As WildcatReport reported on May 4, Northwestern’s recruiting focus has narrowed for 2018 to just a few positions. Defensive tackle is no longer a priority as Wildcat coaches are looking to land some combination of running backs, linebackers and wide receivers with their last handful of scholarships.
Looking at the offer list, it’s easy to see that the top targets at linebacker are Jaylan Franklin, Khalid Jones and Jaylen Rivers. At running back, Jahmir Smith, Deion Smith and Ronnie Walker top the wish list.
But prospects are sparse at wide receiver. Right now, the only uncommitted receiver with an offer is four-star Kamryn Babb, who has an offer list that reads like the Top 25 and doesn’t seem to have Northwestern on his radar. The diminutive Trenton Charles, who is listed as an all-purpose back by Rivals, was offered by NU as a slot wide receiver, but the Wildcats have backed off of him in recent weeks as their priorities have changed.
So, then, who are the Wildcats targeting to join commit Jacob Jefferson at wide receiver in this class? WildcatReport has learned that currently, there really isn’t anyone specific. They feel that running back and linebacker are more pressing needs right now, and those prospects also represent the best available still on the board. With so much uncertainty regarding those two spots – they could land a couple at each position and use up all of the remaining scholarships – they are pumping the brakes at wideout.
Of course, that could change at any minute, but that’s the M.O. at this point.
That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The Wildcats have lost six linebackers over the last year-plus and didn’t bring in a single running back last year. Those two positions figure to be must-haves this year to avoid a shortage a couple years down the road.
At wide receiver, on the other hand, Northwestern has brought in 11 over the last three classes and will lose just two (Solomon Vault and Macan Wilson) to graduation after the 2017 season. In 2015, the Wildcats landed Charlie Fessler, Flynn Nagel and Jelani Roberts, and then Steven Reese was moved to wide receiver last year. In 2016, they brought in Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman, Riley Lees and Bennet Skoronek. This year, Berkeley Holman, Jace James, Kryic McGowan and Oregon graduate transfer Jalen Brown will arrive.
All those players have pushed wide receiver down the priority list for this class.
Don’t expect a flurry of offers to come out of this evaluation period. Northwestern is operating under the assumption that they only have three or possibly four scholarships left. So coaches are looking ahead to 2019 and spending more time working on the 2018 prospects they already have rather than uncovering new ones.
Looking at the offer list, it’s easy to see that the top targets at linebacker are Jaylan Franklin, Khalid Jones and Jaylen Rivers. At running back, Jahmir Smith, Deion Smith and Ronnie Walker top the wish list.
But prospects are sparse at wide receiver. Right now, the only uncommitted receiver with an offer is four-star Kamryn Babb, who has an offer list that reads like the Top 25 and doesn’t seem to have Northwestern on his radar. The diminutive Trenton Charles, who is listed as an all-purpose back by Rivals, was offered by NU as a slot wide receiver, but the Wildcats have backed off of him in recent weeks as their priorities have changed.
So, then, who are the Wildcats targeting to join commit Jacob Jefferson at wide receiver in this class? WildcatReport has learned that currently, there really isn’t anyone specific. They feel that running back and linebacker are more pressing needs right now, and those prospects also represent the best available still on the board. With so much uncertainty regarding those two spots – they could land a couple at each position and use up all of the remaining scholarships – they are pumping the brakes at wideout.
Of course, that could change at any minute, but that’s the M.O. at this point.
That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The Wildcats have lost six linebackers over the last year-plus and didn’t bring in a single running back last year. Those two positions figure to be must-haves this year to avoid a shortage a couple years down the road.
At wide receiver, on the other hand, Northwestern has brought in 11 over the last three classes and will lose just two (Solomon Vault and Macan Wilson) to graduation after the 2017 season. In 2015, the Wildcats landed Charlie Fessler, Flynn Nagel and Jelani Roberts, and then Steven Reese was moved to wide receiver last year. In 2016, they brought in Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman, Riley Lees and Bennet Skoronek. This year, Berkeley Holman, Jace James, Kryic McGowan and Oregon graduate transfer Jalen Brown will arrive.
All those players have pushed wide receiver down the priority list for this class.
Don’t expect a flurry of offers to come out of this evaluation period. Northwestern is operating under the assumption that they only have three or possibly four scholarships left. So coaches are looking ahead to 2019 and spending more time working on the 2018 prospects they already have rather than uncovering new ones.
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