B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

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  • BDawg35
    MVP
    • Apr 2003
    • 2319

    #136
    2025 HEISMAN TROPHY CEREMONY



    Nation’s sixth-best football player
    awarded 2025 Heisman Trophy


    NEW YORK — Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik probably deserved the 2025 Heisman Trophy, but what we have here is another case of EA Sports coming up with an awards system that makes little sense.

    Klubnik was presented the Heisman after finishing only sixth for Player of the Year, fourth for Best Quarterback and second for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm given to the nation’s top senior quarterback.

    On top of that, he was only a second-team All-American, with Kansas State’s Avery Johnson nabbing the first-team berth.

    Klubnik is 307-for-458 for 4,044 yards, 38 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

    1. CADE KLUBNIK, Clemson, QB, Sr.
    2. KENDRICK LAW, Alabama, WR, Sr.
    3. AVERY JOHNSON, Kansas State, QB, Jr.
    4. TY SIMPSON, QB, Alabama, rJr.
    5. TROY STELLATO, WR, Clemson, rSr.

    Comment

    • BDawg35
      MVP
      • Apr 2003
      • 2319

      #137
      2025 BOWL GAME




      Northwestern CB-WR Josh Fussell crowns himself after scoring on a 27-yard touchdown pass.


      Northwestern running back Caleb Komolafe ran 17 times for 104 yards and one touchdown.


      Northwestern running back Caleb Komolafe catches a 10-yard touchdown pass.


      Northwestern running back Jakori McFarland scores on a 5-yard run.


      Northwestern linebacker Kenny Soares reaches back to snare his first interception of the game.


      Northwestern linebacker Kenny Soares’ grabs his second interception of the game …


      … and dives into the end zone with a pick-six.


      Boise State running back Jambres Dubar scores on a 24-yard run.


      Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen runs 11 yards for a touchdown.

      SOARE-ING TO
      NEW HEIGHTS

      Linebacker’s first two career picks
      spark NW’s bowl win over Boise State


      INGLEWOOD (always up to no good), Calif. — Who knew?

      Who knew that Northwestern outside linebacker Kenny Soares could literally live up to his name and soar for two interceptions in a 38-21 victory over Boise State in the L.A. Bowl presented by our good friend Gronk on Dec. 16, 2025?

      Soares has quietly gone about his business in two seasons under coach B-Dawg, making his fair share of tackles without any fanfare.

      While middle linebackers Xander Mueller and Brendan McIntosh (a.k.a. KATZ), as well as defensive end Anto Saka, have gotten most of the fanfare, Soares has been one of the top tacklers in this dynasty with 141 over two years.

      But he had exactly zero interceptions in 25 games until making life miserable for Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen.

      Soares leaped in the air (you might say “soared” in the air) and reached back to snare an interception with 3:33 left in the first quarter while playing as the only linebacker in a dime defense. B-Dawg had just switched to a dime from a 4-3 because Boise State didn’t run hurry-up before the play to catch the Wildcats with the wrong personnel on a passing situation.

      Northwestern was trailing 7-0 at the time and couldn’t afford to fall behind further against a 20th-ranked 9-3 Boise State team that is always dangerous offensively.

      Soares’ interception settled things down and allowed Northwestern to start cooking. The Wildcats scored 24 straight points and weren’t seriously threatened, even after Jambres Dubar’s second touchdown run of the game cut the lead to 24-14 entering the fourth quarter.

      Northwestern responded by grinding out a 17-play, 82-yard drive that consumed 6:58 and ended with a 5-yard touchdown run by Jakori McFarland.

      All that remained was for Soares to add an exclamation point on B-Dawg’s first bowl victory at Northwestern. That came with 33 seconds left when he picked off another pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.

      “It felt good to tack on a pick-six at the end of a game to someone else,” B-Dawg said. “Goodness knows it’s happened to us far too often.”

      Komolafe, who was stopped near the goal line in last year’s Detroit Bowl loss to Western Michigan, ended the season on a high note by running 17 times for 104 yards and a touchdown and catching three passes for 21 yards and a score.

