The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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northwestern • nov. 16 10 Northwestern Has Become A Contender Thanks To Ground Attack L By Ryan Tice ast season was a very good one for Northwestern, but now is no time for the Wildcats to rest on their laurels — they are in position to build toward another double-digit win season. It has been a steady climb under eighth-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who has led the program to five consecutive bowl games after the school had gone to six total before he took over. Last year ended with Northwestern's first bowl victory since 1948 when the Wildcats topped Mississippi State, 34-20, in the Gator Bowl, and they lose only three starting offensive linemen and four starting defenders. The rushing attack featuring ultra-athletic senior quarterback Kain Colter — who has passed for 1,583 yards and 14 touchdowns, caught 60 passes for 667 yards and three scores, and rushed for 1,691 yards and 23 touchdowns during his career — and classmate Venric Mark, a second-team All-Big Ten running back and All-American returner, was unstoppable at times last year. Mark gained 1,366 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, while he added another score through the air and totaled 696 yards and two touchdowns on returns. His 2,166 all-purpose yards were the ninth-most in the country last season. Mark checks in at 5-8, 175 pounds, but the Cats do enjoy the luxury of a bigger back in fifth-year senior Mike Trumpy, a 6-1, 210-pounder who has rushed for 1,061 yards in his career. Northwestern also has redshirt junior signal-caller Trevor Siemian, who went 128-of-218 (58.7 percent) passing for 1,317 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions last season. Players To Watch OFFENSE: Kain Colter, Sr., QB — Colter was one of the most versatile players in the country in 2011, when he fell just 34 receiving yards shy of eclipsing 500 yards rushing, passing and receiving … He started 12 of 13 games last season under center and repeated as an all-conference honorable mention pick after he completed 67.8 percent (101 of 149) of his passes for 872 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions … He also rushed for 894 yards and 12 scores, while he hauled in 16 passes for 169 yards. DEFENSE: Tyler Scott, 5th-Sr., DE — He has recorded at least three tackles for loss in the last three campaigns, but exploded last year when he started every game for the first time in his career and tallied 42 tackles, including 12.5 for loss, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and five passes defended … Was named All-Big Ten honorable mention by both the media and league coaches. Nine of the Cats' top 10 The defense must get receivers from last fall return, better against the pass after although there wasn't a star in opponents averaged 250.5 the group, with no one player yards per game through catching more than 35 balls or the air, which ranked 84th totaling more than 412 yards nationally. Redshirt junior through the air. safety Ibraheim Campbell Despite the departure of led the team with 12 pass linebacker David Nwabuisi, breakups last season and who tied for the team lead has totaled 189 tackles and with three interceptions and four picks during his career, ranked second with 97 tackwhile redshirt sophomore les, the middle of the defense cornerback Nick VanHoose should be fine. Fifth-year sealso returns after he denior middle linebacker Damien Running back Venric Mark was fended 10 passes and snared Proby is back after an honor- named second-team All-Big Ten three interceptions. able mention All-Big Ten after rushing for 1,366 yards and Fitzgerald has said this is honor from the media. Red- 12 touchdowns last year. the best team of his tenure, photo courtesy northwestern but the schedule will test the shirt junior Chi Chi Ariguzo is expected to switch from the strongside, where Wildcats, who draw Ohio State and Wisconsin he earned consensus All-Big Ten honorable back to back in early October. The squad tied mention honors, to the weakside. Meanwhile, a school record with 10 wins last year, and fifth-year senior end Tyler Scott will lead the will likely need another double-digit effort line after he paced the team with nine sacks — which would be just the fourth in school and 12.5 tackles for loss last fall. history — to contend in the Legends Division. Quick Facts All-Time Series: U-M leads 54-15-2 First Meeting: NW 10, U-M 8 (Oct. 29, 1892, at Chicago) Last Meeting: U-M 38, NW 31 (OT) (Nov. 10, 2012, at Ann Arbor) Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald, 50-39 at Northwestern and overall (8th year) Off./Def. Systems: Spread/Multiple 4-3 2012 in Review: 10-3 overall, 5-3 Big Ten (3rd Legends Division) Final 2012 Ranking: No. 16 USA Today Coaches and No. 17 in Associated Press Returning Starters: 17 (8 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2013 (Gator Bowl, vs. Mississippi State, W 34-20) Big Ten Conference Championships (last): 8 (2000) Returning Leaders Passing: Trevor Siemian (1,317 yards, 6 TD, 3 Int.) Rushing: Venric Mark (1,371 yards, 12 TD) Receiving: Christian Jones (417 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: Damien Proby (112) Sacks: Tyler Scott (9) Interceptions: Nick Vanhoose (3) Notes Not only does Northwestern return 15 starters on offense and defense, but the Wildcats boast one of the nation's top returning kickers in Jeff Budzien, who shared Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors last fall, and also bring back fourth-year starting punter Brandon Williams … Head coach Pat Fitzgerald likes to say the Cats were just 5:03 shy of an unbeaten season; they held a fourthquarter lead in each of 2012's losses. ❏ 2013 Schedule DateOpponent Aug. 31 at California Sept. 7 Syracuse Sept. 14 Western Michigan Sept. 21 Maine Oct. 5 Ohio State Oct. 12 at Wisconsin Oct. 19 Minnesota Oct. 26 at Iowa Nov. 2 at Nebraska Nov. 16 Michigan Nov. 23 Michigan State Nov. 30 at Illinois 2012 Result — W, 42-41 — — — — W, 21-13 W, 28-17 L, 29-28 L, 38-31 W, 23-20 W, 50-14 the wolverine staff Prediction Why Michigan Could Win: Northwestern's defense has always been the program's Achilles' heel, with the exception of when head coach Pat Fitzgerald was a middle linebacker in the mid-1990s. But since then, the Wildcats have struggled to field one of the Big Ten's better units, and even with seven starters back, they won't be able to shut down balanced offenses, like Michigan's. U-M can also count on an abundance of alums living in Chicago taking over Ryan Field. Why Michigan Could Lose: The Maize and Blue were one desperation Hail Mary completion away from losing to Northwestern in 2012, so those that scoff at the Wildcats and dismiss them as pretenders need only remember that they almost beat U-M at The Big House. Besides, this iteration of Purple and White features an offensive duo — QB Kain Colter and RB Venric Mark — that could lay claim to being the Big Ten's best backfield tandem. Prediction: The three-game stretch of at Michigan State, Nebraska in Ann Arbor and at Northwestern is especially foreboding. It's possible but not realistic that the Wolverines will survive the trio without a loss. Since they play State after a bye, it won't happen then. U-M will be ready for Nebraska, leaving a natural letdown moment against a Wildcat team seeking redemption for 2012 and coming off a bye week. Northwestern 31, Michigan 28. The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview ■ 185