clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Inside NU’s Top 10 most important players for 2017: Overall Rankings

No surprises at No. 1, but plenty of variance below.

NCAA Football: Northwestern at Minnesota Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Here at Inside NU, we always produce the Northwestern Football Summer Guide. As always, we’re starting off with our 10 most important players for 2017. We didn't define "important," but instead chose to leave it open to interpretation — every writer could define importance in their own way, be it based on offseason improvement, play-to-play importance, or need to step up for a departed starter. Here's how our staff ranked their Top 10, as well as the overall rankings.

10 Most Important Players

Ranking Overall Ranking Tristan Jung Will Ragatz Ian McCafferty Caleb Friedman Davis Rich Zach Wingrove Zach Pereles Josh Burton
Ranking Overall Ranking Tristan Jung Will Ragatz Ian McCafferty Caleb Friedman Davis Rich Zach Wingrove Zach Pereles Josh Burton
1 Clayton Thorson Clayton Thorson Clayton Thorson Clayton Thorson Clayton Thorson Clayton Thorson Clayton Thorson Clayton Thorson Clayton Thorson
2 Nate Hall/Nate Fox/Paddy Fisher -- Walker's replacement Godwin Igwebuike Nathan Fox Justin Jackson Paddy Fisher/Nathan Fox Flynn Nagel Flynn Nagel Nathan Hall/Nathan Fox Justin Jackson
3 Flynn Nagel Flynn Nagel Joe Gaziano Flynn Nagel Blake Hance Nate Hall Montre Hartage Keith Watkins II Godwin Igwebuike
4 Justin Jackson Montre Hartage Garrett Dickerson Nathan Fox/Paddy/Brett Walsh Flynn Nagel Tyler Lancaster Nathan Hall Right tackle Keith Watkins
5 Montre Hartage Tyler Lancaster Keith Watkins II Godwin Igwebuike Keith Watkins II Gunnar Vogel/right tackle Joe Gaziano Kicker Blake Hance
6 Godwin Igwebuike Justin Jackson Flynn Nagel Blake Hance Brad North Godwin Igwebuike Blake Hance Joe Gaziano Garrett Dickerson
7 Joe Gaziano Blake Hance Blake Hance Montre Hartage Justin Jackson Jalen Brown Godwin Igwebuike Flynn Nagel Flynn Nagel
8 Blake Hance Joe Gaziano Kyle Queiro Tyler Lancaster Godwin Joe Gaziano Tyler Lancaster Montre Hartage Montre Hartage
9 Garrett Dickerson Garrett Dickerson Montre Hartage Trae Williams/the other CB Joe Gaziano Montre Hartage Garrett Dickerson Jalen Brown Joe Gaziano
10 Tyler Lancaster Brad North Jalen Brown Tommy Doles Nate Hall Justin Jackson Justin Jackson Paddy Fisher Nathan Hall

Throughout the next two weeks, we'll be having debates on whether the players belong where they ended up on the ladder, starting later today with No. 10, Tyler Lancaster. Below — or throughout the series — feel free to join in on the discussion and let us know what your Top 10 is.