      Northwestern snapped a three-game losing streak to finish at 9-4. The Wildcats were rated 80s across the board, while Boise State (9-4) was rated 84s across the board.

      “This was a matchup that scared me, regardless of their conference affiliation,” B-Dawg said. “It’s a quality win and gives us a real boost heading into the offseason.”





      NORTHWESTERN BLOCKING
      Jordan Knox 4 pancakes, 0 sacks; Simon Silva 3-0; Julius Hazel 3-0; Anthony Birsa 3-0; Shawn Boyett 2-0; Corye Capobianco 1-0; Jaylen Love 1-0.

      Comment

      • BDawg35
        MVP
        • Apr 2003
        • 2319

        #138
        2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF/BOWLS/FINAL RANKINGS



        2025 BOWL GAMES
        WEEK 1
        LA Bowl: Northwestern 38, Boise State 21
        Frisco Bowl: Texas-San Antonio 20, Georgia Southern 14
        Fenway Bowl: Charlotte 35, Virginia 10
        Myrtle Beach Bowl: Massachusetts 38, Troy 6
        Bahamas Bowl: Sam Houston 31, UL-Monroe 13
        CFP first round: Georgia 31, Kentucky 17
        Cure Bowl: Buffalo 28, Marshall 21
        CFP first round: Alabama-Birmingham 32, Boston College 17
        New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State 42, Middle Tennessee State 35
        Las Vegas Bowl: Houston 31, Washington 7
        CFP first round: Oregon 38, Illinois 30
        68 Ventures Bowl: South Alabama 13, Bowling Green 7
        CFP first round: Tennessee 40, Michigan 34
        Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: New Mexico 28, Connecticut 23
        Boca Raton Bowl: Wake Forest 34, Temple 28
        Detroit Bowl: Nebraska 42, Kennesaw State 21
        New Orleans Bowl: Notre Dame 27, Liberty 24
        Hawaii Bowl: Colorado State 27, Tulsa 19
        Gasparilla Bowl: Colorado 24, North Carolina State 18
        Independence Bowl: Wisconsin 45, Utah 30
        Armed Forces Bowl: Jacksonville State 26, Air Force 17
        Texas Bowl: Oklahoma 24, Iowa State 7
        Military Bowl: Pittsburgh 27, North Texas 3
        First Responder Bowl: Georgia State 34, Florida Atlantic 14
        Liberty Bowl: Arizona 42, Tulane 21
        Birmingham Bowl: Texas State 28, Virginia Tech 27
        Holiday Bowl: California 38, Rutgers 30
        Guaranteed Rate Bowl: San Jose State 27, Central Florida 24
        Camellia Bowl: Old Dominion 41, Ohio 27
        Pop-Tarts Bowl: Syracuse 14, Texas Christian 2
        Alamo Bowl: Auburn 28, Texas Tech 17

        WEEK 2
        Sugar Bowl: Alabama 35, Alabama-Birmingham 30
        Rose Bowl: Penn State 31, Oregon 29
        Duke’s Mayo Bowl: East Carolina 32, Brigham Young 21
        Sun Bowl: Cincinnati 34, Florida 24
        Music City Bowl: Ohio State 28, Arkansas 14
        Arizona Bowl: Utah State 31, Missouri 17
        Reliaquest Bowl: Mississippi 35, Michigan State 24
        Citrus Bowl: USC 31, Texas A&M 17
        Gator Bowl: Florida State 41, LSU 25
        Orange Bowl: Georgia 35, Clemson 21
        Cotton Bowl: Kansas State 37, Tennessee 3

        WEEK 3
        Peach Bowl: Penn State 38, Alabama 28
        Fiesta Bowl: Georgia 24, Kansas State 22

        WEEK 4
        The Natty: Georgia 42, Penn State 36




        FIRST ROUND

        OREGON 38, ILLINOIS 30: Oregon held Illinois to a paltry two yards on 21 carries. Austin Novosad was 14-for-29 for 245 yards and two touchdowns for the Ducks.

        GEORGIA 31, KENTUCKY 17: Jaden Rashada was 23-for-37 for 206 yards and three touchdowns for Georgia.

