The Jackrabbits head to Evanston, Illinois to take on the Northwestern Wildcats. This is the Jacks FBS game this season and one that is a big challenge but certainly winnable. Northwestern returns 5 starters on offense and 5 on defense and utilized the transfer portal to bolster the roster and replace a strong graduating class. Also of note, the Wildcats are coached by David Braun who spent a few years at NDSU as the defensive coordinator. They also have a new offensive coordinator in Chip Kelly who replaced former Jackrabbit offensive coordinator, Zach Lujan. Obviously Northwestern will be Big Ten physical but due to all of the transfers and the new offensive identity, it’s hard to say what they may exactly be on offense.
Offense
Usually I provide the team stats but with so much turnover to this roster and with a change to the OC, I just don’t think it is relevant. But here is what we do know about the Wildcats.
The Wildcats are led by #0 Aidan Chiles (6’4, 225, SR) and he has spent time at Oregon State and Michigan State. He had a really nice year two years ago for the Spartans and last year was in the midst of another good year before getting injured and missing the final few games. He completed 128/203 passes (63%) for 1,392 yards and 10 TDs to 3 INTs. He also carried the ball 81 times and had a gross 421 yards and 6 TDs. He’s a big guy so I imagine QB draw is definitely on the call sheet in the redzone. NU also brought in West Virginia transfer #4 Nicco Marchiol (6’2, 220, JR) to be the backup. Nicco started the first four games for WVU before being injured last season. In just those 4 games he completed 67% of his passes for 720 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs.
The running back room is loaded with talent. #5 Caleb Komolafe (5’11, 210, JR) figures to be the lead guy but will share carries with #27 Gavin Sawchuck (6’0, 205, GR) and #6 Joseph Himon II (5’9, 195, GR). Komalafe was named a 3rd team All-Big Ten preseason selection by Phil Steele. He had a nice 2025 with 190 carries for 941 yards (5 ypc) and 11 TDs but he did have 3 fumbles. He also contributed in the passing game with 11 receptions for 60 yards and 1 TD. Sawchuck joins the team after transferring in from Florida State where he had 109 carries for 486 yards (4.5 ypc) and 8 TDs. He too was productive in the passing game with 13 receptions for 121 yards and 1 TD. Himon II was voted a team captain this season a season after logging 99 carries for 486 yards (4.9 ypc) and 1 TD. He added 21 receptions for 118 yards. In 2024 he was named Big Ten Honorable Mention for his work as a kick returner. This is a really nice trio for the Wildcats!
The Wildcat wide receiver room features a familiar face in #17 Griffin Wilde (6’2, 200, SR) and a few other guys who made contributions in 2025. Wilde was selected as a team captain and as a 1st Team preseason selection by Phil Steele. He had a really nice season and registered 71 receptions, 880 yards, and 8 TDs. We know Wilde is a sharp route runner with strong hands and excellent separation skills. He will be a tremendous test for the Jackrabbit secondary. He is flanked by a pair of junior big wide receivers in #8 Hayden Eligon II (6’4, 210) and #10 Ricky Ahumaraeze (6’4, 210). Eligon had 37 receptions for 521 yards and 3 TDs while Ahumaraeze had 10 receptions for 200 yards. #19 Drew Wagner (5’10, 195) is a different body type but still had 22 receptions for 172 yards and 2 TDs last year. He did have 2 fumbles however.
The tight end room is really interesting with only one guy with any real experience. That guy is #86 Alex Honig (6’6, 275) who transferred in from UCONN. Yes, you read that correctly, 6’6, 275. He is German born and had 13 receptions for 162 yards and 3 TDs last season. He’ll be really interesting to watch. Behind him are players who did not record any stats in 2025. #83 Blake Van Buren (6’4, 245) played in all 13 games last season and made 4 starts but again didn’t have any stats. I’m sure he’ll contribute in the run game.
Northwestern has a big offensive line and they have two players who started in 2025 for the wildcats and one who started at Oklahoma State. #74 Grant Seagren (6’7, 320) is the Oklahoma State transfer and he played in 713 saps for the Cowboys. Grant is the brother of former Jackrabbit tight end, Wyatt Seagren. The two holdovers are guard #62 Ezomo Oratokhai (6’4, 310) and center #65 Jackson Carsello (6’4, 300). Otherwise, it’s hard to know who else may be in the starting lineup at this point. #73 Deuce McGuire (6’5, 310) played in 229 snaps last season. They did bring in Alabama transfer #75 Arkel Anugwom (6’7, 330) to compete as well.
Defense
The Northwestern defense was pretty solid in 2025 out of their 4-3 scheme. They allowed just 193.5 yards per game through the air and 136.2 on the ground. Opponents converted on 3rd down 42% of the time and 44% of the time on 4th down. They produced 23 sacks.
