Sophomore and pre-season All-American running back Brandon Smith has lofty goals for the Northwestern football team’s upcoming season on the gridiron.
“We want to win the national championship; we feel like we have the talent to reach that goal.”
Victory Sports Network agrees. The Raiders are ranked No. 7 in the nation on VSN’s pre-season poll, while the NAIA coaches ranking lists them at No. 14.
Photo by Lindsey Geels
It’s hard to argue with them. Northwestern returns 10 starters from last year’s squad, multiple pre-season All Americans (Smith and senior offensive lineman Travis Hofmeyer), and junior quarterback Jayme Rozeboom who says he is ready to go after a major ACL injury sidelined him two years ago.
“Honestly, it did [affect me last year],” says Rozeboom. “Not only physically, but mentally. I struggled gaining confidence on it. Now it’s feeling great, the confidence is back, and I’m ready to go.”
Not all the impact players this season will be familiar faces. A transfer from the University of Sioux Falls, junior Jordan Carlson is likely to make a big impact on the defensive line.
“Jordan is very, very good,” said coach Kyle Achterhoff with a chuckle. “He’s going to be a lot of fun to watch.” At free safety, senior Steven Norman is a transfer from Dixie State. “He plays fast, he plays physical, so he’s going to be a guy who can be a difference-maker defensively.”
Coach Achterhoff and every player interviewed unsurprisingly pointed towards Saturday’s matchup with projected GPAC champion and No. 5 Morningside as a huge game for the Raiders.
“Morningside is definitely a game that is huge when you win that game, and they’ve had a bit of a run on us now, it kind of sets you up for the rest of the season,” said Achterhoff.
Photo by Lindsey Geels
Smith was less diplomatic. “We have a bad taste in our mouths, have some unfinished business with Morningside.”
For a team jilted from the playoffs last year, due to “people’s voting; bureaucracy kind of things” according to Coach Achterhoff, this bad taste seems universal. What is certain: the Raiders are starting the season with a giant chip on their collective shoulder and will not be jilted again.