        TENNESSEE 40, MICHIGAN 34: Tennessee built a 30-14 halftime lead and held off Michigan. Dylan Sampson, a 91 OVR senior, ran 15 times for 79 yards and three touchdowns for Tennessee. Nico Iamaleava was 17-for-28 for 225 yards, two touchdowns and two picks for the Volunteers. Jadyn Davis was 24-for-35 for 283 yards, four touchdowns and one pick for Michigan, connecting with Fredrick Moore for two touchdowns.

        ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM 32, BOSTON COLLEGE 17: In the most unlikely playoff matchup ever, UAB earned a date with in-state rival Alabama behind the passing of Rickie Van Buren (28 of 40, 283 yards, 3 TD’s). Tight end Dallas Payne had 10 catches for 93 yards and three touchdowns.


        QUARTERFINALS

        GEORGIA 35, CLEMSON 21 (Orange Bowl): Georgia outscored Clemson 21-0 in the third quarter after trailing 14-7 at halftime. Gunner Stockton of Georgia was 11-for-15 for 246 yards and four touchdowns coming in after an injury to 87 OVR starter Jaden Rashada. Rashada was 13-for-23 for 179 yards and a score. Isaiah Bond hauled in six passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns, while Dillon Bell caught six passes for 149 yards and a score for the Bulldogs. Heisman Trophy winner Cade Klubnik of Clemson was 29-for-41 for 345 yards, three touchdowns and two picks. He had thrown only two interceptions all season. Troy Stellato caught five passes for 113 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. Neither team could get any traction on the ground (or even tried very hard), as Georgia ran 15 times for only seven yards and Clemson ran 23 times for 47 yards.

        PENN STATE 31, OREGON 29 (Rose Bowl): Penn State built a 28-10 lead after three quarters and held off an Oregon rally. Drew Allar was 20-for-27 for 320 yards and three touchdowns for Penn State. Nicholas Singleton ran 17 times for 122 yards and a score, while Liam Clifford caught three passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns for the Nittany Lions. Oregon’s Austin Novosad was 20-for-28 for 342 yards and four touchdowns, connecting most frequently with Justius Lowe (4 catches, 139 yards, 2 TD’s) and Ryan Pellum (6 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD).

        ALABAMA 35, UAB 30 (Sugar Bowl): The Crimson Tide won the battle of the state of Alabama, jumping out to a 35-17 lead after three quarters. Ty Simpson was 20-for-26 for 249 yards, three touchdowns and one pick for Alabama. Kendrick Law caught seven passes for 142 yards and a touchdown and had a 96-yard touchdown run for the Crimson Tide. Rickie Van Buren was 28-for-42 for 340 yards and three touchdowns for UAB, connecting with Iverson Hooks (8 catches, 110 yards) for all three scores. Brandon Buckhaulter had 10 catches for 100 yards for UAB.

        KANSAS STATE 37, TENNESSEE 3 (Cotton Bowl): Kansas State held Tennessee to 227 yards of total offense, including only 28 yards on 13 carries. Avery Johnson was 14-for-22 for 193 yards and three touchdowns for the Wildcats. Tight end Garrett Oakley caught five passes for 35 yards and two touchdowns.


        SEMIFINALS

        PENN STATE 38, ALABAMA 28 (Peach Bowl): Down 21-14 at halftime, Penn State outscored Alabama 24-7 in the second half. Penn State receiver Kaden Saunders scored on an 80-yard run and caught five passes for 50 yards and two scores. Nicholas Singleton ran 13 times for 94 yards and a touchdown for the Nittany Lions. Kobe Prentice caught 10 passes for 140 yards and two scores for Alabama. Ty Simpson was 24-for-35 for 297 yards, three touchdowns and no picks for the Crimson Tide.

        GEORGIA 24, KANSAS STATE 22 (Fiesta Bowl): Georgia led 17-9 entering the fourth quarter and held on to earn a date with Penn State for the natty. Gunner Stockton was 17-for-27 for 263 yards and a touchdown in his first start for Georgia. Dillon Bell caught seven passes for 153 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs. Kansas State’s Avery Johnson was 21-for-30 for 321 yards and a touchdown.


