Senior Film: Evaluating the Class of 2018

And down the stretch they come!

I'm still getting used to this whole early signing period thing (commits can sign their letters of intent from Dec. 20-22, or in February), but it seems like a good time for taking a look at the senior film of the Class of 2018 heading down the home stretch.

And with that, we're off.

OL Wyatt Blake: Looks like an interior prospect to me. Pretty thick kid that plays with leverage and some "nasty."

RB Isaiah Bowser: Won't be running away from people at the B1G/P5 level, but flashes very good feet and physicality for a guy his size. I think he could pretty easily flip over to LB if RB doesn't work out and will be on special teams throughout his career at the very least after a likely redshirt in the crowded RB room. Definitely a kid to pull for given his backstory.

WR Jacob Jefferson: Another guy who isn't a burner but flashes very good short-area quickness. Going to have to change his jitterbug playing style a bit or he will get killed in the B1G. Hopefully he is comfortable operating out of the slot, because there's definitely a role for him there in our offense.

OL Payne He'Bert: Probably the kid I was most interested in seeing on senior tape. Isn't particularly tall, but has very long arms and is a pretty smooth athlete. Will have to work on not going to ground so frequently, but has the signs of becoming a pretty decent tackle. Seems to have a lot of growth potential.

LB Khalid Jones: Doesn't necessarily blow you away athletically, but flashes the ability to find and close on the football. Similar playing style as Paddy Fisher, just with a little less size. I'll take it.

SB Brian Kaiser: [Kaiser was hurt for much of the 2017 season, so senior video was not available.]

DE Andrew Leota: Doesn't have ideal size, but is pretty darn quick off the ball and plays very aggressively. Moves very well and has a nice burst. Could pretty easily end up as a 260-pound pass rush specialist sooner than later. I think we are going to be pretty happy with him, especially for a guy whose recruiting was pretty low-key and under-the-radar.

SB Charlie Mangieri: Big kid that plays lots of positions for a smaller school, seems destined for our in-line SB role. Looks like he could get a LOT bigger.

LB Grayson Mann: Wow. Like this kid on senior tape a lot more than I thought I would. Rushes the passer off the edge a lot in high school, which I don't think will happen as often in college... but he flashes a lot of athletic ability with a good frame. Whereas I previously thought of him as Mike/Will, I can now see how he could play Sam as well. Intrigued.

S Jeremiah McDonald: Big, rangy athlete playing safety. Could be a lot of different things depending how he develops physically. Another "take the big fast guy, figure it out later" situation.

(NOTE: McDonald doesn't have a comprehensive senior video on Hudl, but has individual game tapes. The above highlight is one of those games. For more visit McDonald's Hudl videos page.)

CB Greg Newsome: Has some technique to clean up, but is a pretty long and versatile athlete. Smoother than he is fast, but that's fine in our schemes. Might need a redshirt year to develop physically (plus the CB room is pretty crowded), but no reason he can't be a strong contributor.

DE Devin O'Rourke: Pretty easy to see why he was so highly regarded/recruited. A big, long kid who does a lot of things you want out of a P5 DL. Probably won't scare anyone with pure speed off the edge, but has the length and strength to remain a pass rush threat. I'm sure the coaches see glimpses of Dean Lowry in him, which make sense (and with which I would be very happy).

LB Jaylen Rivers: Not a ton of tape posted, but plenty to like on what is available. File this one under "take the big fast guy and figure it out from there." Natural fit at Sam.

(NOTE: Like McDonald, Rivers only has individual game tapes. The above highlight is one of those games. For more visit Rivers' Hudl videos page.)

OL Charlie Schmidt: Pretty similar to Blake. Get 'em in the weight room and see what happens.

QB Jason Whittaker: Stats and game reports have been a little scary, but can see why coaches like him in viewing his tape. He's a big, long kid who flashes high ceiling potential. He's most definitely a developmental QB, but should have plenty of time to do so with Thorson back next season and Smith/Marty waiting in the wings.

It looks like Northwestern is down to two guys with recent offers, both of whom seem like candidates to commit on their upcoming official (Dec. 15).

RB Drake Anderson: A familiar name around here as the son of Wildcat royalty, the good news is that his tape stands on its own. While it's a little unnerving that he has already had labrum surgery on both hips, he's an explosive running back with pretty good straight-line speed. A little tight in his hips (just like his dad) and doesn't quite have dad's size, but definitely worthy of P5 offers. Seems to have gotten stronger as the year went on, which makes sense for a guy who hadn't.

OL Ryan Winkel: Big, long kid who's pretty light on his feet for his size. Fits a definite need in the class for a "true tackle," even if a developmental guy. Seems like he mostly fell off of radars due to his transfer of high schools as I see no reason he isn't more highly recruited on tape. Get him in the weight room for a couple years and he should be a 315-pound tackle. I'm in.

Yet another solid class top-to-bottom, particularly on defense. Defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz gets yet another crop of athletes to work into his schemes, though I do wish there were a little bit more explosive athleticism on the offensive side.