2009 Northwestern Wildcats Football Preview
2009 Northwestern Wildcats season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Northwestern Wildcats football preview as well as the 2009 Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule. Dont miss Maddux's free college football picks on the weekly college football odds from the #1 sports handicapping team.
Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (4th year at Northwestern)
Team Name: Wildcats
2008 Overall Record: 9-4
Returning Starters: 13
The Northwestern Wildcats (9- 4 overall, 5- 3 Big Ten) have been to a total of seven bowl games with four trips occurring from 2000 on. They have lost every contest, including a 23- 30 defeat by #25 Missouri in the Alamo Bowl last year. For the Wildcats, 2008 was a good year—they finished tied for fourth in the conference and were ranked 22nd nationally.
The Wildcats averaged 24.4 PPG, earning a ranking of 74th nationally. New starters at quarterback, receiver and running back may complicate the team’s spread offense as the players attempt to find their rhythms. The offensive line welcomes back four starters. That will be a help. Senior QB Mike Kafka (46 ATT, 32 COMP, 330 YDs, 3 INTs, 2 TDs) gets the start after gaining valuable experience in 2008. Kafka is also an able runner, gaining 321 yards, notching one touchdown and averaging 4.7 yards per rush. Junior Stephen Simmons (62 CAR, 178 YDs, 2 TDs) gets the start at running back. Sophomore Jaravin Matthews is a backup with excellent wheels. Sophomore wideout Jeremy Ebert (15 REC, 161 YDs, 2 TDs) and senior receiver Andrew Brewer (18 REC, 145 YDs, 0 TDs) have shown promise.
Last year, the Wildcat defense was tough, holding opponents to 20.2 PPG (26th nationally). They were 34th at stopping the run. The defense offers a fine pass rush and an excellent secondary. Senior defensive tackle Corey Wootton (42 TKLs, 10 SKs, 6 TFL, 1 INT) is the glue upfront. The linebacking unit reruns two of three starters with Nate Williams (66 TKLs, 1 SK, 2.5 TFL) and Quentin Davie (57 TKLs, 3.5 SKs, 6 TFL) providing smarts and speed. Four starters are back in the secondary. Senior Brad Phillips (109 TKLs, 3 INTs) is a top free safety. Corner back Sherrick McManis garnered 67 tackles and two interceptions in 2008. The secondary is the strongest unit on this side of the ball.
Northwestern’s special teams have not performed well and must find consistency. Punter Stefan Demos has potential but last season did not do well in pressure situations. Freshman scholarship placekicker Jeff Budzien could be just what this team needs to get that part of their game in order. The return squad has two threats, Simmons, who averaged 22.1 YPR, and Matthews, who notched 23.2 YPR. They both offer big play potential.
Head coach Pat Fitzgerald (19- 18 in three seasons at Northwestern) has taken the team from a four-win season in 2006 to six and a bowl in 2007 and nine last season. The next step is to make them competitive against the top Big Ten clubs. The club will not play Ohio State this season, but they will host Penn State on October 31. The game versus Minnesota on September 26 is a must win. Non-conference games versus Towson, Eastern Michigan, Syracuse and Miami, OH are all potential wins. An eighth or ninth place Big Ten finish and a low tier bowl contest are all possible.
Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule
| Date | Team | Opponent | Site | Line | Total | Points | Opp Points |
| 9/5/2009 | Northwestern | Towson | home | ||||
| 9/12/2009 | Northwestern | East. Michigan | home | ||||
| 9/19/2009 | Northwestern | Syracuse | away | ||||
| 9/26/2009 | Northwestern | Minnesota | home | ||||
| 10/3/2009 | Northwestern | Purdue | away | ||||
| 10/10/2009 | Northwestern | Miami (OH) | home | ||||
| 10/17/2009 | Northwestern | Michigan St. | away | ||||
| 10/24/2009 | Northwestern | Indiana | home | ||||
| 10/31/2009 | Northwestern | Penn St. | home | ||||
| 11/7/2009 | Northwestern | Iowa | away | ||||
| 11/14/2009 | Northwestern | Illinois | away | ||||
| 11/21/2009 | Northwestern | Wisconsin | home |
For more info on the 2009 Northwestern Wildcats football program, view their official website or read up on the rest of the Big Ten foes below.
