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Northwestern names Week 5 starting QB vs. Nebraska

Nick Schultz

By Nick Schultz

Published:

Pat Fitzgerald has named a starting quarterback for Northwestern’s Week 5 matchup at Nebraska.

Yes, you read that right.

Northwestern released a depth chart for this week’s game at Nebraska, and Ryan Hilinski is listed as the starting quarterback. Hunter Johnson — who was named starter at the beginning of the season — is listed as a backup, along with Andrew Marty.

Hilinski started for Northwestern last week against Ohio, throwing for 88 yards on 12-of-20 passing. He transferred to Northwestern this offseason from South Carolina, where he came in as a highly touted 4-star recruit. He had a solid freshman campaign in 2019, completing 236 of 406 passes for 2,357 yards and 11 touchdowns.

But in 2020, Hilinski only completed 4 of 6 passes for 34 yards before deciding to transfer. Now, the former SEC quarterback will start in a primetime B1G matchup on Oct. 2 as Northwestern takes on Nebraska in Lincoln.

We’ll see if he can jumpstart the Wildcats’ passing game as B1G play heats up.

Nick Schultz

Nick Schultz is a columnist and breaking news writer for Saturday Tradition. A 2020 graduate of Loyola Chicago, he covered the Ramblers' 2018 Final Four run from beginning to end and has worked at NBC Sports Chicago. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSchultz_7.