still in touch and that he remains very interested. He seems to be there for the taking if the Wildcats want him. But we don’t expect an offer to be coming anytime soon; there is a reason they haven’t offered him yet.
While Northwestern still has every intention of taking a quarterback in this class, they don’t want to take a reach, especially because they have three QBs on the roster with at least three years of eligibility remaining (Ryan Hilinski, Carl Richardson and Brendan Sullivan). Their plan, for now, is to see if any seniors emerge during the season, or if any decommitments shake loose in the coming months.
Running back
Committed:
Still on the board:
Now that Himon is officially a Cat, the only question mark remaining is Alston. Multiple sources say he is down to Auburn, LSU and Northwestern, and WildcatReport has confirmed that Alston would still be a take for the Wildcats.
Northwestern is the outlier in Alston’s trio, so it will come down to how much they can sell him on the power of the degree, as well as how willing a Georgia kid is to ignore all of the pressure, go against the grain and pick NU over a couple of SEC power programs. That decision takes some courage – not only for the choice itself, but telling coaches, teammates and friends that he wants to be a Wildcat.
We still have a hunch that Alston will wind up in the SEC, but then again, he told our Mike Fitzpatrick last week that he hates crystal balls after one showed up predicting Auburn as his destination. His tweets lately have been as intriguing – and as hard to decipher – as his recruiting picture. He has set his decision date as July 25. It should be an interesting ride until then.
Defensive line
Commits:
Soon to commit:
Still on the board:
Saka is set to announce his decision on July 17, and, as we reported earlier on The Rock, he will pick Northwestern over USC and Penn State. Saka is a fast, dynamic, quick-twitch edge rusher who will be a difference maker for the Cats – both on the field and for the 2022 class. For us, he will be the crown jewel of the 2022 group.
Unless the Wildcats can also bring in VanSumeren. Then, there will be a new head of the class. VanSumeren is a disruptive force in the middle, a rare combination of 300-pound size and explosive speed. And VanSumeren and Saka together would be a tag team on the defensive line that the rest of the Big Ten West may not be able to handle.
Sources tell WildcatReport that VanSumeren is still very much on the board. Michigan State is still considered the team to beat here, if only because you know that his whole family wants to see him in Green & White with his brother. But the Cats are very much still in the fight.
Offensive line
Commits:
Still on the board:
Since Connor Robertson committed to Texas last week – he was a longshot, anyway – Northwestern is all in on Anderson. He’s been their No. 1 tackle target all along.
Anderson has proven to be as thorough a prospect as we’ve seen in managing his recruiting process. That’s why he felt the need to tweet his Top 4 on July 2, even if everyone already knew that the four schools he visited officially were his finalists. The guy does his due diligence and dots all his Is.
Anderson told WildcatReport that he will make his decision “at the end of the month.” The last we heard, before he visited Stanford, is that Anderson was leaning toward Virginia, while his parents favored Northwestern. The Cardinal, though, could steal him away from both as the compromise solution. North Carolina seems to be an outside shot right now. All four of the schools have just two OL commits, so they all have room for him and will wait to see where he goes.
If the Wildcats don’t land Anderson, they are comfortable waiting to see if any seniors or decommitments pop up in the fall.
So with the number of scholarships and number of uncommitted prospects with offers dwindling, we take another look at what needs remain and who is left on Northwestern’s board.
Quarterback
Committed: No one
Still on the board: No one
For the time being, not much is brewing at quarterback. Northwestern missed on their top target when three-star Conner Harrell committed to North Carolina. Brandon Rose, another QB who took an official visit to NU in June, pledged Utah.
Right now, there is no one on Northwestern's board at QB. The only possibility still out there is Treyson Bourguet, whom offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian worked out in June in Evanston. Bourguet told WildcatReport last week that NU coaches were still in touch and that he remains very interested. He seems to be there for the taking if the Wildcats want him. But we don’t expect an offer to be coming anytime soon; there is a reason they haven’t offered him yet.
While Northwestern still has every intention of taking a quarterback in this class, they don’t want to take a reach, especially because they have three QBs on the roster with at least three years of eligibility remaining (Ryan Hilinski, Carl Richardson and Brendan Sullivan). Their plan, for now, is to see if any seniors emerge during the season, or if any decommitments shake loose in the coming months.
Running back
Committed:
Still on the board:
Now that Himon is officially a Cat, the only question mark remaining is Alston. Multiple sources say he is down to Auburn, LSU and Northwestern, and WildcatReport has confirmed that Alston would still be a take for the Wildcats.
Northwestern is the outlier in Alston’s trio, so it will come down to how much they can sell him on the power of the degree, as well as how willing a Georgia kid is to ignore all of the pressure, go against the grain and pick NU over a couple of SEC power programs. That decision takes some courage – not only for the choice itself, but telling coaches, teammates and friends that he wants to be a Wildcat.
We still have a hunch that Alston will wind up in the SEC, but then again, he told our Mike Fitzpatrick last week that he hates crystal balls after one showed up predicting Auburn as his destination. His tweets lately have been as intriguing – and as hard to decipher – as his recruiting picture. He has set his decision date as July 25. It should be an interesting ride until then.
Defensive line
Commits:
Soon to commit:
Still on the board:
Saka is set to announce his decision on July 17, and, as we reported earlier on The Rock, he will pick Northwestern over USC and Penn State. Saka is a fast, dynamic, quick-twitch edge rusher who will be a difference maker for the Cats – both on the field and for the 2022 class. For us, he will be the crown jewel of the 2022 group.
Unless the Wildcats can also bring in VanSumeren. Then, there will be a new head of the class. VanSumeren is a disruptive force in the middle, a rare combination of 300-pound size and explosive speed. And VanSumeren and Saka together would be a tag team on the defensive line that the rest of the Big Ten West may not be able to handle.
Sources tell WildcatReport that VanSumeren is still very much on the board. Michigan State is still considered the team to beat here, if only because you know that his whole family wants to see him in Green & White with his brother. But the Cats are very much still in the fight.
Offensive line
Commits:
Still on the board:
Since Connor Robertson committed to Texas last week – he was a longshot, anyway – Northwestern is all in on Anderson. He’s been their No. 1 tackle target all along.
Anderson has proven to be as thorough a prospect as we’ve seen in managing his recruiting process. That’s why he felt the need to tweet his Top 4 on July 2, even if everyone already knew that the four schools he visited officially were his finalists. The guy does his due diligence and dots all his Is.
Anderson told WildcatReport that he will make his decision “at the end of the month.” The last we heard, before he visited Stanford, is that Anderson was leaning toward Virginia, while his parents favored Northwestern. The Cardinal, though, could steal him away from both as the compromise solution. North Carolina seems to be an outside shot right now. All four of the schools have just two OL commits, so they all have room for him and will wait to see where he goes.
If the Wildcats don’t land Anderson, they are comfortable waiting to see if any seniors or decommitments pop up in the fall.
