Northwestern moved up to #20 in the AP poll; #18 in the coaches poll this week after thrashing Rutgers 42-14 at home yesterday. The Wildcats have an excellent team, playing some great ball, and with the injury to Ohio State QB Julian Sayin, the league is totally wide open right nw.
One thing Northwestern doesn't have right now, however, are any day one NFL Draft prospects on the current roster.
The same holds true for day two, more or less. The 'Cats have a lot of potential draft prospects, such as quarterback Aidan Chiles, Safety Robert Fitzgerald and running back Gavin Sawchuck. However, the highest draft stock on the team belongs to wide receiver Griffin Wilde.
If anyone on NU is going to make into round three, or higher, it's Wilde, who right
now looks like a top 125-175 overall prospect. He has height, speed and explosiveness. And he has good command of the (to use a trendy football buzz phrase) "route tree."
For wide receivers, it's all about the route tree right now. Just like in basketball, it's the "shot diet." Wilde had nine receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown against Rutgers, after the game gave a soundbite that truly epitomizes his game: "50/50 as a wide receiver shouldn't exist. That ball should be yours."
That quote perfectly exemplifies his competitive drive as well. Wilde transferred in to Northwestern from FCS level South Dakota State, and he's leveled up his game, and then some, in the Big Ten.
After this weekend's performance, Wilde has now become the first Wildcat with at least 500 receiving yards and five TDs in consecutive seasons since Jeremy Ebert did in 2010 and 2011.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: NFL Draft stock report- buy: Griffin Wilde, WR, Northwestern