        THE NATTY

        GEORGIA 42, PENN STATE 36: Penn State led 25-24 heading into the fourth quarter before being outscored 18-11 by Georgia. Gunner Stockton was 26-for-34 for 364 yards and three touchdowns for Georgia. His biggest connections were to Isaiah Bond (6 catches, 143 yards, 1 TD) and Dillon Bell (5 catches, 101 yards). Liam Clifford hauled in five catches for 134 yards and a touchdown for Penn State. Drew Allar was 17-for-30 for 333 yards, three touchdowns and a pick.



        FINAL 2025 COACHES’ POLL

        1. Georgia (61), 14-3
        2. Penn State, 12-4
        3. Alabama, 12-3
        4. Clemson, 11-3
        5. Kansas State, 12-3
        6. Michigan, 9-4
        7. Oregon, 11-4
        8. Boston College, 10-4
        9. Alabama-Birmingham, 11-4
        10. Kentucky, 9-4
        11. Tennessee, 9-5
        12. Illinois, 8-5
        13. Mississippi, 9-4
        14. USC, 9-4
        15. Virginia Tech, 9-4
        16. Texas A&M, 98-4
        17. Utah, 9-5
        18. Boise State, 98-4
        19. Arizona, 9-4
        20. Iowa State, 98-4
        21. North Texas, 10-4
        22. Sam Houston, 11-3
        23. Rutgers, 9-4
        24. Ohio State, 9-4
        25. Fresno State, 11-3


        FINAL 2025 ASSOCIATED PRESS RANKINGS

        1. Georgia (65), 14-3
        2. Penn State, 12-4
        3. Alabama, 12-3
        4. Clemson, 11-3
        5. Kansas State, 12-3
        6. Oregon, 11-4
        7. Michigan, 9-4
        8. Alabama-Birmingham, 11-4
        9. Boston College, 10-4
        10. Kentucky, 9-4
        11. Tennessee, 9-5
        12. Illinois, 8-5
        13. Mississippi, 9-4
        14. Virginia Tech, 9-4
        15. Texas A&M, 9-4
        16. Arizona, 98-4
        17. USC, 98-4
        18. Utah, 9-5
        19. Boise State, 9-4
        20. Iowa State, 9-4
        21. North Texas, 10-4
        22. Rutgers, 98-4
        23. Ohio, 10-4
        24. Fresno State, 11-3
        25. Georgia State, 9-4

        Comment

        • redsox907
          MVP
          • Aug 2024
          • 1963

          #139
          Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

          nice win to finish off a season that showed marked improvement

          and hey, look at UAB mixing it up with the big boys. I've seen them get close to being ranked in mine, but they've never broken thru

          Comment

          • cookies00
            Rookie
            • Jun 2024
            • 83

            #140
            Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

            Ended the year with a big exclamation point!

            Comment

            • BDawg35
              MVP
              • Apr 2003
              • 2319

              #141
              Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

              Originally posted by redsox907
              nice win to finish off a season that showed marked improvement

              and hey, look at UAB mixing it up with the big boys. I've seen them get close to being ranked in mine, but they've never broken thru
              There’s always that CPU team that inexplicably becomes great in our dynasties. Maybe it’s UAB in this version of the game. Texas State had a great season in my first year.

              Originally posted by cookies00
              Ended the year with a big exclamation point!
              I consider that a huge win. Boise is a borderline major program. I came away from that game feeling like I really accomplished something versus just beating some trash CPU team.

              Comment

              • RyanLeaf16
                MVP
                • Dec 2007
                • 1003

                #142
                Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

                Big win to finish off the season in the LA Bowl and snap that losing streak. KATZ McIntosh had another big day with 14 tackles. Kid has a nose for the ball!

                Comment

                • BDawg35
                  MVP
                  • Apr 2003
                  • 2319

                  #143
                  Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

                  Originally posted by RyanLeaf16
                  Big win to finish off the season in the LA Bowl and snap that losing streak. KATZ McIntosh had another big day with 14 tackles. Kid has a nose for the ball!
                  A big day to cap a monster season. Read on about your boy ...

