Previewing Michigan vs. Northwestern With A Wildcats Insider

By Clayton Sayfie

TheWolverine.com caught up with Northwestern radio play-by-play commentator Dave Eanet for insight on the Wildcats ahead of their clash with Michigan Wolverines football. Eanet broke down Northwestern, discussed the matchup and more. We begin with the Wildcats’ projected starting lineup:

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Northwestern projected starters on offense

• #12 – Redshirt sophomore QB Jack Lausch (6-2, 209) — Began the year as the backup to Mike Wright, a Vanderbilt transfer who opened the first two games before being benched. Lausch made his first start in the third game against Eastern Illinois, and he’s completed 54.6 percent of his passes for 1,321 yards and 5 touchdowns with 4 interceptions in eight outings. He’s added 226 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 75 carries. He’s picked up 171 yards on scrambles and 164 yards on designed runs (totals do not include sack yardage), according to PFF. Lausch has completed only 25 of his 77 pass attempts of 10-plus air yards, including going 7-of-27 on throws of 20-plus yards in the air.

• #1 – Graduate RB Cam Porter (5-10, 213) — The fifth-year senior leads the team with 424 rushing yards on 107 carries, scoring 6 touchdowns. He’s also contributed 21 receptions for 141 yards. He averages 3.1 yards after contact per rush and has forced 22 missed tackles. He’s had only 1 run of 15-plus yards.

• #17 – Graduate WR Bryce Kirtz (6-0, 195) — Averaging 14.9 yards per reception, with 34 grabs for 506 yards and no touchdowns. He’s racked up 15 catches on passes of 10-plus air yards, and his average depth of target is 15.2 yards.

• #8 – Graduate WR A.J. Henning (5-10, 192) — The Michigan transfer won two Big Ten championships with the Wolverines (2021, ’22) and has turned into a featured slot receiver for the Wildcats over the last two seasons. He leads the team with 45 catches and 3 touchdown grabs, and ranks second with 468 receiving yards. Only 6 of his receptions have come 10-plus yards beyond the line of scrimmage. A season ago, he hauled in 45 receptions for 418 yards and 4 scores. He had only 25 catches in three seasons with the Maize and Blue.

• #7 – Redshirt junior WR Calvin Johnson II (5-11, 180) — Hauled in 8 catches for 82 yards in 10 outings. Seven of his 8 receptions have come within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage.

• #87 – Graduate TE Thomas Gordon (6-5, 255) — Third on the team with 195 receiving yards on 19 receptions. He has a dismal 41.6 PFF run-blocking rating. He had 13 catches for 112 yards and a score last season.

• #72 – Redshirt junior LT Caleb Tiernan (6-7, 329) — The Livonia, Mich., native has made 28 career starts. He leads the Northwestern offense with a 78.9 overall PFF rating. He has an 86.6 pass-blocking rating that is the highest among all Big Ten tackles with 200-plus snaps, giving up only 8 pressures, including 2 sacks.

• #62 – Freshman LG Ezomo Oratokhai (6-4, 295) — The former three-star recruit made his first career start last week against Ohio State, posting a 65.0 overall PRR rating and 80.7 pass-blocking grade, giving up 1 pressure. The plan coming into the clash with the Buckeyes was to rotate Oratokhai with original starter Cooper Lovelace, but the Wildcats stuck with the true freshman.

• #65 – Redshirt junior C Jackson Carsello (6-4, 294) — Started the last six games, after entering the season with one career start. He has a 51.5 overall PFF grade with 10 pressures and a sack allowed.

• #56 – Redshirt junior RG Josh Thompson (6-5, 301) — The Fenton, Mich., native has made 19 career starts. He has a 72.2 overall PFF grade this season, including a 77.8 pass-blocking rating, and has yielded 7 pressures with no sacks.

