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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Keep in mind, Northwestern's official fall scrimmage rarely showcases the team's best players.
Head coach Randy Walker figures his proven veterans don't need much work - and the 80 plays are better spent on playing young guys the coaching staff needs to evaluate.
That having been said, a bunch of Northwestern's true freshmen sure looked during Saturday's scrimmage as if they belong at the college level.
Now.
"We think we have some pretty talented young players, some freshmen," Walker said. "We thought, 'Let's give them some reps.' Because now we're at the point where we're going to start getting ready for Air Force. We've got to decide what 70 guys get on the plane (to go to Colorado Springs, Colo.)."
As many as eight true freshmen made a case that they deserve to be on the Wildcats' two-deep when they line up Aug. 31 at Air Force.
The Class of 2006 accounted for 3 of the day's 5 touchdowns. Running back Clifton Dawson and quarterback Alexander Webb rushed for scores when the second-string offense battled the second-string defense.
With starters Jon Schweighardt and Kunle Patrick resting on the sidelines, freshmen receivers Brandon Horn and Mark Philmore split time between the first- and second-string offenses and made the most of their time.
They teamed up for 8 of the day's 20 receptions, 142 of the team's 269 receiving yards and the only TD catch - Horn's 22-yard grab from Brett Basanez.
"They've had a very good camp," said offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar. "They're both very talented young people. I think you saw a glimpse today of how much talent they do have."
Then there was defensive end Loren Howard, who needed less than a week at Camp Kenosha to earn a starting job. He blew past left tackle Trai Essex for a sack Saturday and more than held his ground on running plays.
"He has great feel for what's going on and being able to react," said defensive coordinator Greg Colby. "He's so strong. He took (282-pound) Trai Essex one day and just rag-dolled him. You don't see people do that to Trai Essex very much."
While Howard clinched his starting job, sophomore quarterback Tony Stauss didn't do the same with his job.
Stauss completed 9 of 15 passes while running the first-string offense against the first-string defense, but he threw interceptions to Raheem Covington and Jarvis Adams to end two of the first four drives.
Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Basanez hit on 6 of 10 passes for 127 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception while splitting time between the two teams. Webb (5 of 8, 72 yards) also fared well with the second string.
"Not very good," Stauss said. "The young guys did really well and re-established competition."
Walker felt better than Stauss about his outing.
"There are always extenuating circumstances," Walker said. "It's still Tony's job, but I'd be less than honest if I didn't say, golly, I'm excited about having three quarterbacks who can play." </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
