Northwestern had one of college football’s best defenses for a reason. The defensive line was effective, the linebackers were among the top in the nation and the secondary locked up receivers all season long. It would be nearly impossible to name an MVP for the Wildcats on that side of the football during the 2020 season.

Perhaps one player that doesn’t get enough credit for his role in Northwestern’s defensive success in 2020 was cornerback Greg Newsome II. One stat from Pro Football Focus should show you just how dominant he was on money downs, though.

Per PFF’s grading, Newsome allowed a 0.0 rating on 3rd and 4th down during the 9-game season for the Wildcats last fall. He was the only cornerback in the 2021 NFL Draft class to have that ridiculous stat.

Newsome had a big year in the secondary for the Wildcats, tallying 12 tackles, 9 pass break-ups and an interception as the the team finished the year with a 7-2 record, which included a B1G West title and a Citrus Bowl win over Auburn.

In three years on the field at Northwestern, Newsome is credited with 71 tackles and 24 pass break-ups. He’ll be one of the more difficult players to replace in the secondary for the Wildcats.