• #71 – Graduate RT Ben Wrather (6-6, 315) — Started 11 games at center last season, before moving out to right tackle, where he’s opened all 10 contests in 2024. He’s allowed 22 pressures — tied for the eighth-most among Big Ten tackles — and 4 sacks this season, per PFF. He has a 57.3 overall PFF rating.

Northwestern projected starters on defense

• #94 – Graduate DT R.J. Pearson (6-3, 310) — The Bethune-Cookman transfer (FCS) is in his second season with the Wildcats. He’s posted 15 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks, along with 5 pressures this year.

• #90 – Redshirt junior DT Carmine Bastone (6-2, 297) — After registering 26 tackles, 3.5 stops for loss and 2 sacks in 2023, he’s accumulated 8 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in five games this season. He had a strip sack in a 37-10 win over Maryland Oct. 11 in his season debut after returning from injury.

• #41 – Graduate DE Jaylen Pate (6-3, 272) — Registered 3 sacks last season but has exploded for 5 this year, adding 16 total tackles and 13 pressures.

• #91 – Redshirt junior DE Aidan Hubbard (6-4, 252) — Led Northwestern with 6 sacks last season, part of an 8.5-tackle for loss season. He’s up to 5 TFLs and 4 sacks with 24 total tackles, 6 quarterback hurries and a team-best 23 pressures this year.

• #37 – Redshirt junior LB Mac Uihlein (6-1, 230) — Leads the team with 65 tackles, adding 3.5 for loss, 2 sacks and a pass breakup. Both of his sacks and 3 of his 5 pressures came in a season-opening win over Miami (Ohio).

• #57 – Graduate LB Greyson Metz (6-3, 234) — Opened the last three games, with starter Xander Mueller out with an injury. It’s possible that Mueller will return this week. Metz has accumulated 33 tackles, including 2 for loss, and a pass breakup.

• #9 – Redshirt sophomore NB Braden Turner (5-11, 191) — Has racked up 36 tackles and 2 pass breakups. He has a 64.6 PFF coverage rating, allowing 31 catches for 430 yards and 3 touchdowns on 42 targets.

• #10 – Redshirt junior CB Theran Johnson (5-11, 182) —  Third on the team with 44 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and paces the squad with 10 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. He missed last week’s 31-7 loss to Ohio State but is expected to return. He has a 78.6 PFF coverage rating — the eighth-best mark among Big Ten cornerbacks (minimum 150 snaps) — and has given up 31 catches for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns on 57 targets.

• #13 – Redshirt freshman CB Josh Fussell (6-0, 189) — Posted 30 tackles and 4 pass breakups, having played in all 10 games but taking over starting duties beginning with a 41-24 loss to Indiana Oct. 5. He has a 69.5 PFF coverage grade, having yielded 28 receptions for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns on 42 targets.

• #8 – Junior S Devin Turner (6-1, 212) — In his second year as a full-time starter, he’s registered 40 tackles, including 1 for loss, 3 pass breakups and an interception. He has an 80.1 PFF tackling grade and 66.8 coverage rating. In coverage, he’s given up 13 catches for 133 yards and no touchdowns on 21 targets.

• #6 – Redshirt sophomore S Robert Fitzgerald (6-0, 208) — Second on the Northwestern team with 44 tackles, also contributing an interception. He possesses a 73.6 PFF coverage grade, with 14 receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown allowed on 20 targets.

Northwestern specialists

• #11 – Redshirt junior K/P Luke Akers (6-2, 197) — The son of former Pro Bowl kicker David Akers began his career at UCLA (2020-21) before transferring to Northwestern. A punter by trade, Akers is currently handling placekicking (6-of-9 with a 43-yard long) duties. He didn’t attempt a field goal last week but was 2-for-2 with a 41-yard long in a victory over Purdue Nov. 2.

