After a 1-3 start for Northwestern, fingers have been pointed in Evanston. But perhaps no unit (other than Jack Mitchell) has received more flack for its effort through the first month of the season than Northwestern’s offensive line. The starting unit, made up of two seniors, a junior and two sophomores, doesn’t necessarily have a lack of experience to blame, and Clayton Thorson has been sacked 15 times through four games, making him the second-most sacked quarterback in America.
But even with Justin Jackson, considered by many a top-tier running back in the Big Ten, Northwestern’s offense ranks 119th out of 128 FBS teams in rushing yards per carry with 3.