2023 Rankings Update: Seven Trojans Make The List

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In our latest Class of 2023 rankings, Northwestern was well represented as seven Trojans were included. Two of them are well known throughout the state while the other five are guys you’ll get to know as we head into the 2022 season.</span> <b>WR [player_tooltip player_id="146372" first="Elijah" last="Caldwell"]: No. 2 WR (No. 16 overall)</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Caldwell had an outstanding 2021 campaign, as he led the team in receiving yards with 1247 and 15 touchdowns. He’s a threat to catch the ball on a screen pass and turn it into a chunk play or beat his man deep for a score. He has numerous offers which include Duke, UNC Charlotte and Gardner-Webb.</span> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13194311/619d13c7e97b010a88a3ce8e" width="640&quot;" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <b>OL [player_tooltip player_id="89343" first="Jordan" last="Knox"]: No. 3 OL (No. 9 overall)</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Knox committed to Northwestern University on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats are getting a left tackle with great knee bend and lateral movement. He is not afraid to get his hands dirty in helping keep the quarterback’s jersey clean.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/JordanKnox75/status/1525930621738131457[/embed] <b>OL [player_tooltip player_id="202763" first="Ben" last="Acus"]: No. 17 OL (No. 110 overall)</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Acus checks in at 6’2, 305 pounds and can push opposing defensive linemen around. He has excellent hands and gets into the right position to open up lanes for his receivers or running backs to run through.  </span> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15065451/612ba596d21b020510f05dcd" width="640&quot;" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <b>OL [player_tooltip player_id="202764" first="Marcus" last="Macon"]: No. 21 OL (No. 126 overall)</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The stock for Macon could be rising soon. He has good leg drive and knee bend. When you combine that with his physicality in being able to drive people into the dirt, that’s a good combination that coaches like to see at the position.</span> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13159637/615b1e73b3c82f05c0a3c70a" width="640&quot;" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span></iframe> <b>LB [player_tooltip player_id="336118" first="Damien" last="Jackson"]: No. 21 LB (No. 132 overall)</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Jackson is active at his linebacker position. He can chase the quarterback off the edge and is disciplined with the angles he takes to the ball. He recognizes passing patterns quickly to either knock them away when they come, or make the quarterback hold the ball to where the defensive line can get pressure. He had 9 1 1/2 tackles for loss in 2021.</span> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13819990/617f3cf2b019130b289db36b" width="640&quot;" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <b>WR [player_tooltip player_id="202757" first="William" last="Brooks"]: No. 24 WR (No. 134 overall)</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Brooks is the guy that no one talks about a lot, but he excelled in the Trojans Air Raid attack last year. He primarily played on the outside and showed smooth hands and the ability to get up field quickly when he does. He can also block well on the outside. He was third on the team in receptions with 26 for 267 yards and 3 touchdowns.</span> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13159621/612fbe5a34486805a065e8b3" width="640&quot;" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <b>DB [player_tooltip player_id="202765" first="Curtis" last="Wilmore"]: No. 15 DB (No. 140 overall)</b><b> </b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Wilmore excels at moving sideline to sideline and not allowing receivers to get behind him. He stays on top of receivers in coverage, like we saw on a crossing route on his film where he came up and made a sure tackle. He finished 2021 with 18 tackles and 4 TFLs.</span> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13159629/61a1c39b5ca8dd08f015b221" width="640&quot;" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span></iframe>