• #99 – Redshirt junior P Hunter Renner (6-2, 236) — Averaging 44.9 yards per punt on 9 attempts. He dropped a high snap and went down at the 1-yard line against Ohio State last week

• #6 – Redshirt sophomore KR Joseph Himon II (5-9, 186) — The running back has returned 14 kicks, averaging 26.9 yards per attempt with a 96-yarder against Washington.

• #8 – Graduate WR A.J. Henning (5-10, 192) — Averaging 8.6 yards per attempt on 9 punt returns. His longest of the season is 19 yards. He returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown as a Michigan player at The Big House against Connecticut Sept. 17, 2022.

Why Northwestern has taken a step back from last season

Northwestern was one of the surprises in the Big Ten in 2023, going 8-5 overall and 5-4 in the conference under then-interim head coach David Braun. The 39-year-old took over for Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired abruptly late in the summer, and then earned the full-time job in mid-November of 2023.

Things haven’t gone quite as well this season, though. The Wildcats sit at 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the conference, still two wins away from bowl eligibility.

“The one thing that they had last year, they had a little more experience at the quarterback position over the course of the season, with Ben Bryant, aside from a four-game absence when he was hurt,” Eanet pointed out. “But even then, they had [current Iowa quarterback] Brendan Sullivan, who had played a pretty fair amount of football for them.

“This year, Mike Wright, who did come in with experience through the portal, started the first two games, but after the second game — which was an overtime loss to Duke — David Braun decided to go with the sophomore, Jack Lausch. So obviously, when you go to a guy who hasn’t been a starter at quarterback, you’re going to have some bumps along the way. I think that’s probably a fair way to look at it.

“He’s been sort of on an upward track throughout, and certainly there have been some times — including Saturday against Ohio State — he’s played well. But there have been some other times, partly due to the experience factor, partly due to some of his favorite targets getting hurt … Bryce Kirtz missing a few games with an injury, A.J. Henning, he and Kirtz both got hurt in the Wisconsin game, and A.J. ended up not missing time except for that game. Another wide receiver has been in and out of the lineup in Frank Covey [IV]. So I think that’s probably hurt.

“There’s been that. I also think that in some ways it’s been a very challenging schedule, going out and playing for the first time at Washington, and that was the first start that Jack made on the road. That’s a tough place to go to play your first Big Ten game — first time that Northwestern had been out there, and the first Big Ten game for Washington. 

“It’s been a combination of factors, and I think the defense has, for the most part, played as well, if not better, than they performed a year ago. But they haven’t been able to put as many points on the board as they did in the 2023 season.”

Northwestern’s offensive struggles

Northwestern is one of the few teams averaging fewer points per game than Michigan, ranking 126th nationally with 18 per contest. The Wildcats rank 121st in rushing (105.9 yards per game) and 119th in passing (178.5) offense.

“They haven’t been able to sustain the running game as much as they would’ve liked,” Eanet explained. “They’ve had times where they’ve gotten it going, and Cam Porter is a very solid, dependable Big Ten running back. The other guys — Joe Himon II has shown that he can certainly play in this league, and they have a promising sophomore in Caleb Komolafe.

“But some of their most effective games on the ground have been where they’ve gotten the quarterback run involved, and they did Saturday against the Buckeyes. Jack is a guy that can make plays with his legs, as was Mike Wright when he was playing.”

The pass protection has taken a step forward from last season, though, allowing for some success through the air. Still, though, Lausch ranks 17th of 17 qualified Big Ten quarterbacks with 5.8 yards per pass.

“They’ve done a better job protecting the quarterback,” Eanet said. “I think they allowed 50-some-odd sacks a year ago. After Saturday, I think Ohio State had 3 sacks, and 2 of those came late in the game when they kinda pinned their ears back because the ‘Cats were behind. But they’ve only allowed 16 sacks, so they’ve made a big improvement in that area. And the sack number isn’t always on the quarterback, it’s not always on the offensive line. It varies. 

