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2021 NFL Draft an unprecedented one for Northwestern football
(Photo: Mike Cianciolo; Logos: Northwestern University Athletics, NFL)

2021 NFL Draft an unprecedented one for Northwestern football

EVANSTON, Ill. (BVM) — The last time the Northwestern Wildcats had a player from their football program selected in the first round of the NFL Draft was 2005 as Luis Castillo was picked 28th overall by the Chargers. In fact, prior to this year, the Wildcats only had eight first-round selections ever.

But after the 2020 season produced one of the best by a Northwestern team in recent memory, there was little doubt the team’s roster had multiple elite talents. As a result, last weekend’s 2021 NFL Draft was a historic one for the Wildcats, as they had two players selected in the first round for the first time in program history.

The first to be selected was offensive lineman Rashawn Slater, who went 13th overall to the Los Angeles Chargers. Slater ended up sitting out last fall’s shortened Big Ten season, but his stock was never in question. Seen as a top-10 talent by many, Slater lands in a perfect spot to help protect young franchise quarterback, Justin Herbert.

“I’m so excited for this opportunity,” Slater said in his introductory press conference with the Chargers. “I’m ready to show up, get to work and just show that I earned it. I couldn’t have picked a better place for myself. A great young quarterback, young team, we’re going to have so many weapons and it’s just an honor to be part of that system.”

Just 13 picks later at No. 26 overall, the Cleveland Browns selected Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome II. Unlike Slater, Newsome II wasn’t necessarily deemed a first-round talent prior to the 2020 season. However, a strong campaign where he held opposing quarterbacks to a 31.7 passer rating against him made his stock jump. The icing on the cake was a 4.38 40-yard dash at his pro day.

An Illinois native who played the majority of his high school career at Glenbard North, Newsome II stays in the Midwest with a team that is quickly on the rise.

“It was a great night,” Newsome II said in a post-draft conference call. “I believe I’m the best corner in this draft and Cleveland picked me for a reason. I just can’t wait to get to Cleveland and go to work. It’s a blessing to join a team like that and I’m going to try and help Cleveland get to that next hump.”

Northwestern would have one more player drafted, as defensive end Earnest Brown IV was taken by the Los Angeles Rams at pick 174 in the fifth round.

Not only does a bright future await Slater, Newsome II and Brown IV, but the direction of the Northwestern football program continues to look up. After taking home Big Ten West crowns in two of the last three seasons, the Wildcats are proving they can be a perennial contender. 

Former Wildcat linebacker Pat Fitzgerald returned to his alma mater as head coach in 2006 and turned the program around in short order. Now, 15 years later, they are not only producing a winning football team, but also numerous pro-level talents.

“Obviously for Rashawn and Greg to go in the first round, it’s the first time in program history to have two first-rounders,” Fitzgerald said in an interview with NFL Network. “Credit goes to our young men, they put the work in, they bought in and they were diligent in everything they did while they were in our program.

“We believe that it shows you can have it all here in our program. We have a top-10 academic reputation and we have a top-10 football program right now. No one else can say that in the country. And you couple that with the opportunity to come here and be developed by our staff, our strength staff, nutrition, athletic training staff, and you can have it all and be a first-rounder.”

It was certainly a weekend to celebrate for Northwestern fans, and now they will look ahead to the 2021 season. They may have lost some talent to the pros, but there is no doubt Fitzgerald will have his team ready to contend in the Big Ten West yet again come fall.