Next Man Up
So what if Thorson’s recovery does not go as planned? Some have suggested a likely return might be before the Big Ten home opener vs. Michigan on September 29th. If #18 cannot take the snaps going into the opener at Purdue, it will come down to the off-season competition between three program veterans.
There is TJ Green (rs-jr from Rockhurst HS, MO), the well documented son of former Indiana great and NFL signal caller, Trent Green. TJ reminds me a lot of former ‘Cat great, Steve Schnur. Both have similar stature (6’1”, 200 lbs), were star players from the state of Missouri, wear the same number, came within one game of a state championship, and have been counted out for the QB position at NU. But perhaps most importantly is that both are hard core competitors.
TJ was the Gatorade and USA Today player of the year in Missouri his senior season, slinging for 2,638 yards and 33 TDs. He chose to walk on at Northwestern over Stanford and Nebraska, and HS coach Tony Severino asserts that “Northwestern is getting a real steal”. He certainly has the pedigree and the tutelage, and now with Thorson’s injury, an opportunity.
Next is Andrew Marty (rsf, Wyoming HS in Cincinnati, OH). Andrew has good size (6’4”, 218) and though labeled as a pocket passer, his film has shown he has the ability to tuck and run and extend a play. A three year starter against some of the better competition in the country (Ohio has been ranked 5th in the nation in overall football talent), he brings good football experience to the table. His mechanics need a little work (some throws off his back foot), but he does a good job of keeping his eyes downfield and makes good decisions with the ball.
Though he suffered a fractured femur during his junior year, he came back to have a monster All-State senior campaign, throwing for 3,203 yards and 43 TDs (also ran for seven) vs. only 5 INTs. He successfully completed 64% of those throws in leading his team to a 12-1 record. His coach, Aaron Hancock, said he’s a “worker and an outstanding student”.
Andrew set out, even before getting to Evanston, to work very close with Clayton. “I’ll get in his hip pocket and be a sponge”, he said. While he redshirted last year, he frequently signaled calls in and seems to have the most buzz around him heading into this season’s “backup” competition.
Perhaps the more heralded recruit of the veteran bunch is Aidan Smith (r-so, Carroll HS, Ft. Wayne, IN). A 6’2”, 205, this competitive signal-caller is accurate with good mobility, prolonging plays with his feet. His experience in the read-option, spread offense makes him a good fit for Mick McCall’s system.
Chemistry with wide receivers is always a big plus for QBs coming in, and two years ago he turned heads with a solid 7-on-7 circuit with fellow Indianan and Northwestern WR Bennett Skowronek. It was a second season of learning for Smith in 2017, absorbing the offensive schematics behind Thorson, the graduated Matt Alviti, and the aforementioned Green. It will be interesting to see what progress Smith has made for himself in the race of 2018.
Then there’s incoming freshman Jason Whittaker from Rockford HS in (my home state of) Michigan. The first recruit of the 2018 class comes in with a lot of early intrigue. His 6’5”, 200 lbs frame with a strong, accurate arm and good mobility has drawn early comparisons to Mr. Thorson. He was a 3 year starter and team captain, though his team never got further than 2nd round of state playoffs. He is capable of playing in a spread offense and felt that McCall’s offense here at NU “fits [him] best”.
The fact that Whittaker was injured this past football season (in which he still completed 60% of his passes for 1,200 yards and 13 TDs), and that Coach Fitzgerald has really only played a true freshman at quarterback once (Kain Colter in 2011, only 3 attempts) in his tenure as coach, it is confidently speculative that he may redshirt.
Still, it is his intangibles- mostly his positive competitive demeanor, contagious leadership, and study of the game- that make it easy to compare to Thorson.
“When the ball is in his hands, you know you have an excellent chance for success”, says HS coach Ralph Munger. “He mixes real well with his teammates and does an excellent job of reaching out to all of [them]. He also does a good job of uplifting the spirits of the team at the right time”.
Even if 2018 is not the year to christen the natural grass at Ryan Field, it would seem that Whittaker could be a player before all is said and done.
Bringing in a graduate transfer doesn’t seem to be in Fitz’s MO. Not to mention, that can be a slippery slope when it comes to team chemistry. The time seems to have come and gone for any sort of realistic GT help, so bank on one of these talented roster-residents to man the offense. And with the recent recruiting success from this staff (Thorson, Justin Jackson, Joe Gaziano, Paddy Fisher, and the likes), astute NU fans should feel good about this group.
