QUICK HITS
POSITION: Offensive Guard
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 280
HOMETOWN: Willoughby, OH
HIGH SCHOOL: Willoughby South
247 COMPOSITE RATING: ★★★ (.8522)
NATIONAL RANK: 793
POSITION RANK: 39
STATE RANK: 34
OTHER OFFERS: Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Duke, Illinois, Maryland, Miami (OH), Toledo, West Virginia
MORE: 247 Profile | Hudl | Twitter
BACKGROUND
Urban was the second Class of 2016er to commit to Northwestern when he gave Pat Fitzgerald his pledge on April 19, 2015. Urban surprised the powers that be at 247Sports, who predicted he'd choose Duke and gave Northwestern only a 17 percent chance. The native of Willoughby, OH — a suburb of Cleveland — had five Power Five offers in total, which isn't anything ridiculous but suggests that his commitment was a victory for the Northwestern coaching staff. Both Rivals and ESPN agree with 247's three-star ranking of Urban. Below are his senior year highlights:
While he'll likely play guard at the collegiate level, Urban, as the video above shows, played a lot of center and even some tackle in high school. It's worth noting that he didn't play against elite competition — he is much bigger than most of the defensive lineman that he faces — but what stands out is his mobility and run-blocking prowess. He runs really well for his size and seems comfortable blocking downfield. That could come in handy at Northwestern, as offensive coordinator Mick McCall likes to pull his guards and get them downfield. He's a solid 280 pounds, but his frame looks like it could support some extra weight, which will likely come as he gets older and works with a professional training staff.
OUTLOOK
Urban, along with fellow class-of-2016 offensive guard Cameron Kolwich, will likely redshirt during his first year in Evanston. However, if there are injuries to the offensive line — which there almost always are — Urban's versatility may force the coaching staff to burn his redshirt, as he can backup multiple positions. But again, count on Urban redshirting and perhaps adding some bulk. He possesses the raw ability and size to contribute down the road, especially with the Wildcats' recent classes deeper and more talented at tackle than at guard.