Football Recruiting - Midwest Region: Northwestern Wildcats
Wildcats continue hot streak, add commit 
May, 16, 2013
May 16
12:20
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
The hottest team in the Big Ten right now isn't Michigan or Ohio State or Penn State or any of the traditional power schools in the conference. It's Northwestern and coach Pat Fitzgerald.
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Fitzgerald lands another four-star for NU
May, 14, 2013
May 14
7:33
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
A top 20 recruiting class is not good enough for Northwestern any longer. Pat Fitzgerald is making a push for the top 15, and he added another impressive piece Tuesday.
Four-star running back Justin Jackson (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) committed to Northwestern, he told ESPN.com in a telephone call.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound athlete from just outside Chicago had the Wildcats at the top of his list for several weeks. Indiana, Iowa and Vanderbilt were other schools he was high on.
Four-star running back Justin Jackson (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) committed to Northwestern, he told ESPN.com in a telephone call.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound athlete from just outside Chicago had the Wildcats at the top of his list for several weeks. Indiana, Iowa and Vanderbilt were other schools he was high on.
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With three solid pickups in the month of May, Northwestern has been hot with its recruiting. The Wildcats are hoping to add to his class with rising cornerback Verkedric Vaughns (Mesquite, Texas/Poteet).
Hearing Vaughns tell it, however, a decision isn’t even close -- no matter how difficult it is for him to think about recruiting.
Hearing Vaughns tell it, however, a decision isn’t even close -- no matter how difficult it is for him to think about recruiting.
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Inspired by Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign">Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign, our recruiting writers looked at other ways schools can sell themselves on the trail. Here's a look at recruiting pitches for the Big Ten:
Illinois Illini
What they’re selling: A chance to rebuild a program from the ground up, beginning with four-star quarterback Aaron Bailey, who signed in 2013.
What they’re missing: Just about all of the top prospects from their own state.
Indiana Hoosiers
What they’re selling: Indiana coach Kevin Wilson embraces the idea of a college spring break and is ready to head to Cancun with some of his players.
What they’re missing: Wilson looks like he might hold the group up in Mexico, however, as he still needs the assistance of a flotation device. Points that it is in the shape of a turtle, though.
Iowa Hawkeyes
What they’re selling: Iowa boasts one of the few staffs that can say they will be there all four years of a recruit’s career and has the history to back it up. Kirk Ferentz is the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten and it’s not even close.
What they’re missing: Out-of-state prospects tend to think Iowa is all cornfields, leaving the staff to battle that misconception countless times throughout the recruiting cycle.
Michigan Wolverines
What they’re selling: Michigan coach Brady Hoke looks like an outlaw patrolling the sideline on Saturdays without a headset.
What they’re missing: The player who graces the NCAA Football 2014 cover Denard Robinson. "Shoelace" was one of the Wolverines’ best recruiting tools.
Michigan State Spartans
What they’re selling: Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio is the man behind Little Giants, one of the greatest trick plays of the last few decades.
What they’re missing: A trip to a Rose Bowl under Dantonio would put Michigan State over the top when it comes to recruiting. There is already a significant difference in the caliber of player the Spartans are now getting compared to just a few seasons ago.
Minnesota Gophers
What they’re selling: The Gophers boast the biggest locker room in college football.
What they’re missing: They have not had a winning season since 2008.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
What they’re selling: Bo Pelini whipped out “The Bernie” in the Huskers’ Harlem Shake video. Harlem Shake equals instant credibility with recruits.
What they’re missing: A lack of a strong base of in-state talent makes it tough to recruit at Nebraska, and a Harlem Shake video can overcome only so much.
Northwestern Wildcats
What they’re selling: The new facilities are right near Lake Michigan, which, as assistant Bob Heffner is telling recruits, is a great spot for fishing.
What they’re missing: Not too many high schoolers in New Jersey have taken up fishing as a hobby. At least not yet.
Ohio State Buckeyes
What they’re selling: Urban Meyer is bringing SEC speed to the Big Ten.
What they’re missing: Has anyone actually clocked Meyer in the 40-yard dash? How fast is he really?
Penn State Nittany Lions
What they’re selling: Beaver Stadium fits more than 106,000 on Saturdays, making it the second largest stadium in the country. Inside is also one of the country’s most passionate fan bases, and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit once listed Penn State’s student section as “simply the loudest, most supportive student section in college football.”
What they’re missing: A full slate of scholarships and a chance to play for a Big Ten title the next few years.
