Northwestern announces addition of QB Ramsey, P Adams


Quarterback Peyton Ramsey’s intra-Big Ten transfer from Indiana to Northwestern became official on Wednesday.

Ramsey announced the move on social media in March, before Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald finally confirmed it.

In addition, Fitzgerald announced the addition of punter Derek Adams, a transfer from Kent State. Both Ramsey and Adams are graduate transfers, making them eligible to play for the Wildcats in 2020.

“We are thrilled to welcome Peyton and Derek to our football family,” Fitzgerald said in a team statement. “The graduate education opportunities at Northwestern are unparalleled, as is the opportunity to compete at the highest level of college football. We look forward to welcoming them properly when we all return to Evanston to prepare for the 2020 season.”

Ramsey will give Northwestern a much-needed boost at the quarterback position.

In 2019, the Wildcats were 126th (of 130) teams in FBS in passing, averaging just 117 yards per game. Their six passing touchdowns were tied for second fewest in the nation.

In three seasons at Indiana, Ramsey played in 32 games, throwing for 6,581 yards and 42 touchdowns as he completed 66.5 percent of his passes. On the ground, he added 14 touchdowns and rushed for 832 yards. He was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection in 2019.

At Kent State, Adams was a three-year starter and ranks third all-time in career punting average (41.7 percent). Last season, he averaged 43.1 yards per punt and pinned 20 of his 59 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

Northwestern is scheduled to open the 2020 season on Sept. 5 at Michigan State.