Starting a new job is difficult for everyone. That difficulty is magnified significantly when your job is being the starting quarterback of a Big Ten program as a redshirt freshman. As expected, Clayton Thorson's first year at the helm of Northwestern has had its peaks and valleys. But while Thorson hit major struggles at times this season, it's fair to say that Northwestern could not have gone 10-2 without his efforts at quarterback. With the season coming to an end, it's worth evaluating Thorson's first season and looking ahead to the future.
On August 27th, 2015, Thorson was named the starting quarterback of the after winning the Northwestern's preseason quarterback competition between he, Zack Oliver and Matt Alviti.