1. Nick VanHoose- noted by Big Ten Coaches as a preseason second team All Big Ten, this guy is a game changer who is not only solid against the pass but plays as a LB with solid closing speed and brutal hitting against the run. Gets the "All Turk" 5 star game changing player.
2. Justin Jackson- Tabbed for various pre season national awards and voted by the Big Ten Coaches as an All Big Ten player, Justin Jackson is a 5 star All Turk that is a game changing player. Playing behind a make shift of journeyman offensive linemen, he still couldn't be denied. Touched the ball almost 300 times and only fumbled once.
3. Dean Lowry - A load who will help lead a DL that can control the line of scrimmage. The Dean of Defense will allow our backers to collect plenty of tackles this year.
4. Dan Vitale - An All Turk 4 star that should bounce back and have a great year. A superman freak of nature that needs to be incorporated moreso into the offense in order to get more touches.
5. Matthew Harris- Our best cover man on the team. Gets the prestigious All Turk 4 star.
6. Traveon Henry- Traveon joins a recent and ongoing list of big hitting safeties at NU. As a fan, I love when I hear a tackle. Big and linebackerlike but graceful enough to get INT"s along the sideline. A All Turk 4 star.
7. Greg Kuhar* - Simply put, our best run stopper on the team. Against run teams like Wisconsin and Minny, he excelled. Got banged up during the season then suffered a season ending injury against Notre Dame. Showed enough quickness to the QB in passing downs that he became an all around solid DL.
8. Drew Smith - Mr Smith came to Evanston and when he is on the field, makes you wonder what took him so long to start. Although he showed awesome play, and is perhaps the biggest freak of nature on the team, he started to separate himself later in the year, particularly against Illinois. There will be no stopping his potential this year.
9. Christian Jones - The Devil got a hold of Mr Jones and bit him with the injury bug. Reports have him at close to 100% but I don't fully expect him to play up to his par until late in the season. In other words, he has potential to move up from here but he shouldn't make any college fantasy rosters anytime soon. Excells in mid range passes where he uses his big body to block out and can catch just about any pass tossed to him. Great blocker as well.
10. Geoff Mogus; The first OL in the All Turk rankings, but a good one. Should help stabilize an otherwise suspicious and new offensive line this year. Blue Collar family and tough as nails LSE guy in the same cloth as Keenan was.
11. Anthony Walker- An exciting player who has shown that he is not only capable but an anchor in the middle. That said, his potential hasn't been reached, so look for incredible things from him this year.
12. Cameron Dickerson- 2014 wasn't him out there. He started the season with a hand injury that stayed tender and it caused him to drop a significant amount of balls or make catches with his chest and shoulders. Just wasn't comfortable. That said, when he caught the ball, he was a beast to bring down. Healthy now, I look for him to regain his confidence and have a breakout year. Great blocking downfield, as always, but I hope McCall gets the ball to him in one on one matchups with quick sideline passes. Corners have a seriously tough time bringing him down. That's why his YPC last year was over 13 yards.
13. Soloman Vault- an exciting player whose season was short lived. Looked really promising until a hamstring injury slowed him down then another injury knocked him out for the season. In his 8 games he played, he took it to the house 3 times and averaged 50 yards all purpose per game. That productivity will go up, regardless of who the QB is.
14. Xavier Washington- Xwas had a solid year going, but his small frame had him gassed out by year end. It's not every game where a true freshman puts a solid upper classman on the bench. A true talent who could really move up on this list.
15. Deonte Gibson- A solid DE who has gotten better in each year.
16. Warren Long- A power runner who isn't slow. Not just a change of pace back for JJ but a back who can hold his own and even take over a feature role.
17. Sean McEvilly- A shell of his past after all of his injuries and it makes me wonder if he has anything left. If so, then this guy is a load and will not only compete but complete an otherwise solid DL.
18. Matt Frazier- Should offer some experience in an otherwise new offensive line.
19. Miles Shuler- An electrifying player from point A to point B. Playing to his strengths by having him run routes where his perspective can see the QB in his sightline is key, as he has great difficulty picking up the ball in flight, looking up. That said, if used properly on screens and routes where he doesn't have to catch over the shoulder, this guy could be a game changer, and could really excel. Tough as nails, maybe the fastest guy on the team, so let's give him the pill a bit more, but do it in a smart way. Also, keep him off kickoff return.
20. Godwin Igwebulke- Maybe this is too low for him, and certainly he has nowhere to go but up from this position. Nonetheless, he is solid and could become a great one. Had a helluva game against Wisconsin and I'm sure he has more of those coming.
21. Ifeadi Odenigbo- Our best pass rusher and will really be a force if we are ahead in games this year. Needs work on rush defense.
22. Jack Mitchell - Solid FG kicker who may win a few games for us this year. His constant booming kickoffs were also comforting.
