QB Thorson powers renewed Northwestern
Much of Northwestern’s hopes this season rested on senior quarterback Clayton Thorson, an NFL prospect who was coming off a torn ACL suffered in the Music City Bowl.
He was ready for the start of the season, as the Wildcats opened with a win over Purdue, but then Northwestern dropped three in a row — to Duke, Akron and Michigan. Thorson Failed to reach 200 passing yards against any of the first three Power 5 opponents.
But there has been a turnaround in the past two weeks. Northwestern (3-3, 3-1 Big Ten) has upset then-No. 20 Michigan State and last week rallied late to knock off Nebraska 34-31 in overtime. Thorson has completed 72 of 111 passes (64.9 percent) for 828 yards and six touchdowns in those two victories.
He and the Wildcats will look to keep the momentum going this week at Rutgers (1-6, 0-4).
“He’s a great player. You want to talk about a relentless work ethic, it’s him,” head coach Nick Fitzgerald said Monday.
“Coming back off the injury he had to play in the opener to now just each week getting stronger and stronger and stronger, the performances speak for themselves. … For him the offseason wasn’t getting on the squat rack and setting personal records. It was getting functional mobility and getting enough quad strength to make sure he was healthy and safe. Now he’s finally able to get back in the weight room.
“You think about him this time next year, it’s scary how good he’s going to be. I think he’s going to play this game a long, long time. I’m so proud of the job he’s doing leading and who he is as a person. The play speaks for itself. But it’s much deeper than that with Clayton.”
Thorson enters the Rutgers game 13th nationally in passing yards with 292.5 per game. Even more has been on his shoulders in the past two games because of the medical retirement of running back Jeremy Larkin, a sophomore who had 346 rushing yards, 127 receiving yards and five touchdowns in the first three games.
But the Wildcats — who have a half-game lead in the Big Ten West — have Thorson and plenty of hope after that tumultuous three-game losing streak. Considering Rutgers’ struggles, Northwestern should be on a three-game winning streak heading into a key Oct. 27 home game against Wisconsin. The Wildcats also have to go to Iowa in November, so big games are ahead.