Looking back at the Class of 2008
Pat Fitzgerald celebrated his 10th anniversary as Northwestern's head coach earlier this month. With that in mind, WildcatReport looks back on the Fitz Era by breaking down his recruiting classes on Fitz Flashback Fridays.
Northwestern’s 2008 recruiting class was not very highly regarded, ranking 75th in the country by Rivals, but it was BIG, featuring five offensive linemen from the Chicago area. Unfortunately, two of those five never saw the field for the Wildcats.
The Class of 2008 was a bit of an anomaly for head coach Pat Fitzgerald, as it was dominated by two-star prospects (14 of 20) and featured an uncharacteristic number of players who didn't finish their careers in Evanston. Three of the players transferred (Martin Bayless, Caleb Harper and Brett Nagel), two couldn’t play for medical reasons (Nick Adamle and Evan Luxenburg) and one was kicked out of school (Jeff Radek).
Eight of the 20 players committed before the start of the 2007 season, while nine of them pledged after Thanksgiving -- an unheard of number nowadays.
Here's a look back at Fitzgerald's second class.
Class Superlatives
Head of the Class: Jeremy Ebert. The undersized and overlooked two-star Ebert played quarterback at Hilliard (Ohio) Darby, but Northwestern coaches saw what kind of receiver he could be and gave him his only Power Five offer. Boy, are they glad they did. All the slot receiver did in four years in Evanston was catch 173 passes for 2,400 yards and 21 touchdowns, none bigger than his 81-yard TD catch in a monumental upset win at Nebraska in 2011. He went on to get drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Not too shabby.
Honor Roll: Brian Mulroe and Quentin Williams were impact players during their careers in purple.
Biggest Surprises: There were a lot of two-stars who wound up with stellar careers: Jared Carpenter was the MVP of NU's Gator Bowl win; Demetrius Fields was Mr. Reliable in the receiver corps; Jeravin Matthews played on special teams and as a running back, wide receiver and cornerback; and David Nwabuisi was a two-year starter and captain.
The Rundown
| Name | Stars | Skinny | Stars Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
|
OL Nick Adamle |
Shoulder injury forced him to leave football before he ever played a game in purple |
Incomplete |
|
|
One of NU's strongest players, excelled as a starter in his senior year after injury problems the previous season |
Undervalued |
||
|
Valuable utility player who saw action on special teams and as a reserve safety |
Undervalued |
||
|
Son of NFL player (Martin Bayless) and cousin of Heisman winner (Charles Woodson) didn't play in first two years and then transferred |
Incomplete |
||
|
Saved the best for last: made 11 starts and was named MVP of Gator Bowl during senior year |
Undervalued |
||
|
RB Alex Daniel |
Suffered ankle injury that sidelined him for one season, was suspended for another year, then returned |
About right |
|
|
Maybe the biggest recruit in NU history at 6-9, 342 lbs., Deiters got in shape and started 16 games |
Undervalued |
||
|
Special teams stalwart made six of seven career starts as a senior |
About right |
||
|
WR Jeremy Ebert |
One of three receivers in NU history with a 1,000-yard season, ranks third in school history in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs |
Undervalued |
|
|
Steady, reliable receiver made 36 career starts; not fast or flashy, just knew how to get open and make catches |
Undervalued |
||
|
CB Caleb Harper |
Left program after second year; saw the field in just one game, against Towson, in 2009 |
Incomplete |
|
|
Left program for medical reasons after playing in two games in three years |
Incomplete |
||
|
Diminutive speedster was a human human utility tool, playing multiple special teams and three different positions |
Undervalued |
||
|
Road-grader guard was a three-year starter and spearheaded the 2012 attack that rushed for 225.5 ypg |
Undervalued |
||
|
OLB/SB Brett Nagel |
Stellar athlete never really found a position; played mostly on special teams before going to Truman State for final season |
Overvalued |
|
|
MLB David Nwabuisi |
Big, strong and fast, started 25 of 26 games over last two seasons and was a co-captain as a senior |
Undervalued |
|
|
Never really made an impact as a reserve linebacker or special teams performer |
Overvalued |
||
|
Reserve offensive lineman made the only two starts of career as a senior |
Overvalued |
||
|
Kicked off the team after one season after getting arrested twice: for possession of an air rifle and underage drinking |
Incomplete |
||
|
Had outstanding senior season with 4.5 sacks and 29-yard pick-6 in the Gator Bowl |
About right |