Purdue Boilermakers
What they’re selling: Few programs have the history Purdue does at quarterback, and former Boilermakers Drew Brees, Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter are all on NFL rosters. The Boilermakers just signed ESPN 300 QB Danny Etling, too.
What they’re missing: Brees, Orton and Painter.
Wisconsin Badgers
What they’re selling: The Badgers have been to three straight Rose Bowls.
What they’re missing: The coach who took them there.
Illinois Illini
What they’re selling: A chance to rebuild a program from the ground up, beginning with four-star quarterback Aaron Bailey, who signed in 2013.
What they’re missing: Just about all of the top prospects from their own state.
Indiana Hoosiers
What they’re selling: Indiana coach Kevin Wilson embraces the idea of a college spring break and is ready to head to Cancun with some of his players.
What they’re missing: Wilson looks like he might hold the group up in Mexico, however, as he still needs the assistance of a flotation device. Points that it is in the shape of a turtle, though.
Iowa Hawkeyes
What they’re selling: Iowa boasts one of the few staffs that can say they will be there all four years of a recruit’s career and has the history to back it up. Kirk Ferentz is the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten and it’s not even close.
What they’re missing: Out-of-state prospects tend to think Iowa is all cornfields, leaving the staff to battle that misconception countless times throughout the recruiting cycle.
Michigan Wolverines
What they’re selling: Michigan coach Brady Hoke looks like an outlaw patrolling the sideline on Saturdays without a headset.
What they’re missing: The player who graces the NCAA Football 2014 cover Denard Robinson. "Shoelace" was one of the Wolverines’ best recruiting tools.
Michigan State Spartans
What they’re selling: Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio is the man behind Little Giants, one of the greatest trick plays of the last few decades.
What they’re missing: A trip to a Rose Bowl under Dantonio would put Michigan State over the top when it comes to recruiting. There is already a significant difference in the caliber of player the Spartans are now getting compared to just a few seasons ago.
Minnesota Gophers
What they’re selling: The Gophers boast the biggest locker room in college football.
What they’re missing: They have not had a winning season since 2008.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
What they’re selling: Bo Pelini whipped out “The Bernie” in the Huskers’ Harlem Shake video. Harlem Shake equals instant credibility with recruits.
What they’re missing: A lack of a strong base of in-state talent makes it tough to recruit at Nebraska, and a Harlem Shake video can overcome only so much.
Northwestern Wildcats
What they’re selling: The new facilities are right near Lake Michigan, which, as assistant Bob Heffner is telling recruits, is a great spot for fishing.
What they’re missing: Not too many high schoolers in New Jersey have taken up fishing as a hobby. At least not yet.
Ohio State Buckeyes
What they’re selling: Urban Meyer is bringing SEC speed to the Big Ten.
What they’re missing: Has anyone actually clocked Meyer in the 40-yard dash? How fast is he really?
Penn State Nittany Lions
What they’re selling: Beaver Stadium fits more than 106,000 on Saturdays, making it the second largest stadium in the country. Inside is also one of the country’s most passionate fan bases, and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit once listed Penn State’s student section as “simply the loudest, most supportive student section in college football.”
What they’re missing: A full slate of scholarships and a chance to play for a Big Ten title the next few years.
Purdue Boilermakers
What they’re selling: Few programs have the history Purdue does at quarterback, and former Boilermakers Drew Brees, Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter are all on NFL rosters. The Boilermakers just signed ESPN 300 QB Danny Etling, too.
What they’re missing: Brees, Orton and Painter.
Wisconsin Badgers
What they’re selling: The Badgers have been to three straight Rose Bowls.
What they’re missing: The coach who took them there.
Northwestern dips into Texas for another
May, 9, 2013
May 9
3:40
PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Running back Auston Anderson (Plano, Texas/West) committed Thursday to sign with the Northwestern Wildcats, multiple sources report. He is the second 2014 prospect from the Lone Star State to pick NU for 2014. Three-star safety Jordan Thomas (Klein, Texas/Collins) got the Wildcats' class started with his decision in December.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Anderson selected Northwestern over scholarship offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, California, Georgia Tech, Navy, Nebraska, Rice, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, UCLA, Washington and Washington State.
ESPN believes that he possesses, "a sneaky extra gear... good feel as a zone runner... the ability to exploit smaller creases... very good balance and body control... naturally good leverage and a strong lower base."
