With recruiting for the 2014 class starting to heat up, InsideNU has posted our first annual “Big Board” to help you stay caught up on which recruits Northwestern is currently pursuing. We have plenty of recruiting updates in our current recruiting section, which gives details on who is visiting, how those visits went and who NU has offered. However, you can use the Big Board to get a look at the biggest prospects that NU is currently pursuing. Of course, we won’t list every one — that list would go on forever — but will instead focus on prospects who have shown a genuine interest in NU, and vice versa. The Big Board will be updated throughout the year. Think we missed something? Send us a tip at recruiting@insidenu.com.
Commits
Jordan Thomas
School: Klein Collins (TX)
Position: WR
Stars: 3
Other offers: Boise State, Oklahoma State, Utah
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Thomas was NU’s first commit and is ranked by Scout as the No. 20 safety in the country; Told Scout that the Gator Bowl really got him excited to join the team
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Clayton Thorson
School: Wheaton North (IL)
Position: QB
Stars: 4
Other offers: Boston College, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Ole Miss, NC State, Northern Illinois, Penn State, Syracuse
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Committed to NU on March 17, according to Scout’s Beth Long; Named an ESPN “Watch List” QB; Excels as a pocket passer and on the run
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Cameron Queiro
School: Bergen Catholic (NJ)
Position: OLB
Stars: 3
Other offers: Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Committed on April 4; Outside linebacker with experience at safety; Brother, Kyle, is a member of the class of 2013
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Ben Oxley
School: Avon Lake (OH)
Position: OT/DT
Stars: 3
Other offers: Bowling Green, Illinois, Louisville, Toledo, Western Michigan, Yale
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Committed on visit on April 5-6; Versatile player who can play offensive or defensive line
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Solomon Vault
School: Gaithersburg (MD)
Position: WR, ATH
Stars: 3
Other offers: East Carolina, Marshall, UMass, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Tennessee, Western Michigan
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Visited Northwestern weekend of April 13; Check out our breakdown of what his commitment means for NU
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Tommy Doles
School: Grand Rapids Christian (MI)
Position: OT
Stars: 3
Other offers: Air Force, Army, Iowa State, Michigan
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Committed to NU on May 3; Our analysis of his commitment; Visited first weekend of March; Michigan was leader in January, according to Scout
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Dareian Watkins (recently updated)
School: Galion (OH)
Position: S/WR
Stars: 4
Other offers: Akron, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, NC State, Ohio, Purdue, Toledo, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Committed to NU on May 6; Visit first full week of March, which went well; His brother told InsideNU that he really wants to go to NU, thinks Watkins is high on Wildcats, as well; Another visit first weekend of May
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Auston Anderson (recently updated)
School: Plano West (TX)
Position: RB
Stars: 3
Other offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Cal, Georgia Tech, Navy, Nebraska, Rice, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, UCLA, Washington, Washington State
Profiles: Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Committed on May 9; Speedy running back who could be used in the option and saw comparisons to Venric Mark; His mom gave him the extra push to commit to NU
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Justin Jackson (recently updated)
School: Glenbard North (IL)
Position: RB
Stars: 4
Other offers: Boston College, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, Purdue, Syracuse, Vanderbilt
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Committed to NU on May 14; Last year’s Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois; Visit to NU weekend of March 9, according to Rivals
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Blake Hance (recently updated)
School: Jacksonville (IL)
Position: OT
Stars: 3
Other offers: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, NC State, Northern Illinois, Purdue, Vanderbilt, Western Michigan, Wyoming
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Committed on May 16; Had been waiting on an offer since July and committed the day after he received one
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Players With NU Offer, Mutual Interest
Ladarius Wiley (recently updated)
School: Los Angeles, Cathedral (CA)
Position: CB
Stars: 3
Other offers: California, Cal Poly, Fresno State
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Told us NU is his No. 1 as of now; Nice article on Wiley’s excitement over a Big Ten offer, from Rivals; Also receiving interest from Nebraska, Michigan and UCLA, among others
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Noah Westerfield (recently updated)
School: Wakeland (TX)
Position: OLB
Stars: 3
Other offers: Boise State, Duke, Fresno State, Navy, New Mexico, SMU
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Received offer on May 4; Reached out to NU and has Wildcats in his top three
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Antonio Woods
School: Summit Country Day (OH)
Position: ATH
Stars: 3
Other offers: Akron, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Indiana, Kent State, Miami (OH), Toledo, West Virginia
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Has mid-major offers for basketball; Has NU in his top 5, according to Rivals
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Parrker Westphal
School: Bolingbrook (IL)
Position: CB
Stars: 4
Other offers: Cincinnati, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue, West Virginia
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Visited NU first weekend of March; Obviously stiff competition for NU, but we’ll keep him as a possibility since NU got him to visit and he enjoyed his time in Evanston
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Garrett Dickerson (recently updated)
School: Bergen Catholic (NJ)
Position: DE
Stars: 4
Other offers: Alabama, Arizona, Boston College, UConn, Florida State, Maryland, Michigan, NC State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Toledo, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Would be a tough get considering other offers, but his brother, Cameron, is currently a wide receiver at NU; Has good relationship with NU coaches and being “recruited” by 2014 commit Cameron Queiro; Visited NU weekend of April 13, according to Wildcat Report
