Opposing Players We’re Dreading: Northwestern’s Clayton Thorson

Clayton is the ideal quarterback for Pat Fitzgerald’s Northwestern Wildcats. He has blue-collar toughness, athleticism and brains. Now, going into his senior year, Thorson is expected make a Northwestern a legit contender in the Big Ten West.

Thorson’s sophomore season in 2016 showed his promise as passed for over 3,100 yards and had 22 passing touchdowns. In 2017, Northwestern was more run oriented so Thorson’s passing numbers dropped, but he still had over 2,800 yards passing and 15 TDs.

Then, in the Music City Bowl, Thorson season’s ended after he injured his ACL.

Now, Thorson has spent the entire offseason rehabbing his knee and is expected to take his play and Northwestern’s offense to the next level. NFL scouts like Thorson’s size and have taken notice of his abilities.

If Thorson’s senior season is his best in Evanston, then he will sky rocket up draft boards. Either way, it appears the Illini will have their hands full defending Thorson when they head to Evanston during Thanksgiving Weekend in the battle for the HAT.

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