Way-Too-Early Depth Chart: No Need to Worry About Left Tackle Heading Into 2021
This is another edition of the 2021 Way-Too-Early Depth Chart series. If you want to read the previous sections for the QB, RB, WR, LB, and DB click on the embedded links.
Losing star tackle Rashawn Slater to an opt out before the 2020 season turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Wildcats. In his place stepped now-sophomore Peter Skoronski, who turned out to be one of the best tackles in the conference, regardless of class.
Skoronski was named second-team All Conference by the Big Ten and the Associated Press, the first player to do so since Paddy Fisher in 2017. In 2020, the left tackle was the lynchpin of a unit that ranked 24th in the nation in sacks allowed. Skoronski started every game, and individually had the highest Pro Football Focus grade of any first-year player in the Big Ten with an 81.4. Skoronski was also named to Athlon Sports Preseason All Big Ten first team. Expect him to once again anchor Northwestern's offensive line.
Behind Skoronski there should be a myriad of options should he get injured, which makes the coaching staff feel “good” about their depth, according to The Athletic’s Matt Fortuna.
The first tackle off the bench could be Ben Wrather. Wrather is a sophomore who appeared in eight of the nine games Northwestern played last year and could be ready at a moment’s notice.
In addition, freshman Caleb Tiernan is another talented tackle coming down the pipeline for the Wildcats. The Michigan native was a four-star recruit and could see playing time right away.
With Skoronski holding down the blindside, the Wildcats should be set at left tackle for this season and beyond. In the event of an injury to their star tackle, however, the Wildcats have enough depth and talent to offset it, thanks to offensive line coach Kurt Anderson.
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Joseph Acosta is a graduate student at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, specifying in Sports Media. He previously worked as the Managing Editor and Business Manager of the Florida Atlantic University Press from 2020-2021, and is a writer for SB Nation's Big Cat Country, covering the Jacksonville Jaguars.