Up front, the Wildcats have a nice trio at defensive end but are a little more inexperienced on the interior. The group is led by senior #47 Michael Kilbane (6’5, 280) who had 42 tackles (18 solo), 8 TFL, 4 sacks, and 4 QB hurries. He played 491 snaps for NU last season. Opposite him is UCF transfer #24 Jamaal Johnson (6’2, 250) who had 24 tackles (13 solo), 3 QB hurries and 2 TFL in 255 snaps and was selected to the Phil Steele 2nd team. #44 Callen Campbell (6’4, 260) had 6 total tackles a season ago and 2 QB hurries in 187 snaps. Outside of those three though, there are just a combined 76 snaps of experience.
On the interior is big #15 Brendan Flakes (6’4, 295). Can I just say, I love when interior defensive linemen wear ridiculous numbers like this. Brendan had dreams of playing wide receiver but his body said otherwise! ha. Anyways, he had 18 tackles (6 solo) and 2 quarterback hurries last season in 374 snaps. #54 Tyler Grant (6’0, 300) had 4 tackles in 103 snaps, and #88 Migo Jackson (6’0, 305) had 5 tackles in just 60 snaps a season ago. Again, not a lot of experience in this group because outside of those 3, the rest of the room has only played 82 snaps.
The linebacker room led by #33 Brayden Brus (6’1, 230) who played 740 snaps last season! he did total 81 tackles (41 solo) and had 5 TFL, 3 sacks, and 4 QB hurries to go with 4 passes defended. He’s a player the Jacks will need to know. He was a preseason 3rd team selection by Phil Steele. Oklahoma transfer #2 Kobie McKinzie (6’2, 235) figures to be in the mix after coming over from the Sooners where he had 32 tackles (12 solo), 7 TFL, 1 sack, and 4 QBHs a season ago. He played in 331 snaps for Oklahoma. Outside of those two though, there is no real obvious candidate to be the 3rd backer. #45 Jack Sadowsky (6’2, 230) played in 56 snaps while #34 Payton Roth had 6 solo tackles in just 25 snaps.
For as inexperienced as the depth may be, the secondary may make up for it. The Wildcats have 5 guys on their roster who played more than 347 snaps at corner last season. #9 Braden Turner (5’10, 200) was a 4th team Phil Steele selection a year after recording 52 tackles (25 solo) with 2 TFL, passes defended, and INTs in 593 snaps. Also returning for the wildcats is #13 Josh Fussell (6’0, 190) who played 504 snaps and recorded 29 tackles, 16 solo, with 9 passes defended. The room added a pair of talented transfers with Weber State transfer #4 Monae Pate (6’2, 175). Pate eliminated a side of the field for Weber and only had 10 tackles (7 solo), 1 pass defended, and 1 INT. Opponents simply didn’t throw at him in his 792 snaps for Weber. The other transfer is #3 Brenden Deasfernandes (6’2, 200) from CMU. He had 25 tackles (13 solo) with 8 passes defended and 2 INTs in 631 snaps in 2025. The last guy that brings some experience to the room is #7 Ore Adeyi (5’11, 200). He saw 347 snaps in 2025 and ended with 20 tackles (14 solo) and had 5 passes defended and 1 INT.
Maybe the top player on the defense is #6 Robert Fitzgerald (6’0, 210). He was a 4th team Phil Steele preseason selection after recording 106 tackles (63 solo) with 6 TFL, 4 passes defended and 1 INT. He appears to be excellent against the run in his 725 snaps. Outside of him though… its an unknown. As the entire safety room had just 117 snaps of experience in 2025. Those snaps are spread across 4 guys, #21 Damon Walters (6’1, 195), #0 Alijah Jones (6’0, 195), #26 Jalen Lewis (5’9, 200), and #22 Terrion Curry-Hicks (5’11, 185). Maybe one of their corners will slide back to safety. I’m uncertain as of writing this.
Special Teams
The special teams for Northwestern brought in Bowling Green kicker #90 Jackson Kleather to be their guy. He was 19 of 22 in 2025 with a long of 56 yards and perfect on 26 extra point attempts. They only have two punters on their roster but one of them is Mississippi Valley transfer #95 Marko Dubak who had just a 38 yard average on 53 attempts in 2025. He did land 18 inside the 20. #92 Nikola Dugandzic did handle the kickoff duties in 5 games in 2025 and 6 touchbacks on 21 attempts. He was the #1 ranked punter in the nation in the 2025 class but did not attempt any. We will see but I’d lean towards Nikola getting the opportunity.
The Wildcats will be looking for a new punt returned as both of the guys who had attempts last season graduated. However, the #6 Joseph Himon II did have 5 kick return attempts for a 26.2 yard average and a long of 39. I would encourage the Jacks to not mess around with him if he is the primary kick returner and just boot it out of the end zone.
Prediction
These FBS games are always tough. It sure does feel like the Jacks should be able to compete with these guys. But so much is unknown about his squad with the turnover on offense and the change in the OC. However, the Jacks certainly have the size and speed to compete with these guys and they won’t look and shouldn’t feel out of place.
Jackrabbits 24- Wildcats 17
Go Jacks!
Matt
