---

With Northwestern’s spring practice in the books, here’s what we know and what we learned about the Wildcats as we head into summer drills.

---

This is Pat Fitzgerald’s 12th team at Northwestern, proof that time does fly by. It could be one of his best. In fact, if the Wildcats can adequately plug holes at wide receiver and linebacker this offseason they’re talented enough to duke it out with the likes of Wisconsin and Iowa in the competitive Big Ten West Division.

Northwestern Spring Practice Redux

1. Flynn Nagel Wants to Channel Austin Carr

While there’s no easy way to replace Carr, who caught 90 passes a season ago, Nagel is ready to take his game to a higher level in 2017.

Nagel was second on the team in receptions in 2016, though he’s about to experience a spike in production as a junior. He’s impressive out of the slot, advertising the reliable hands and sharp cuts to blossom into Clayton Thorson’s most trusted weapon in the passing game. The Wildcats were also encouraged this spring by the development of Nagel’s backup, Macan Wilson, and Oregon grad transfer Jalen Brown will be added to the mix in June. While Nagel will produce the biggest numbers, Thorson is likely to spread the wealth more than he did last fall.

2. Right Tackle Opening Remains Unresolved

Fitz wants his blockers to be more assertive this season, protecting Thorson and creating space for star back Justin Jackson. The biggest unknown at this time is who’ll replace Eric Olson at right tackle.

Redshirt freshman Gunnar Vogel played well in March and April, sharing first-team reps with sophomore Andrew Otterman. However, both underclassmen will face a new competitor when Georgia Tech graduate transfer Trey Klock arrives in the summer. Klock will instantly become the most experienced member of the trio, starting five games at tackle on the Flats in 2016. But he’ll have to quickly digest an offensive system and blocking scheme very different than the one he left with the Yellow Jackets.

3. There Might Be a Hole In the Secondary

Evanston will be home to one of the most talented defensive backfields in the Big Ten, if not the country. But opposing quarterbacks might now have an area to target, at least for the opening month of the season.

Northwestern is flush in next-level DBs, namely CB Montre Hartage and safeties Godwin Igwebuike and Kyle Queiro. However, last year’s fourth member of the unit, corner Trae Williams, tore his Achilles during a March practice and is not expected back until at least October. The silver lining for the Wildcats? The guy Williams replaced in the lineup in 2016, Keith Watkins II, is almost back to full strength after missing all of last year to a knee injury. Watkins’ return is a big boost, though corner depth bears watching this summer.

MORE: Which B1G Players Should Go Pro, Which Should Stay Put