“They take pretty good care of the football. They don’t turn it over a ton. They had the 1 turnover early on Saturday when they got into the red zone on their first drive, but that was it. They’ve been a plus in the turnover margin pretty much all year, so I think that’s a positive.

“So it’s just trying to be a little more consistent has been their biggest issue, and red zone offense, they’d probably tell you they need to be a little better.”

Northwestern has a deep front seven, with a surprisingly good secondary

Northwestern’s defense has been the best unit, ranking 58th in the country in total defense (358.1 yards per game) and 52nd by giving up only 22.8 points per clash. The front seven has stood out to Eanet, especially with the way it substitutes a lot of different players in and out.

“Overall, they’ve played pretty well,” he said. “They do a pretty good job disrupting the opposing quarterback. Didn’t have a lot of luck doing that Saturday against Ohio State, but for the most part their defensive line has been very good. They rotate a bunch of guys in and out. Aidan Hubbard is a legit edge rusher. [Redshirt sophomore] Anto Saka, who’s been a situational pass-rushing guy, has been really good. They’ve been really solid with guys like R.J. Pearson and Jaylen Pate, who’s having a very good year.

“They’ve got a bunch of guys there. They’re probably deeper than some Northwestern teams have been in the past, in terms of the number of guys they roll through there up front. And I think their front seven as a whole is good.

“They’ve been hurt, playing without their leading tackler, Xander Mueller, the last three games, who I think is certainly one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten. He got hurt in that Wisconsin game, and he’s been out since then. I think they’re hopeful he’s gonna play this week, but there’s no guarantee.

“Mac Uihlein, their middle linebacker, has kind of come into his own this season. He’s been a force in the middle. And they’ve always had pretty good linebackers, and that’s maybe the legacy of Pat Fitzgerald, right?”

Northwestern’s front seven playing well is to be expected, but Eanet has been impressed with the way the secondary has stepped up, led by Johnson.

“I think probably the biggest surprise defensively has been their secondary,” the commentator said. “They lost some guys to the portal last year, but guys have stepped up.

“Teron Johnson has certainly had an All-Big Ten kind of season. He didn’t play Saturday, but I think they expect him to play this week. He could’ve been a difference-maker against Ohio State, because he’s a guy who has been pretty effective against some of the top wide receivers in the conference. 

“So overall, the defense played pretty well. They’ve been very good in the red zone over the course of the season. A couple times on Saturday, Ohio State was able to punch it in from close range, but they’ve tended to make teams work for it.”

Handling Michigan Stadium atmosphere a concern for Northwestern

Northwestern has played the majority of its home games in front of 12,000 fans, but will see around 110,000 spectators Saturday at the largest stadium in the country. Navigating the environment would be Eanet’s biggest concern if he were a Northwestern coach.

“It’s still the environment,” he said. “And I don’t know if there’s going to be a full house on Saturday, given the kind of season it’s been. It hasn’t been the season they expected, and sometimes once the weather gets a little cold, people have second thoughts. 

“But regardless, playing there, for most of these guys — with the exception of A.J. Henning — this is the first time they’ve played at Michigan, and it’s still one of the cathedrals of college football. That’s where poise and composure, those kind of things the coaches like to talk about, those are all things that come into play. That’s something that they have to be cognizant of.

“Quite frankly, I remember some games Northwestern has played in the past in Ann Arbor where a turnover has turned into six points for Michigan pretty quickly. This team is not turnover prone, but I think they have to make sure they avoid any kind of crucial mistakes or turnovers, things like that, that can really turn the game.”

At the same time, Eanet has seen some progress with the Wildcats, and despite the 31-7 loss, he was encouraged by some areas in the game against Ohio State last weekend.

“What they did against Ohio State, in a lot of situations, would’ve been good enough to win,” he said. “They were productive on first and second down, coming up with manageable situations on third down. They’ve been the worst third-down team over the course of the season in the Big Ten. They were better on Saturday. So if they can maintain that against Michigan, then I think they give themselves a shot.”