Other notables: Clayton Thorson, Max Chapman, CJ Robbins, Austin Anderson, Garrett Dickerson, Shane Mertz, Brad North, Marcus McShephard
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2. Justin Jackson- Tabbed for various pre season national awards and voted by the Big Ten Coaches as an All Big Ten player, Justin Jackson is a 5 star All Turk that is a game changing player. Playing behind a make shift of journeyman offensive linemen, he still couldn't be denied. Touched the ball almost 300 times and only fumbled once.
3. Dean Lowry - A load who will help lead a DL that can control the line of scrimmage. The Dean of Defense will allow our backers to collect plenty of tackles this year.
4. Dan Vitale - An All Turk 4 star that should bounce back and have a great year. A superman freak of nature that needs to be incorporated moreso into the offense in order to get more touches.
5. Matthew Harris- Our best cover man on the team. Gets the prestigious All Turk 4 star.
6. Traveon Henry- Traveon joins a recent and ongoing list of big hitting safeties at NU. As a fan, I love when I hear a tackle. Big and linebackerlike but graceful enough to get INT"s along the sideline. A All Turk 4 star.
7. Greg Kuhar* - Simply put, our best run stopper on the team. Against run teams like Wisconsin and Minny, he excelled. Got banged up during the season then suffered a season ending injury against Notre Dame. Showed enough quickness to the QB in passing downs that he became an all around solid DL.
8. Drew Smith - Mr Smith came to Evanston and when he is on the field, makes you wonder what took him so long to start. Although he showed awesome play, and is perhaps the biggest freak of nature on the team, he started to separate himself later in the year, particularly against Illinois. There will be no stopping his potential this year.
9. Christian Jones - The Devil got a hold of Mr Jones and bit him with the injury bug. Reports have him at close to 100% but I don't fully expect him to play up to his par until late in the season. In other words, he has potential to move up from here but he shouldn't make any college fantasy rosters anytime soon. Excells in mid range passes where he uses his big body to block out and can catch just about any pass tossed to him. Great blocker as well.
10. Geoff Mogus; The first OL in the All Turk rankings, but a good one. Should help stabilize an otherwise suspicious and new offensive line this year. Blue Collar family and tough as nails LSE guy in the same cloth as Keenan was.
11. Anthony Walker- An exciting player who has shown that he is not only capable but an anchor in the middle. That said, his potential hasn't been reached, so look for incredible things from him this year.
12. Cameron Dickerson- 2014 wasn't him out there. He started the season with a hand injury that stayed tender and it caused him to drop a significant amount of balls or make catches with his chest and shoulders. Just wasn't comfortable. That said, when he caught the ball, he was a beast to bring down. Healthy now, I look for him to regain his confidence and have a breakout year. Great blocking downfield, as always, but I hope McCall gets the ball to him in one on one matchups with quick sideline passes. Corners have a seriously tough time bringing him down. That's why his YPC last year was over 13 yards.
13. Soloman Vault- an exciting player whose season was short lived. Looked really promising until a hamstring injury slowed him down then another injury knocked him out for the season. In his 8 games he played, he took it to the house 3 times and averaged 50 yards all purpose per game. That productivity will go up, regardless of who the QB is.
14. Xavier Washington- Xwas had a solid year going, but his small frame had him gassed out by year end. It's not every game where a true freshman puts a solid upper classman on the bench. A true talent who could really move up on this list.
15. Deonte Gibson- A solid DE who has gotten better in each year.
16. Warren Long- A power runner who isn't slow. Not just a change of pace back for JJ but a back who can hold his own and even take over a feature role.
17. Sean McEvilly- A shell of his past after all of his injuries and it makes me wonder if he has anything left. If so, then this guy is a load and will not only compete but complete an otherwise solid DL.
18. Matt Frazier- Should offer some experience in an otherwise new offensive line.
19. Miles Shuler- An electrifying player from point A to point B. Playing to his strengths by having him run routes where his perspective can see the QB in his sightline is key, as he has great difficulty picking up the ball in flight, looking up. That said, if used properly on screens and routes where he doesn't have to catch over the shoulder, this guy could be a game changer, and could really excel. Tough as nails, maybe the fastest guy on the team, so let's give him the pill a bit more, but do it in a smart way. Also, keep him off kickoff return.
20. Godwin Igwebulke- Maybe this is too low for him, and certainly he has nowhere to go but up from this position. Nonetheless, he is solid and could become a great one. Had a helluva game against Wisconsin and I'm sure he has more of those coming.
21. Ifeadi Odenigbo- Our best pass rusher and will really be a force if we are ahead in games this year. Needs work on rush defense.
22. Jack Mitchell - Solid FG kicker who may win a few games for us this year. His constant booming kickoffs were also comforting.
Other notables: Clayton Thorson, Max Chapman, CJ Robbins, Austin Anderson, Garrett Dickerson, Shane Mertz, Brad North, Marcus McShephard
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