                  Comment

                  • BDawg35
                    MVP
                    • Apr 2003
                    • 2319

                    #144
                    2025 SEASON RECAP


                    Northwestern middle linebacker Brendan McIntosh set B-Dawg’s all-time record for tackles in a season with 141.

                    Brendan McIntosh’s tackle record
                    NW’s individual highlight of 2025


                    When the final numbers were tallied, Northwestern junior middle linebacker Brendan McIntosh put his name among the all-time greats ever coached by B-Dawg.

                    In a coaching career that goes back to NCAA 2003, B-Dawg has never had a player with more tackles in a season than the 141 McIntosh racked up in 2025.

                    McIntosh shattered the mark of 123 set by Air Force strong safety DeAndre McCollum, also in the 2025 season, in NCAA ’14. McCollum also had 120 tackles the following season, a total that now ranks third on B-Dawg’s single-season list.

                    Along the way, McIntosh had 21 tackles (3 solos, 18 assists) in a massive 13-9 victory over Oregon to set B-Dawg’s single-game record. McIntosh finished with 56 solos and 85 assists. He had at least 10 tackles in eight of 13 games. Another highlight for him was getting seven tackles for losses among 12 total tackles against Michigan.

                    McIntosh had 17 tackles while backing up Xander Mueller (109 tackles) last season.

                    “I hesitate to call him the best linebacker I’ve ever coached based on one monster season, because I’ve had him for only one season as a starter,” B-Dawg said. “Also, I suspect tackle totals are going to be high for my middle linebackers in this version of the game.”

                    B-Dawg runs primarily a 4-3 Tampa-2 defense in which he spies the middle linebacker, rather than having him drop deep into coverage down the middle. That keeps the player closer to the line of scrimmage in run support more so than keeping tabs on mobile quarterbacks, as one would typically use a spy for.

                    B-DAWG’S SINGLE-SEASON TACKLE LEADERS
                    141, Brendan McIntosh (Northwestern), 2025 (College Football ’25)
                    123, DeAndre McCollum (Air Force), 2025 (NCAA 2014)
                    120, DeAndre McCollum (Air Force), 2026 (NCAA 2014)
                    119, Ulysses Heckel (Vanderbilt), 2012 (NCAA 2007)
                    119, Fabian McCoy (Eastern Michigan), 2010 (NCAA 2008)






                    2025 RECAP

                    Team ratings: 82 OVR, 84 offense, 82 defense
                    Preseason ranking: Unranked
                    Final ranking: Unranked
                    Record: 9-4, 5-4 Big Ten (T-8th)
                    Bowl game: Northwestern 38, Boise State 21 (L.A. Bowl presented by our good friend Gronk)
                    Award winners: DE Anto Saka (Defensive Player of the Year, Lombardi Award, Defensive End of the Year)
                    First-team All-America: None
                    Second-team All-America: None
                    Freshman All-America: None
                    First-team All-Big Ten: None
                    Second-team All-Big Ten: OG Jordan Knox, SS Devin Turner
                    Freshman All-Big Ten: HB Jakori McFarland, K Enrique Swaim
                    Passing leader: Aidan Gray 181-for-290, 2,095 yards, 9 TD, 6 int.
                    Rushing leader: Caleb Komolafe 202 carries, 828 yards, 9 TD
                    Receiving leaders: Jaylen Love 98 catches, 788 yards, 0 TD
                    Defense: Brendan McIntosh 141 tackles; Anto Saka 27 TFL, 13 sacks; Devin Turner 4 interceptions; Cole Shivers 12 deflections; Braydon Brus 3 forced fumbles
                    Synopsis: It was almost a carbon copy of B-Dawg’s first season at Northwestern. The Wildcats got off to an 8-1 start with a world of possibilities before them, only to lose three straight games. Northwestern avoided a second straight season-ending four-game losing streak by beating Boise State in the L.A. Bowl presented by our good friend Gronk. After struggling to beat three weak nonconference teams, Northwestern made some noise by beating UCLA and USC to begin Big Ten play. A 45-28 loss to Nebraska in a pick-fest didn’t bode well with Oregon coming to town, but the Wildcats shocked the country by beating the defending national champions in a 13-9 defensive struggle. B-Dawg made the most bone-headed moves in his coaching career by kicking a walk-off field goal at Penn State when the Wildcats were trailing by four points. He thought Northwestern was down by three points. Interceptions continued to be a problem as the Wildcats used Ryan Boe and Aidan Gray at quarterback, as they combined for 13 touchdown passes and 18 picks. Gray was an improvement, throwing nine touchdowns and only six picks. Receiver had an odd stat line, making a team-high 98 catches without ever scoring a touchdown through the air. He did have a touchdown run. Middle linebacker Brendan McIntosh smashed B-Dawg’s all-time record for tackles in a season with 141, surpassing strong safety DeAndre McCollum’s 123 for Air Force in the 2025 season of NCAA ’14.


