They are known by teammates as the “Renegades,” and the brash Northwestern linebacking corps led by Anthony Walker is off to an auspicious start.
Buoyed by a 16-6 win over Stanford, the Wildcats host Eastern Illinois on Saturday with hopes of also keeping the Panthers out of the end zone.
“You have to be consistent in this game,” said Walker, who was named Big Ten defensive player of the week after recording 10 tackles (three for a loss), a half-sack, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
“The great players are consistent. That’s why in the Stanford game I wanted to come out and play well, but that’s not the end of the road. We have to come back and be prepared this week and the week after and all the way through December.”
Defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz is as pumped about the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Walker’s attitude as he is about the Miami native’s versatility and athleticism.
NU coaches and fans first got a glimpse of what Walker could do when, as a redshirt freshman last season, he replaced injured Collin Ellis at middle linebacker against Penn State and had eight tackles and a 49-yard pick-six off Christian Hackenberg in a 29-6 victory.
“We were impressed with the way he played,” Hankwitz said. “We were real excited about that and we were curious to see how he would respond.
“His attitude is not ‘I am a starter now.’ He has continued to be a student of the game. He has continued to improve and he hasn’t rested on his laurels.”
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Flanked by outside linebackers Jaylen Prater and Drew Smith, Walker’s nose for the ball appears to come from equal parts instinct and preparation.
“It’s always great to know where the ball is going,” Walker said with a smile. “Preparation, that’s most of the game.
“That’s why we don’t practice first; we watch film first. It’s easy to go out and play on Saturdays when the scout offense is giving us a great look and (the opponents) are running what you game-plan for.”
Walker was quick to credit the NU defensive line of Dean Lowry, Deonte Gibson, Tyler Lancaster and C.J. Robbins for helping limit Stanford to 85 rushing yards.
“That’s one thing Coach (Pat Fitzgerald) told me since day one: You can’t be great unless your D-line is great,” Walker said. “So you have to keep those guys happy and feed ’em (confidence) a little bit, and those guys will take care of you.”
Senior safety and co-captain Traveon Henry also appreciates Walker’s determination and unselfishness.
“He is a very mature player,” Henry said of Walker, the son of a high school coach. “The guy comes from a football family, so he has a deep understanding of the game.
“One thing that stands out is his preparation, and that comes from him being in the film room. I try to get with him as much as I can to get prepared for a game. Even with him being a younger guy, he has so much to offer.”
Hankwitz loves his defense’s confidence but tempers it with a dose of reality.
“That was a great first step,” he said. “There were times last year when we played dang good defense, but we didn’t do it consistently every game.
“They realize how close we were, and if we are consistent, we have a chance to be an outstanding defense. Saturday was a nice start, but you have to keep moving.”
Twitter @kicker34