81 Evan Watkins Class: Sophomore Hometown: Carol Stream, Ill. High School: Glenbard North Height / Weight: 6-6 / 245 Position: SB

The 2011 Scouting Report: Redshirt sophomore who is battling three other underclassmen for the backup QB position ... The experience he gained at the end of last season when he became NU's starter will pay huge dividends for him in the future ... Savored a strong offseason that saw him make improvements in all phases of the game -- throwing the ball, reading defenses, leadership, etc. ... Dynamic athlete who runs well for a player his size ... Possesses a strong arm.

2011: Redshirt sophomore ... Backup quarterback who moved to the superback position during bowl practice ... Played against Eastern Illinois and just recorded a 2-yard rush ... Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

2010: Played in seven games, taking over as the starter in place of an injured Dan Persa vs. Illinois ... Started the TicketCity Bowl against Texas Tech and threw for 76 yards on 10-of-21 passing, throwing for one TD and rushing for another ... At Wisconsin, threw for 123 yards on 13-of-22 passing, with one touchdown through the air and another on the ground ... Finished with 34 rushing yards against the Badgers ... Made his first career start at Wrigley Field vs. Illinois, completing 10-of-20 passes for 135 yards and rushing for 15 yards ... At Indiana, converted a fourth-quarter third-and-11 pass play on his first play of the game and finished 1-of-2 for 13 yards ... Misfired in his only pass attempt at Rice ... Made his collegiate debut vs. Illinois State, completing 2-of-4 passes for 31 yards and recording one carry for two yards.

2009: Did not see action.

High School: Rivals.com All-Region and SuperPrep All-Midwest Region quarterback ... Ranked 11th among all players in Rivals.com Illinois player ranking and second among quarterbacks ... Among pro-style quarterbacks, ranked 14th nationally by Tom Lemming, 19th by Rivals.com and 26th by ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. ... Tom Lemming Top Player ... Ranked 44th among all players in Midwest Region (six states) by SuperPrep ... Chicago Tribune special mention all-state honoree ... Two-time All-DuPage Valley Conference and all-area quarterback ... Walter Payton Roundhouse Player of the Week ... Four-year academic all-conference selection ... IHSA Academic All-State pick ... Led the Panthers to the 2007 Illinois Class 8A state title game ... Glenbard North compiled a two-year record of 15-9 ... Panthers lost in first round of 2008 8A playoffs ... Threw for 3,500 yards and 36 TD's (just 15 interceptions), while totaling 750 rushing yards and 15 rushing TD's in two seasons (2007-08) ... One of his prep highlights came in the 2007 8A semifinal versus state power Mount Carmel when he perfectly executed a flea-flicker to take the lead and upset the Caravan ... Team captain ... Also lettered in basketball and baseball for the Panthers ... Coached by Ryan Wilkens.

Personal: Born Evan Patrick Watkins ... Son of Bill and Ellen Watkins ... Father played football at Northern Illinois and uncle, Mike, played basketball at Loyola ... Learning and organizational change major and business institutions minor.

The Watkins File

Q: Name five favorite songs (and artist) on your I-Pod: 

A: Way too many top songs to name, so I will just name my top five artists: Green Day, Lil Wayne, Drake, Blink 182 and Sister Hazel
Q: If you could dine with anyone from any period in history, who would it be and why? 

A: Either Michael Jordan or Billie Joe Armstrong. MJ, because he is the best player to ever play the game of basketball and I'm a huge Bulls fan, and Billie Joe Armstrong because I'm obsessed with Green Day. I admire everything Billie Joe does on and off the stage. I believe he's one of the best vocalists/entertainers of all time.
Q: What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned? 

A: Haven't come across it yet
Q: A song that best describes you and why? 

A: "All I Do Is Win" by DJ Khaled ft. Ludacris. Enough said.
Q: Something people would be surprised to know about me is: 

A: I used to play in a band and played two live shows.
Q: My favorite place to visit is and why? 

A: Caribbean cruises, because they are just fun and there is so much to do.
Q: Which current NU football player is the biggest jokester on the team and why? 

A: Either of the Nagels probably
Q: My favorite thing about NU is and why? 

A: The family atmosphere and good people
Q: Best part about being a Northwestern football player is: 

A: We have the opportunity to study at one of the best universities in the world, play Big Ten football, are around great people, and in one of the best cities in the world.
Q: Describe Coach Fitzgerald in five words or less: 

A: Great, passionate leader
Q: Describe your position coach in five words or less: 

A: Genius, master of the game
Q: Most humbling experience: 

A: Being offered a scholarship to play football at Northwestern University.
Q: The best book I have ever read is and why? 

A: Kite Runner
Q: The person that inspires me the most is: 

A: Parents
Q: When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be: 

A: Brett Favre
Q: My favorite pregame ritual is: 

A: Just relaxing, mentally preparing and listening to my music
Q: If you could have a starring role in any film already made, which movie would you pick and why? 

A: Forgetting Sarah Marshall, because I would end up with Mila Kunis
Q: My favorite food is: 

A: Pizza or a good steak
Q: My favorite thing about playing at Ryan Field is: 

A: Singing the fight song to our fans after a win
Q: Best thing about Northwestern is: 

A: The people
Q: My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be: 

A: Leading my team to a national championship
Q: My favorite television show is and why? 

A: "How I Met Your Mother," great cast and hilarious
Q: If I were not playing football, I would be: 

A: I'd be going to school
Q: The three words that best describe me: 

A: Competitive, Down to Earth, Winner
Q: My football-related superstition is: 

A: I try not to be superstitious
Q: If the Big Ten expands in the future, pick one school you'd like to see added and why? 

A: Notre Dame, because it is a great school, with great tradition, and usually a good team, so I think it would be fun.
Q: Which FORMER NU football student-athlete has had the most impact on your Wildcat career and why?
A: Mike Kafka. He was the perfect role model for an incoming freshman QB to have. I learned a lot from watching him on and off the field, in practice, and in the film room. He was the complete package and what quarterbacks should aim to be like.

PASSING

Season	Games	CMP-ATT-INT	Yards	TD	Long	PCT	Avg/P	Avg/G	EFFIC
2010	7	36-70-5	378	2	32	51.4	5.4	54.0	91.9
2011	2	0-0-0	0	0	0	-	0.0	0.0	0.0
Career	9	36-70-5	378	2	32	51.4	5.4	54.0	91.9

RUSHING

Season	Games	ATT	Yards	TD	Long	Avg/C	Avg/G
2010	7	23	61	2	24	2.7	8.7
2011	2	1	2	0	2	2.0	1.0
Career	9	24	63	2	24	2.6	7.0

TOTAL OFFENSE

Season	Games	Rush	Pass	Total	Avg/G
2010	7	61	378	439	62.7
2011	2	2	0	2	1.0
Career	9	63	378	441	49.0

Tickets/Future Schedules

2012 NGN Auction

The Team

Coaches' Corner

Camps and Clinics

2012 SPRING EXHIBITION

2011 Ryan Field Fan Guide 

BOWL CENTRAL

Ryan Field

Multimedia