For the fifth consecutive week, a Wildcats player has sustained a season-ending injury.

Northwestern’s latest casualty: sophomore defensive tackle Corbin Bryant.

Bryant injured his knee in the third quarter of NU’s 21-14 win at Michigan on Saturday. He will need surgery to repair the damage.

“He was really playing some darn special football for us,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said of Bryant. “Unfortunately, through one man’s adversity is another man’s opportunity.”

Junior defensive tackle Adam Hahn is listed as the new starter on the inside of NU’s front four. Hahn has made 25 career starts, including three earlier this season.

Through 11 games and nine starts, Bryant had compiled 28 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

“Corbin’s a big, strong kid,” senior offensive guard Keegan Kennedy said. “He’s a great player, done a lot for us in the middle of defense. It’s going to be a real loss for our defense.”

Before the season started, sophomore superback Drake Dunsmore tore his ACL. In the second game of the season, sophomore cornerback Justan Vaughn injured his shoulder. Both are out for the season.

Senior linebacker Malcolm Arrington and senior running back Omar Conteh already had suffered season-ending knee injuries. Senior running back Tyrell Sutton and redshirt freshman defensive end Vince Browne sustained injuries that will keep them out against Illinois, although they still could return for the team’s bowl game.

In the second quarter against Michigan, junior quarterback Mike Kafka suffered a concussion and did not return. Still, Fitzgerald said Kafka responded well to early testing and is expected to play against Illinois.

“Mike’s doing fine,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s doing well today, and I fully expect Mike to play.”

Fitzgerald said he will take it day-by-day to determine whether Kafka will practice throughout the week.

Kafka, however, was not listed as a potential starter for the first time in three weeks. Senior quarterback C.J. Bachér was listed first on the depth chart without the word “or.”

RUN, RUN, RUN
Since the injury to Sutton, the team’s starting running backs have rushed for a combined 92 yards in three games.

And since Conteh went down two weeks ago, only sophomore Stephen Simmons has carried the ball.

Fitzgerald said he came close to giving redshirt freshman Jacob Schmidt carries against Michigan, but decided against it.

“Steph got picked up and body-slammed on one play, was looking out his ear hole,” Fitzgerald said. “We were thinking about taking him out and straightening his helmet a little bit. Outside of that, he played pretty hard.”

Fitzgerald added that the team had some execution flaws, which contributed to the inefficiency in the rushing attack.

Despite the struggles, Kennedy said the offensive line is not worried about the team’s ability to run the ball.

“I think Stephen Simmons is a great running back,” he said. “I know the offensive line has the utmost confidence in him.”

WONDERFULLY WOOTTON
Next Monday night, the Big Ten will announce its all-conference teams. The selection show will air on the Big Ten Network at 7:30 p.m.

While Fitzgerald said he does not worry about the voting process, he did give support for one underclassman — junior defensive end Corey Wootton.

“I think no further than one man who’s maybe playing the best football of his career right now, Corey Wootton,” Fitzgerald said. “His motor has been relentless in practice, and his play is a direct result of the way he practices. I have not seen Corey take one play for granted in practice.”

Fitzgerald said Wootton’s 2007 campaign was a rollercoaster, but he’s been Mr. Consistency this season.

The junior from Rutherford, N.J. has done a little bit of everything, totaling 8.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, 36 tackles, one forced fumble, one blocked kick and two pass break-ups.

QUICK HITS:
Saturday’s game against Illinois will kick off at 2:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network… Saturday will be Senior Day at Ryan Field, and 23 seniors will be honored… NU will try to regain the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Trophy after losing it to the Illini last year. Illinois holds the all-time series advantage 32-27-2… Illinois needs to win Saturday to become bowl eligible, whereas the Cats are looking to improve their resume.

matthewforman2007@u.northwestern.edu

Tags: Corbin Bryant, Corey Wooton, Mike Kafka, Pat Fitzgerald, Stephen Simmons