So what if Thorson’s recovery does not go as planned? Some have suggested a likely return might be before the Big Ten home opener vs. Michigan on September 29th. If #18 cannot take the snaps going into the opener at Purdue, it will come down to the off-season competition between three program veterans.
There is TJ Green (rs-jr from Rockhurst HS, MO), the well documented son of former Indiana great and NFL signal caller, Trent Green. TJ reminds me a lot of former ‘Cat great, Steve Schnur. Both have similar stature (6’1”, 200 lbs), were star players from the state of Missouri, wear the same number, came within one game of a state championship, and have been counted out for the QB position at NU. But perhaps most importantly is that both are hard core competitors.
TJ was the Gatorade and USA Today player of the year in Missouri his senior season, slinging for 2,638 yards and 33 TDs. He chose to walk on at Northwestern over Stanford and Nebraska, and HS coach Tony Severino asserts that “Northwestern is getting a real steal”. He certainly has the pedigree and the tutelage, and now with Thorson’s injury, an opportunity.
Next is Andrew Marty (rsf, Wyoming HS in Cincinnati, OH). Andrew has good size (6’4”, 218) and though labeled as a pocket passer, his film has shown he has the ability to tuck and run and extend a play. A three year starter against some of the better competition in the country (Ohio has been ranked 5th in the nation in overall football talent), he brings good football experience to the table. His mechanics need a little work (some throws off his back foot), but he does a good job of keeping his eyes downfield and makes good decisions with the ball.
Though he suffered a fractured femur during his junior year, he came back to have a monster All-State senior campaign, throwing for 3,203 yards and 43 TDs (also ran for seven) vs. only 5 INTs. He successfully completed 64% of those throws in leading his team to a 12-1 record. His coach, Aaron Hancock, said he’s a “worker and an outstanding student”.
Andrew set out, even before getting to Evanston, to work very close with Clayton. “I’ll get in his hip pocket and be a sponge”, he said. While he redshirted last year, he frequently signaled calls in and seems to have the most buzz around him heading into this season’s “backup” competition.
Perhaps the more heralded recruit of the veteran bunch is Aidan Smith (r-so, Carroll HS, Ft. Wayne, IN). A 6’2”, 205, this competitive signal-caller is accurate with good mobility, prolonging plays with his feet. His experience in the read-option, spread offense makes him a good fit for Mick McCall’s system.
Chemistry with wide receivers is always a big plus for QBs coming in, and two years ago he turned heads with a solid 7-on-7 circuit with fellow Indianan and Northwestern WR Bennett Skowronek. It was a second season of learning for Smith in 2017, absorbing the offensive schematics behind Thorson, the graduated Matt Alviti, and the aforementioned Green. It will be interesting to see what progress Smith has made for himself in the race of 2018.
Then there’s incoming freshman Jason Whittaker from Rockford HS in (my home state of) Michigan. The first recruit of the 2018 class comes in with a lot of early intrigue. His 6’5”, 200 lbs frame with a strong, accurate arm and good mobility has drawn early comparisons to Mr. Thorson. He was a 3 year starter and team captain, though his team never got further than 2nd round of state playoffs. He is capable of playing in a spread offense and felt that McCall’s offense here at NU “fits [him] best”.
The fact that Whittaker was injured this past football season (in which he still completed 60% of his passes for 1,200 yards and 13 TDs), and that Coach Fitzgerald has really only played a true freshman at quarterback once (Kain Colter in 2011, only 3 attempts) in his tenure as coach, it is confidently speculative that he may redshirt.
Still, it is his intangibles- mostly his positive competitive demeanor, contagious leadership, and study of the game- that make it easy to compare to Thorson.
“When the ball is in his hands, you know you have an excellent chance for success”, says HS coach Ralph Munger. “He mixes real well with his teammates and does an excellent job of reaching out to all of [them]. He also does a good job of uplifting the spirits of the team at the right time”.
Even if 2018 is not the year to christen the natural grass at Ryan Field, it would seem that Whittaker could be a player before all is said and done.
Bringing in a graduate transfer doesn’t seem to be in Fitz’s MO. Not to mention, that can be a slippery slope when it comes to team chemistry. The time seems to have come and gone for any sort of realistic GT help, so bank on one of these talented roster-residents to man the offense. And with the recent recruiting success from this staff (Thorson, Justin Jackson, Joe Gaziano, Paddy Fisher, and the likes), astute NU fans should feel good about this group.
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