It has been a tough season for Northwestern’s defense, ranked last in the nation in total yards allowed. And it won’t get any easier in the Sun Bowl, which the Wildcats will play without two defensive regulars.
Junior tackle Trevor Schultz and sophomore cornerback Deante Battle have been suspended for the Dec. 30 game against UCLA.
Coach Randy Walker said Schultz was suspended for academic reasons and that Battle won’t make the trip to El Paso, Texas. Battle was suspended from the regular-season game against Illinois for academic reasons but was practicing for the Sun Bowl until this week, after fall quarter grades were posted.
In addition, sophomore wide receiver Kim Thompson has been suspended for “a violation of department policy,” the school said.
While the Wildcats have no shortage of experienced receivers, the defense could be hurt.
“In terms of depth this will hurt us, but we have guys who can step up,” Walker said. “It’s a big moment for John Gill, who has played a lot as a true freshman, but now he’ll get the lion’s share of the work. And Barry (senior tackle Cofield) needs to have his best game.”
Gill and Schultz each started six games. Battle started five straight before the Illinois game, and his play was credited with helping the secondary improve late in the season.
Corey Dious reclaimed the starting job he had lost to Battle for the Illinois game, but the Wildcats are considering other options for UCLA. Herschel Henderson could move back to cornerback, with Reggie McPherson or Bryan Heinz at safety. Heinz is returning to action just four months after major knee surgery.
Thompson, fifth on the team with 19 catches (one touchdown), started six games for the Wildcats, who regularly open with three or four receivers. Tight end Erryn Cobb could get more playing time, Walker said.
Thompson’s suspension is for one game, but the future of Schultz and Battle isn’t as clear. They are no longer in school, Walker said, and must work their way back into the university’s academic good graces, as Trevor Rees has done.
Rees, the Wildcats’ starting center in ’04, left NU for academic reasons but is returning for next season after repairing his academics at Houston Baptist.
“It may be the best thing that ever happened to him,” Walker said.
Walker said he expects Rees to graduate from Northwestern.
The spate of academic issues isn’t a trend, Walker said.
“Ironically, we probably had the best quarter we’ve ever had, with 40 guys with a grade-point average of 3.0 out of a roster of 90–that’s pretty impressive,” Walker said.
A study released by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida ranked Northwestern first among the 56 bowl teams with a graduation rate of 83 percent, including 90 percent for African-Americans.
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tabannon@tribune.com