                    Comment

                    • BDawg35
                      MVP
                      • Apr 2003
                      • 2319

                      #145
                      DEARLY DEPARTED AFTER 2025 SEASON


                      Quarterback Aidan Gray will return to Northwestern for his senior season.

                      QB Aidan Gray reconsiders transfer

                      The only quarterback to throw more touchdown passes than interceptions so far in this dynasty will return to Northwestern for his senior season in 2026.

                      Aidan Gray was listed all season as a transfer risk for a lack of playing time, even after he became the starting quarterback for the final seven games.

                      The persuasion chance of keeping him in Evanston was categorized as medium going into the offseason. B-Dawg was quickly able to keep Gray in the fold.

                      Gray beat Oregon in his first career start and went 181-for-290 for 2,095 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions as a junior. He is 76 OVR. The other Northwestern quarterbacks combined in this dynasty have thrown 17 touchdown passes and 28 interceptions.

                      Redshirt freshman Ryan Boe started the first six games, but was benched after throwing three first-half interceptions in a loss to Nebraska.

                      After being gutted by the graduation of 41 players and transfer of one following B-Dawg’s first season at Northwestern, things are much more chill when looking at this year’s dearly departed.

                      The Wildcats will lose only 14 players, allowing them to fill in their roster after being thin this season.



                      DEVIN TURNER, SS, 83 OVR
                      JOSEPH HIMON, HB, 81 OVR
                      NICK HERZOG, OG, 80 OVR
                      BRAYDON BRUS, OLB, 80 OVR
                      ROBERT FITZGERALD, FS, 80 OVR
                      ANTO SAKA, DE, 79 OVR
                      REGGIE FLEURIMA, WR, 78 OVR
                      BRADEN TURNER, CB, 78 OVR
                      EVAN SMITH, CB, 77 OVR
                      COREY CAPOBIANCO, OT, 75 OVR
                      DEUCE McGUIRE, OG, 75 OVR
                      JASON REYNOLDS, OLB, 75 OVR
                      JACK LAUSCH, QB, 73 OVR
                      BRENDAN FLAKES, DT, 73 OVR

                      Comment

                      • RyanLeaf16
                        MVP
                        • Dec 2007
                        • 1003

                        #146
                        Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

                        Brendan McIntosh is gonna have to have his jersey retired or his name entered in the "Hall of Wildcats" at the training center on campus. Just too good of a ILB to not recognize him through this game cycle.

                        OR...you can start a tradition where the best defensive player (highest OVR, highest OVR Senior, best TKL rating, whatever you want) wears #30 & each season it can change depending on the roster make-up. Kind of like what PSU does with #11 or LSU with #7.
                        Last edited by RyanLeaf16; 12-10-2024, 02:22 PM.

                        Comment

                        • BDawg35
                          MVP
                          • Apr 2003
                          • 2319

                          #147
                          Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

                          Originally posted by RyanLeaf16
                          Brendan McIntosh is gonna have to have his jersey retired or his name entered in the "Hall of Wildcats" at the training center on campus. Just too good of a ILB to not recognize him through this game cycle.

