Metro East Sun

An injury to a key player may have shown just what kind of strength Northwestern has this season.

Keith Watkins II, who was second among Wildcat cornerbacks in tackles in 2015, was hit with a season-ending knee injury during practice earlier this month. Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald called Watkins' situation “an unfortunate loss,” but added that the team feels comfortable with moving Montre Hartage, who played in 13 games last season, up the cornerback ladder -- and still having depth behind him.

“A few years ago, we weren’t in a position where we had what I would call organizational depth, and we have that now,” Fitzgerald said in an email interview. “It creates an exciting and competitive atmosphere because guys know that the guy behind them is pushing them to be better every day.”

That's a big part of what Fitzgerald called one of the most physically impressive defenses he's had in his 11 seasons in charge. That's no small feat, given that last year's defense was one of the best in the nation and the driving force behind Northwestern's 10-3 record and Outback Bowl bid.

At the end of the 2015 regular season, the Wildcats were eighth nationally in scoring defense (16.4 points per game) and 11th in total defense (310.5 yards allowed per game). Back this year is 2015 All-Big Ten first-team linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (113 tackles, 19½ tackles for loss) and second-team cornerback Matthew Harris (four interceptions, 12 pass breakups).

On offense, the Wildcats have Justin Jackson, the conference's rushing-yards leader last season with 1,418 and a second-team all-conference pick. But a big key for the offense will be the continued development of sophomore quarterback Clayton Thorson (1,522 passing yards, seven touchdown passes, 397 rushing yards). And not just with his on-the-field contributions, either. Fitzgerald said Thorson spoke to the team during practice and told his teammates that he has to improve for the Wildcats to take another step up.

“That is the kind of leadership you want from your quarterback and speaks volumes to the kind of young man he is and the standard he holds himself to,” Fitzgerald said.

 

ILLINOIS

When looking at a football team for the first time new Illinois Head Coach Lovie Smith said, the first offensive position to look at is quarterback.

For the Illini (4-8 overall, 2-6 in Big Ten), that first look would be at senior Wes Lunt, who averaged 230.1 passing yards per game last season with 14 touchdown passes and six interceptions. This offseason, Lunt has been put on three awards-watch lists.

“Wes is very smart, has a strong arm, has earned the respect of his teammates and is a terrific leader,” Smith said in an email interview. “He and (Quarterbacks Coach Garrick) McGee work very well together, and I’m very confident Wes will do a great job of getting the ball where it needs to be.”

Lunt will be joined in the backfield by sophomore running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who had 842 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns in 2015.

Smith said the line has a mix of youth and experience, and several receivers during camp have shown the ability to catch the ball.

The defense will be led by linemen Dawuane Smoot (eight sacks, 15 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries) and Carroll Phillips (two sacks, 4½ tackles for loss). Joining the team this season is linebacker Hardy Nickerson, a transfer from California and 2015 All-Pac-12 Conference honorable-mention selection who is on three awards-watch lists.

 

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

When driving for a seventh-straight Mid-American Conference West Division title, it helps to have an first-team All-American on board.

The Huskies (8-6 overall, 6-2 in MAC) have one in junior cornerback Shawun Lurry, who led the Football Bowl Subdivision with nine interceptions last season. And Lurry will have a good group in front of him, too.

“Defensively, I'm really pleased with our defensive line,” Head Coach Rod Carey said. “I really am pleased with them and the progress they've made as far as coming together as a unit and a lot of bodies up there.”

The offense has three players back who earned postseason conference honors. Senior tailback Joel Bouagnon was first-team All-MAC after compiling 1,285 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Senior wide receiver Kenny Golladay (1,129 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns) and senior offensive lineman Levon Myers both made the MAC second team.

Quarterback Drew Hare had 1,962 yards passing with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions, plus 375 rushing yards, before having his season cut short by a torn Achilles tendon. Carey said there are no lingering effects from the injury, but there may be a question of being in game shape.

“I think there's some rust there, but he has certainly, in the last 2½ weeks, knocked the majority of that rust off,” Carey said.

NIU's special teams are in the capable hands of Aregeros Turner, last year's MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, and first-team All-MAC kicker Christian Hagan.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

The Salukis (3-8 overall, 2-6 in MVFC) have been picked to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference this season in a poll voted on by league coaches, local media and sports-information directors, according to siusalukis.com.

Among the top returners for Southern Illinois is senior linebacker Chase Allen, a preseason first-team All-MVFC pick. Allen led the team with 120 tackles last season, including eight tackles for loss, and blocked three kicks.

Sophomore Daquan Isom received preseason All-MVFC honorable mention after finishing seventh in the Football Championship Subdivision in all-purpose yards per contest (158.2). He has been selected for the College Football Performance Awards Performer of the Year Watch List.

Senior receiver Billy Reed, also a preseason honorable-mention pick, had 805 receiving yards last season.

Josh Straughan, a transfer from Division II Stillman College, has been named the starter at quarterback.