EVANSTON, Ill. — After flying back halfway across the country, coach Pat Fitzgerald said that he expected his team to be a little lackluster and jetlagged. But after the practice at Lakeside Field, Fitzgerald was more than happy with his team’s energy. “I really like the way we [practiced] today,” Fitzgerald said. “I thought we would be a little jetlagged and lethargic but I thought we moved around really, really well.”
Here are a few notes from Tuesday’s practice:
- Although Fitzgerald said the team “moved around really, really well,” that didn’t include quarterback Kain Colter and running back Venric Mark. Both Colter and Mark did not participate in Tuesday’s afternoon practice but were on the field with their teammates. Trevor Siemian, who played the entire game after Colter left with an upper body injury after just a few plays on Saturday, took a few more reps than he normally would with Colter healthy. Junior running back Trayvon Green took most of the reps with the first team after his 129-yard, two-touchdown performance against Cal.
- As indicated on the depth chart, redshirt freshman corner back Dwight White took reps with the first team after replacing the injured Daniel Jones.
“[Daniel Jones] is a teammate I worked with every day,” White said about Jones’ injury right before halftime of the Saturday’s game. “But knowing that this is my time and that I have to step up for my team, I was in shock for a second, but I just had to clear my mind and focus on helping my team win.”
- Wide receiver Kyle Prater missed last week’s game at Cal and was not listed on Northwestern’s depth chart for this week either. Prater did participate in non-contact and one-on-one drills but did not take part in seven-on-sevens or the scrimmage.
- After strong performances from Green and linebacker Collin Ellis (two interception returns for touchdowns on Saturday), Fitzgerald praised the work ethic of his two players.
“I’m ecstatic for [Green and Ellis],” Fitzgerald said. “I’m excited for the team. It’s crucial that they play well. But I’m ecstatic for them individually. They’ve worked through a ton of stuff and then to be able to work the way that they have and have the fruits of their labor come out on Saturday like it did for them, it’s kind of what it’s all about. As a coach you preach that. Just keep working, good things are going to happen. And when it does, it’s amazing.”