You guys might remember that I write the NU preview for Lindy's College Football magazine every year. As part of that, I provide a two-deep. As usual, I had a source review it to give it a reality check, and it passed. It's certainly not set in ink, but it's probably pretty close for 100 or so days out.
Here it is. Asterisks are for returning starters...
OFFENSE
QB Hunter Johnson/So./Clemson transfer was ESPN’s No. 1 quarterback in the nation in 2017 class/T.J. Green, Sr.
RB Isaiah Bowser*/So./Exploded for 864 yards and 6 TDs over last eight games of 2018/John Moten IV, Sr.
WR Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman/Jr./Bowman’s 20 catches in 2018 included a 52-yarder in Holiday Bowl/J.J. Jefferson, So.
WR Kyric McGowan*/Jr./Speedy slot had the longest TD of the season, a 77-yarder against Michigan State/Riley Lees, Jr.
WR Bennett Skowronek*/Sr./NU’s leading returning receiver had 45 catches for 662 yards and three TDs in 2018/Jace James, So.
TE Trey Pugh/Jr./Athletic hybrid “superback” needs to stay healthy/Charlie Mangieri, So.
LT Rashawn Slater*/Jr./Moved from right tackle; has started 26 straight games in two years/Payne He’bert, Fr.
LG Nik Urban/Jr./Versatile interior OL started games at both guard spots in 2018/Jesse Meyler, Jr.
C Jared Thomas*/Sr./The unquestioned leader of the line started all 14 games at center last season/Sam Gerak, So.
RG Sam Stovall/Fr./Northwestern was the only Power Five offer for former two-star recruit/Charlie Schmidt, Fr.
RT Gunnar Vogel/Jr./Big, physical player has finally found a home at right tackle/Ethan Wiederkehr, So.
PK Charlie Kuhbander*/Jr./Must prove himself after inconsistent and injury-prone 2018/Drew Luckenbaugh, Jr.
DEFENSE
DE Joe Gaziano*/Sr./Ranks second among all Big Ten players with 16.5 sacks over the past two seasons/Trent Goens, Sr.
DT Alex Miller*/Sr./Made three tackles, including a sack, in the Big Ten title game vs. Ohio State/Joe Spivak, Jr.
DT Jake Saunders/Jr./Must step up after limited play in last two injury-plagued seasons/Trevor Kent, So.
DE Samdup Miller*/Jr./Has started all 27 games over the last two years/Earnest Brown, Jr.
LB Blake Gallagher*/Jr./Led the Big Ten with 127 tackles in 2018, making 10 or more tackles six times/Peter McIntyre, So.
LB Paddy Fisher*/Jr./First-team All-Big Ten pick had 116 tackles last season/Khalid Jones, Fr.
LB Chris Bergin/Jr./Walkon played in all 14 games and made four starts last season/Jaylen Rivers, Fr.
CB Greg Newsome II/So./Earned starting job as true freshman before injuries limited him to six games/Roderick Campbell, Sr.
CB Trae Williams*/Sr./Started nine games and had 26 tackles and a sack in 2018/Cameron Ruiz, So.
S Travis Whillock*/Jr./Started last five games of season and finished fourth with 57 tackles/Brian Bullock, Jr.
S J.R. Pace*/Jr./Led team with four interceptions and finished third with 82 tackles in 2018/Bryce Jackson, So.
P Cody Gronewold/So./Walkon has yet to see action in college/Jake Genyk, So.
I think that the WRs could get shuffled around a little bit, and I'm not sure that Bergin will hold onto that starting OLB job.
I'll post the whole preview on The Rock after I submit it.
Here it is. Asterisks are for returning starters...
OFFENSE
QB Hunter Johnson/So./Clemson transfer was ESPN’s No. 1 quarterback in the nation in 2017 class/T.J. Green, Sr.
RB Isaiah Bowser*/So./Exploded for 864 yards and 6 TDs over last eight games of 2018/John Moten IV, Sr.
WR Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman/Jr./Bowman’s 20 catches in 2018 included a 52-yarder in Holiday Bowl/J.J. Jefferson, So.
WR Kyric McGowan*/Jr./Speedy slot had the longest TD of the season, a 77-yarder against Michigan State/Riley Lees, Jr.
WR Bennett Skowronek*/Sr./NU’s leading returning receiver had 45 catches for 662 yards and three TDs in 2018/Jace James, So.
TE Trey Pugh/Jr./Athletic hybrid “superback” needs to stay healthy/Charlie Mangieri, So.
LT Rashawn Slater*/Jr./Moved from right tackle; has started 26 straight games in two years/Payne He’bert, Fr.
LG Nik Urban/Jr./Versatile interior OL started games at both guard spots in 2018/Jesse Meyler, Jr.
C Jared Thomas*/Sr./The unquestioned leader of the line started all 14 games at center last season/Sam Gerak, So.
RG Sam Stovall/Fr./Northwestern was the only Power Five offer for former two-star recruit/Charlie Schmidt, Fr.
RT Gunnar Vogel/Jr./Big, physical player has finally found a home at right tackle/Ethan Wiederkehr, So.
PK Charlie Kuhbander*/Jr./Must prove himself after inconsistent and injury-prone 2018/Drew Luckenbaugh, Jr.
DEFENSE
DE Joe Gaziano*/Sr./Ranks second among all Big Ten players with 16.5 sacks over the past two seasons/Trent Goens, Sr.
DT Alex Miller*/Sr./Made three tackles, including a sack, in the Big Ten title game vs. Ohio State/Joe Spivak, Jr.
DT Jake Saunders/Jr./Must step up after limited play in last two injury-plagued seasons/Trevor Kent, So.
DE Samdup Miller*/Jr./Has started all 27 games over the last two years/Earnest Brown, Jr.
LB Blake Gallagher*/Jr./Led the Big Ten with 127 tackles in 2018, making 10 or more tackles six times/Peter McIntyre, So.
LB Paddy Fisher*/Jr./First-team All-Big Ten pick had 116 tackles last season/Khalid Jones, Fr.
LB Chris Bergin/Jr./Walkon played in all 14 games and made four starts last season/Jaylen Rivers, Fr.
CB Greg Newsome II/So./Earned starting job as true freshman before injuries limited him to six games/Roderick Campbell, Sr.
CB Trae Williams*/Sr./Started nine games and had 26 tackles and a sack in 2018/Cameron Ruiz, So.
S Travis Whillock*/Jr./Started last five games of season and finished fourth with 57 tackles/Brian Bullock, Jr.
S J.R. Pace*/Jr./Led team with four interceptions and finished third with 82 tackles in 2018/Bryce Jackson, So.
P Cody Gronewold/So./Walkon has yet to see action in college/Jake Genyk, So.
I think that the WRs could get shuffled around a little bit, and I'm not sure that Bergin will hold onto that starting OLB job.
I'll post the whole preview on The Rock after I submit it.
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