Northwestern has added a preferred walk-on kicker to its 2016 recruiting class, as Andrew Linkenbaugh from Spring Grove Area High School in Spring Grove, PA announced his commitment Thursday via Twitter:
It's official #ProudtobeaWildcat pic.twitter.com/lKegU8MomY
— Andrew Luckenbaugh (@drewmyles15) March 17, 2016
Luckenbaugh drew medium interest from fellow Big Ten school Maryland as well as the University of Virginia according to his Scout.com profile. A former soccer player who switched sports in eighth grade, he visited Evanston on March 5:
Great day at Northwestern! @NUFBFamily pic.twitter.com/vN9vkbsZdy
— Andrew Luckenbaugh (@drewmyles15) March 5, 2016
Kicker is a clear area of need for Northwestern; behind rising senior Jack Mitchell, there are no scholarship kickers. Matt Micucci, a former walk-on, is also a senior and Mason Weissenhoffer was a preferred walk-on last year. Hunter Niswander, the starting punter, is technically listed as a kicker too, but it is certain that Northwestern is still looking for options to replace Mitchell, who was once a walk-on himself.
Luckenbaugh's highlights are above.