Dean Lowry says he tries to pattern his game after Houston Texans star J.J. Watt, and at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, the Northwestern senior defensive end certainly measures up physically.
Lowry was in full beast mode against Duke last week, recording six tackles, an interception and a pass breakup while playing only 60 percent of the snaps because of the stifling heat in Durham, N.C.
“Great game by Dean Lowry, he was just all over the place,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said this week as the No. 17 Wildcats prepared to host Ball State on Saturday night.
Lowry’s controlled aggression also has caught the attention of defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz.
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“A year ago he showed signs … he had games when he showed he was a dominant player,” Hankwitz said. “He just wasn’t consistent doing that. He has made that transition to where he is consistently playing a lot better. He has all of the different phases.”
Hankwitz mentioned a play against the Blue Devils in which the Wildcats were in a three-man front and Lowry beat two blockers to stuff a quarterback draw. His pass breakup was the 14th of his career.
“He made a great effort; he is using his height,” Hankwitz said. “Our D-line tipped about four passes at the line of scrimmage. Dean intercepted one of them. The other (ruled an incompletion) could have been a fumble returned for a touchdown. Those are big plays.”
Lowry and middle linebacker Anthony Walker have been the marquee names on a dominant Wildcats defense that has allowed just one touchdown and leads the nation with 5.3 points allowed per game.
“(Walker) triggers amazingly fast,” Lowry said. “Having a guy behind you playing like that gives you so much more confidence, just knowing he has a great mind for football. He knows the play before it is going to happen.”
Walker, in turn, said Lowry and the rest of the defensive linemen make his job easier.
“They take those big (offensive) linemen coming out, and it gives me time to diagnose the play and I can get downhill faster,” said Walker, who had 19 tackles at Duke to earn his second Big Ten defensive player of the week honor. “So I really appreciate those guys sacrificing for me.”
Hankwitz cited the leadership of seniors such as Lowry and fellow linemen Deonte Gibson and C.J. Robbins as “the No. 1 reason we are playing as well as we are.”
Lowry’s willingness to learn from upperclassmen when he first arrived in Evanston has encouraged him to pass on his knowledge to players coming up behind him.
“Playing as a freshman right away, I had guys like Tyler Scott, Brian Arnfelt, Quentin Williams mentor me,” said Lowry, who played in all 13 games in 2012 while backing up Scott. “It really helped teach me the defense. Ever since I have improved physically and I have put on 15 or 20 pounds each year.
“In high school (at Rockford Boylan), we won two state championships my junior and senior year, so I definitely wanted to be a part of a winning program. I look forward to doing the same things here, winning championships.”
Twitter @kicker34