Anderson, along with Northwestern's other ungraded commitments, will be included as part of ESPN's next rankings update. The Wildcats have eight verbals at this time.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Anderson selected Northwestern over scholarship offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, California, Georgia Tech, Navy, Nebraska, Rice, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, UCLA, Washington and Washington State.
ESPN believes that he possesses, "a sneaky extra gear... good feel as a zone runner... the ability to exploit smaller creases... very good balance and body control... naturally good leverage and a strong lower base."
Anderson, along with Northwestern's other ungraded commitments, will be included as part of ESPN's next rankings update. The Wildcats have eight verbals at this time.
Heath Watkins woke up Sunday morning in his hotel room and decided to take a quick look at his phone. He saw a message from his son Dareian Watkins, sent at 12:15 a.m.
Usually a text that late would bring concern to a parent, but the moment could not have been a happier one for both father and son. The four-star Galion (Ohio) High School athlete was committing to Northwestern.
Usually a text that late would bring concern to a parent, but the moment could not have been a happier one for both father and son. The four-star Galion (Ohio) High School athlete was committing to Northwestern.
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Watkins not ready to leave Michigan State
April, 21, 2013
Apr 21
6:16
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
With two commitments, Mark Dantonio was already having a pretty good weekend. The Michigan State coach would have had a great one if he landed one more important piece.
Galion (Ohio) High School athlete Dareian Watkins did not commit, but he wasn’t exactly ready to leave Michigan State when it came time to head home.
Galion (Ohio) High School athlete Dareian Watkins did not commit, but he wasn’t exactly ready to leave Michigan State when it came time to head home.
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Offer helps Penn State in chase for ATH
April, 11, 2013
Apr 11
7:34
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
With time running out, Penn State was not going to hang around any longer.
Galion (Ohio) High School athlete Dareian Watkins is set to make his decision sometime in May, and Penn State was the only finalist yet to offer the 6-foot-1, 195-pound prospect. Unwilling to wait any longer to offer Watkins on campus, Nittany Lions coach Bill O’Brien offered Thursday.
“Coach O’Brien at Penn State decided to offer Dariean tonight over the phone rather than waiting on his visit,” Watkins’ father, Heath, wrote in a text message.
Galion (Ohio) High School athlete Dareian Watkins is set to make his decision sometime in May, and Penn State was the only finalist yet to offer the 6-foot-1, 195-pound prospect. Unwilling to wait any longer to offer Watkins on campus, Nittany Lions coach Bill O’Brien offered Thursday.
“Coach O’Brien at Penn State decided to offer Dariean tonight over the phone rather than waiting on his visit,” Watkins’ father, Heath, wrote in a text message.
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This past weekend, Garrett Dickerson (Oradell, N.J./Bergen Catholic) sat in on a sleep study at Stanford. Now the Cardinal coaches are hoping Dickerson puts his recruitment to bed.
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Pat Fitzgerald has signed an offensive lineman from Ohio in each of the last three recruiting classes. If all goes well between now and signing day 2014, he will make it a fourth consecutive class with a lineman from the Buckeye State.
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When Cameron Queiro suffered a concussion halfway through his junior season last fall, his older brother hoped the two would be on the same field at least one more time.When that didn't happen and then Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) lost in the state championship in the final minutes, Kyle Queiro pleaded with his brother to join him in two years in college.
On Thursday night, Cameron decided on the same school Kyle committed to a year ago, committing to Northwestern.
On Thursday night, Cameron decided on the same school Kyle committed to a year ago, committing to Northwestern.
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Watch List OL aims to trim list after visits
March, 26, 2013
Mar 26
5:35
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
When Ole Miss offered Watch List offensive lineman Quenton Nelson (Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) on Monday, the Rebels became the 29th team to extend a scholarship. As of now, all of them are technically in contention for Nelson’s commitment.
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A Watch List prospect has made his decision -- just not the one much of the Big Ten was waiting to hear.
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Noles offer sparks Ragnow's recruitment
March, 21, 2013
Mar 21
11:28
AM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
When the Seminoles offer a scholarship to a prospect from Minnesota, programs across the country are bound to take notice. So now offensive tackle Frank Ragnow (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen) is on every program’s radar, especially in the Midwest.
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There is no question as to who leads for Terry McLaurin (Indianapolis/Cathedral).
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RECRUITING NATION MIDWEST COVERAGE
The Midwest Region consists of the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin and is where the foundation of most Big Ten recruiting classes are made up of. It's also where the MAC finds most of its talent and national programs hunt for prospects.
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