                          OR...you can start a tradition where the best defensive player (highest OVR, highest OVR Senior, best TKL rating, whatever you want) wears #30 & each season it can change depending on the roster make-up. Kind of like what PSU does with #11 or LSU with #7.
                          I haven't even attempted to edit a player yet. I heard there were all kinds of restrictions. I'll let each player create their own legacy with their own number.

                          Comment

                          • BDawg35
                            MVP
                            • Apr 2003
                            • 2319

                            #148
                            CLASS OF 2026 SIGNING DAY


                            Northwestern got one of the top defensive ends in the transfer portal.

                            Northwestern replenishing roster
                            with 25 prep recruits, 5 transfers


                            Northwestern’s recruiting class is ranked only 85th out of 134 teams in the nation, a decline from last year’s 62nd-ranked class, but it’s improvement the way coach B-Dawg looks at it.

                            And, no, this isn’t the type of spin you get on draft day when every team says, “We got the guy we wanted. We had him in the top five.”

                            A year ago, the Wildcats brought in only 16 high school players and two from the transfer portal after losing a staggering 42 players from their 2024 team.

                            This year, Northwestern is bringing in 30 new players. The group includes 25 high school recruits and five transfers.

                            “Our motto going into this recruiting cycle was, ‘Bring in some warm bodies,’” B-Dawg said. “We weren’t overly picky about who the warm bodies were. We just needed to fill a ton of holes that were created when we lost nearly half our roster from 2024 and didn’t come anywhere close to making up for it on the recruiting trail.”

                            Some bodies are warmer than others.

                            The star of the recruiting class was obtained during the season when four-star running back Nazir Kush of Waukesha, Wis. committed to the Wildcats. Kush is the 190th-ranked overall player in the country, Northwestern’s top recruit in B-Dawg’s first two classes.

                            The other big splash was made in the transfer portal when defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth came over from Colorado State. Gatkuoth is rated four stars and third among defensive ends in the portal. He’s a junior, so the Wildcats will have his services for only one season.

                            “He will take Anto Saka’s spot at left defensive end,” B-Dawg said. “He might be even better than Anto, which is saying a lot.”



                            IN-SEASON RECRUITS

                            NAZIR KUSH, HB-24, 5-10, 231, Waukesha, Wis., 4 stars
                            PAUL GARNES, HB-50, 5-9, 226, Malden, Ill., 3 stars
                            ALEXANDER BUTCHER, CB-43, 5-10, 184, Winter Park, Fla., 3 stars
                            SAM KILGO, QB-52, 6-2, 218, Washington, Md., 3 stars
                            RAMON EZEIKE, HB-136, 5-11, 195, Belleville, Mich., 3 stars
                            KYLE BAITY, FB-25, 6-1, 238, Joliet, Ill., 3 stars
                            DEWAYNE FLOWERS, TE-99, 6-2, 221, Avon, Conn., 3 stars (JUCO sophomore)
                            TONY GIDEON, DT-87, 6-4, 285, Lemont, Ill., 2 stars
                            ALTON DEVINE, OT-111, 6-4, 293, Chicago, Ill., 2 stars
                            JAYVON HOPE, CB-166, 5-11, 198, Davison, Mich., 2 stars
                            KERRY HANOIAN, WR-230, 6-0, 182, Elba, Ala., 2 stars
                            LEO DAVIS, CB-174, 5-10, 181, Maplesville, Ala., 2 stars
                            CARL SERMON, OLB-100, 6-2, 218, Mobile, Ala., 2 stars
                            BRAD MILNE, DE-110, 6-2, 254, Saint Charles, Ill., 2 stars
                            CHAD GADO, OT-127, 6-4, 298, La Grange Park, Ill., 2 stars
                            QUINTIN BERRYMAN, CB-195, 6-2, 176, Chicago, Ill., 2 stars
                            MONTELL FEELEY, FS-151, 6-2, 221, Naperville, Ill., 2 stars
                            DAEVON PAUL, QB-223, 5-11, 213, Marbury, Ala., 2 stars