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Derek Kief
School: La Salle (OH)
Position: WR
Stars: 3/4
Other offers: Alabama, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Kent State, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio State, Toledo, Vanderbilt
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Before Alabama offer, told Scout.com that his top three were NU, Ohio State and Kentucky; Visit weekend of March 9
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Chase Winovich
School: Thomas Jefferson, Clariton (PA)
Position: OLB
Stars: N/A
Other offers: Akron, Boston College, Bowling Green, Florida State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Toledo, West Virginia
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: According to Scout, he plans to visit NU; Recently visited Michigan, but doesn’t currently have an offer there
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Jomon Dotson
School: American Canyon (CA)
Position: RB
Stars: N/A
Other offers: No offers, but lots of Pac-12 interest
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: I wouldn’t expect a commitment any time soon, but it’s an interesting offer worth watching
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Verkedric Vaughns
School: Poteet (TX)
Position: ATH
Stars: N/A
Other offers: No offers besides NU; Boise State, SMU, Ole Miss interest, among others
Profiles: Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Versatile player who can play offense or defense, according to ESPN
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Brandon Lee
School: Lawrence Central (IN)
Position: OLB
Stars: 4
Other offers: Ball State, Cal, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Missouri, NC State, Purdue
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Ranked No. 25 OLB nationally by Scout; ESPN “Watch List” player; Visit to NU weekend of April 6; Waiting until after senior season to make a decision, according to Scout
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KeShun Freeman
School: Callaway (GA)
Position: OLB
Stars: 3
Other offers: Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, West Virginia, Western Kentucky
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Would be a tough get, since he has very good offers, but plans to visit NU, according to Rivals
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Terrence Alexander
School: John Curtis (LA)
Position: CB
Stars: 3
Other offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Houston, Indiana, Kansas State, La. Tech, La. Lafayette, Memphis, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Stanford, Tennessee, Tulane, Vanderbilt
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Has very good offers, but plans to visit NU in June, according to Rivals
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Jalen Brown
School: Mountain Pointe (AZ)
Position: WR
Stars: 4
Other offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Boise State, Cal, Kansas State, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, Utah, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Yale
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: He will visit in June and his mom really like Northwestern, according to Rivals
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Richard Yeargin III (recently updated)
School: University, Fort Lauderdale (FL)
Position: OLB
Stars: 3/4
Other offers: Arkansas, Boston College, Bowling Green, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Louisville, Marshall, UMass, Michigan, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Nebraska, NC STate, Notre Dame, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, South Florida, TCU, Tennessee, UCF, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Received NU offer on May 3; Obviously would be a tough get with so many good offers
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Alex Van Dyke
School: Cosumnes Groves (CA)
Position: WR
Stars: 3/4
Other offers: Arizona State, Cal, Colorado State, Hawaii, Iowa State, Oregon State, Purdue, San Diego State, San Jose State, UCLA, Washington State, Wyoming
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Likes NU, according to Rivals; Long ways to go in his recruitment
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Grant Blankenship
School: The Colony (TX)
Position: DE/SB
Stars: 3
Other offers: Arkansas, Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas State, Ole Miss, North Texas, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, San Diego State, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Utah, Wake Forest, Washington, Washington State
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Long ways to go in his recruitment and would be a tough get, but he has an NU offer
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Players With No NU Offer, Mutual Interest
Tori Millender
School: Belleville West (IL)
Position: MLB
Stars: N/A
Other offers: Purdue offer, other Big Ten interest
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Visit to NU weekend of March 9, visit to Iowa on April 6, according to Scout
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Cameron Seward
School: Atlanta, Westminster (GA)
Position: ATH
Stars: 3
Other offers: Boston College, California, Cincinnati, Mississippi State, UCF, West Virginia
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Getting more attention from others, but he said NU “stopped by” to talk to him, according to ESPN
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Cameron Polk
School: Hamilton Southeastern (IN)
Position: WR
Stars: N/A
Other offers: Ball State, Louisville, UMass, Miami (OH)
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Visit to Northwestern on March 9, according to Scout; Plans to come to NU camp in June, according to Scout
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Brady Taylor
School: Columbus Bishop Ready (OH)
Position: OT
Stars: N/A
Other offers: Bowling Green, Ohio, Toledo; Big Ten interest, but no offers
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Visited NU on February 27 and 28; Was told by NU coaches that he needs to raise his grades, according to ESPN
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Avonte Maddox
School: Detroit King (MI)
Position: WR, ATH
Stars: N/A
Other offers: Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Toledo; Interest from Michigan State, West Virginia, others
Profiles: Scout, Rivals, ESPN
Notes: Visit to NU April 6th, according to his WR coach, and also camping at NU, West Virginia and Arizona this summer
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