Northwestern opens investigation into hazing allegation within football program

Northwestern has started an investigation into a hazing allegation inside the football program, the school said Wednesday. The incident occurred after the 2022 season, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

Athletic director Derrick Gragg told the team about the situation Wednesday, Rittenberg tweeted, and an independent investigator has been appointed.

“While we do not yet know whether the allegations are true, hazing is prohibited by university policy, and we take these claims seriously,” the school said in a statement. “The health, safety and well-being of our students is the first priority. The inquiry is in its very early stages and will be rigorously fair to everyone in this process. It will focus on gathering facts and will not jump to conclusions. Northwestern strongly supports members of our community who come forward with concerns and encourages anyone to report those concerns to the university.”

Northwestern started the 2022 season with a victory over Nebraska in Ireland in Week 0, but didn’t win another game the rest of the year, ending the year with a 1-11 record. The Wildcats struggled mightily on both sides of the ball, ranking 12th in the Big Ten in scoring defense and last in the league in scoring offense.

Northwestern is also losing one of its key players as offensive tackle Peter Skoronski declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. Skoronski is widely projected to be a first-round pick after an impressive three years in Evanston. ESPN’s Todd McShay listed him as the No. 6 overall prospect on the board this year after earning All-American honors and winning the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award.

Skoronski was a key part of the run game, as well, helping Evan Hull become a top-10 rusher in the Big Ten. Hull averaged 76 yards per game this past season, which ranked tied for eighth in the conference.