                            OFFSEASON RECRUITS

                            HUNTER SCHILENS, OT-104, 6-7, 304, Hartford, Conn., 3 stars
                            REGGIE HALL, CB-199, 6-2, 173, Mobile, Ala., 2 stars
                            CORNELL KAFKA, OG-88, 6-2, 289, Chicago, Ill., 2 stars
                            RAFAEL YORK, TE-96, 6-4, 223, Arlington Heights, Ill., 2 stars
                            BEN MAYO, SS-50, 6-2, 210, Virginia Beach, Va., 2 stars
                            GEORGE DENNIS, DE-145, 6-3, 256, De Pere, Wis., 2 stars
                            TRAYVON RIGGINS, OG-90, 6-1, 331, Malden, Mass., 2 stars




                            NUER GATKUOTH, DE-3, 6-3, 235, Edmonton, Alberta, 4 stars, Jr. (Colorado State)
                            QUIN FORD, WR-40, 5-8, 203, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 2 stars, Fr. (Miami, Ohio)
                            CHANCE SHORT, DE-21, 6-6, 271, Sun Prairie, Wis., 2 stars, Fr. (Indiana)
                            HARVEY SHEETS, OT-17, 6-5, 285, Delaware, Ohio, 2 stars, Jr. (Eastern Michigan)
                            CJ YOUNG, SS-27, 5-11, 200, Strongsville, Ohio, 2 stars, Soph. (Kent State)


                            TOP RECRUITING CLASSES

                            CLASS OF 2026
                            1. Georgia
                            2. Clemson
                            3. Oregon
                            4. USC
                            5. Penn State
                            6. LSU
                            7. The U
                            8. Notre Dame
                            9. Texas
                            10. Ohio State
                            11. Oklahoma
                            12. Michigan
                            13. Mississippi
                            14. Tennessee
                            15. Alabama
                            16. Nebraska
                            17. Kentucky
                            18. Texas Tech
                            19. Arkansas
                            20. North Carolina State
                            21. Virginia Tech
                            22. Auburn
                            23. Louisville
                            24. Utah
                            25. Southern Methodist
                            28. Wisconsin
                            33. Michigan State
                            36. Washington
                            39. UCLA
                            41. Illinois
                            68. Rutgers
                            69. Iowa
                            78. Maryland
                            81. Minnesota
                            85. NORTHWESTERN
                            93. Purdue
                            109. Indiana
                            134. Southern Mississippi


                            TOP 10 PLAYERS

                            1. CALEB O’MALLEY, MLB, Union City, N.J. — THE U
                            2. RICHARD RAINEY, WR, Cleveland, Ohio — Notre Dame
                            3. SALESI TOPA, DE, Camden, Ark. — Arkansas
                            4. CRAIG ARNOLD, QB, Tampa, Fla. — Georgia
                            5. EMMETT SMITH, CB, Harbor City, Calif. — USC
                            6. STEVEN McGAHEE, DE, Harrisburg, N.C. — Clemson
                            7. TEVAN MORTON, CB, Jacksonville, Fla. — Georgia
                            8. LEO PROVO, QB, Gaffney, S.C. — East Carolina
                            9. EZEKIEL HOPE, HB, Lake City, Fla. — Georgia
                            10. FRANK KIRKLIN, DE, West Point, Ga. — Georgia

                            Comment

                            • BDawg35
                              MVP
                              • Apr 2003
                              • 2319

                              #149
                              POSITION CHANGES

                              POSITION CHANGES

                              Jordan Knox: 84 OVR OG to 83 OVR OT
                              Troy Regovich: 72 OVR DE to 73 OVR DT
                              Chance Short: 67 OVR DE to 65 OVR OLB
                              Callen Campbell: 73 OVR DE to 73 OVR OLB
                              Brad Milne: 58 OVR DE to 56 OVR OLB
                              George Dennis: 59 OVR DE to 56 OVR OLB
                              Lamar Bakhtiari: 67 OVR FS to 67 OVR SS

                              Comment

                              • cookies00
                                Rookie
                                • Jun 2024
                                • 83

                                #150
                                Re: POSITION CHANGES

                                That was a nice grab at DE. Really excited for Kush to get some reps. Seems like year two is when you can finally start building roots and an identity.

                                Comment

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