2023 Preview: Northwestern Trojans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwestern reached the top of the mountain in 2022, but couldn't get past South Florence to win the state championship, finishing with a 12-2 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the Trojans look ahead to the 2023 season and the opener against Providence Day at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Saturday, August 19, Northwestern head coach Page Wofford knows each season is different and it's time to start over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“(We) really try to refine the process and concentrate on the things that help us win and try to ignore the things that don't have anything to do with winning football games. We really try to focus on replacing the guys that we lost and the guys we can't replace, adjusting our scheme and the things we do to fit the current personnel,” Wofford said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans' Air Raid offense averaged 47 points per game a season ago and will return a good bit of production, including wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589050' first='Greer' last='Hopkins']</strong>, who was second on the team in catches last year with 43 catches for 634 yards and 7 touchdowns. He is one of the fastest guys on the team, according to Wofford. <strong>Jayden</strong> and <strong>Jaylen Burris </strong>will accompany Hopkins at receiver as well. <strong>Vance Ventry </strong>will be looked upon as the new leader on the offensive line at right tackle as the Trojans will need to fill some voids up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360210' first='Mason' last='Grier'],</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360156' first='Andre' last='Pickett'], Dimitri Putman </strong>all return to lead the Trojans up front defensively, which should give the Trojans' offensive line solid competition during fall camp. Pickett was fourth on the team in tackles with 34 tackles and 15 ½ of them for a loss.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='241044' first='Finley' last='Polk'], </strong>QB, 2025 – Polk burst onto the scene as a sophomore throwing for 3301 yards and 37 touchdowns. Wofford says he's had a great summer and is physically stronger.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265222' first='Turbo' last='Richard'], </strong>RB, 2024 – The Boston College commit ran for 2093 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2022. He's a load to bring down who brings it on every play. He was our pick to <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/predicting-every-teams-2023-mvp-region-iii-4a/">win the team's MVP back in June.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605531' first='Will' last='Massey'], </strong>LB, 2026 – Massey led the team in tackles with 45 solo tackles and 10 ½ of them for a loss and will be tough to block at the second level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zilon Arnold, </strong>RB – Arnold is second behind Richard but when he gets in there, he runs with speed and power that would make you think he is the starter. He ran for 486 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15089319/6390e0e202b152095ce1e448' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c07a6d8eee3"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEY LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Caldwell, </strong>WR<strong> </strong>– Caldwell's production will certainly be missed as he racked up 1365 yards and 19 touchdowns during his senior year. He is currently preparing for his freshman campaign at the University of South Carolina.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordan Knox, </strong>LT – Knox kept Finley's blindside clean during the 2022 season and was the leader up front on the offensive line. He is currently preparing for his freshman season at Northwestern University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP AND COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267334' first='Kameron' last='Vance'], </strong>WR, 2026 – Wofford called Vance an exciting player to have around who has developed really well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tadarrian Knox</strong>, WR, 2026 – Knox played JV last year and varsity some in a reserve role. He is a downfield threat who catches the ball at its highest point.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->