The old guard is gone, but new transfers have the chance to make an impact.
Last week, Inside NU previewed Northwestern football’s running backs for 2025. With 40 days until the highly anticipated Tulane season opener, it’s time to take a look at the pass-catchers, starting with the wide receivers.
Overview
Returners: Frank Covey IV (R-So.), Ricky Ahumaraeze (R-Sr.), Hayden Eligon II (So.), Drew Wagner (So.), Tate Crane (Gr.), Carson Grove (R-Fy.), Cam Russell (R-Fy.)
Losses: A.J. Henning (graduated), Bryce Kirtz (graduated), Calvin Johnson II (transferred to Tulsa), Donnie Gray (transferred to UMass), Reggie Fleurima (transferred to Slippery Rock)
Newcomers: Griffin Wilde (Jr., transferred from South Dakota State), Chase Farrell (R-Fr., transferred from Stanford), Dube Enongene (true first-year), Braden Blueitt (true first-year)
The success of this group is contingent upon the success of the transfers.
Losing Henning and Kirtz, the two primary receivers for Northwestern in 2025, is a massive blow to a squad that had very little depth at wideout last season. Combine that with the departures of Johnson, Gray and Fleurima, and the ‘Cats have little returning production and a whole lot of inexperience to work with.
There’s a realistic world where Wilde and Farrell, the two primary transfers, are the top two pass-catchers for the Wildcats in 2025. Both of them have considerable potential: Wilde racked up 1,147 receiving yards with South Dakota State last year, while Farrell was a four-star recruit and first-team all-state track runner coming out of high school.
Due to his speed, Farrell fits in nicely as a slot receiver, and he should be targeted heavily by starting quarterback Preston Stone. At 6-foot-2, Wilde should be perfectly fine as an outside receiver, but since he’s never played FBS football, an adjustment period should be expected. Still, a 150-yard explosion against Oklahoma State last year should give a little bit of hope (although Oklahoma State’s defense was, in a word, atrocious, finishing second-worst in the FBS in total defense in 2024).
That leaves a question mark for who else may start in three-receiver sets, but as of now, the answer is likely Covey. The Arlington Heights native saw limited game action in 2024, hauling in 10 passes for 98 yards. An offseason of development should be beneficial for Covey, but it is worrisome that he struggled to show up in big games, even while surrounded by injuries in the wide receiver room.
Still, there’s at least some potential behind him on the depth chart. Ahumaraeze hasn’t seen meaningful game action yet, but at 6-foot-4, he could develop into a potent red-zone threat. Eligon showed some prowess as a big-play threat in 2024, producing a 36-yard catch against Purdue and two catches for 35 yards against Illinois. Wagner caught three passes and notched a punt-return touchdown last season, a very good sign in terms of his explosiveness.
Crane, Grove and Russell, the other three returners, have not seen Division I action in their careers. It may stay that way for any of the three in 2025, but all do have their advantages. Crane is 6-foot-3 and had 558 receiving yards with Division II Truman State in 2023, while Grove and Russell add some speed potential.
On the part of the two first-years, it’s likely we see a pair of redshirts in 2025. Enongene and Blueitt both got several offers, including from power conference schools, but neither jump off the page in terms of ranking or high school stats. It’s possible either player breaks through and shows out to Wildcat head coach David Braun in the summer, but expectations should be tempered for now.
Key Player
Chase Farrell
Some might list Wilde for this distinction, but I really like Farrell due to his ability to break games open as a big-play threat. Farrell is one of the few ‘Cats who can be classified as having high-level speed. Like with Joseph Himon II at running back, I’d expect Stone to use that speed to his advantage, giving the Stanford transfer plenty of looks.
Big Question
Can any returning receiver crack 500 yards for Northwestern?
I doubt it. Covey may have a couple of big games, and I’m somewhat optimistic about Ahumaraeze, Eligon and Wagner, but the ‘Cats have a severe lack of relevant Big Ten experience at wideout. Expect Stone to lean on the transfers and running backs as pass-catchers, with the four aforementioned returners mixing in from time to time as well.
Depth Chart
Projected 2025 WR Depth Chart
WR-X: Frank Covey IV, Ricky Ahumaraeze, Cam Russell, Tate Crane
WR-Z: Griffin Wilde, Hayden Eligon II, Braden Blueitt, Dube Enongene
WR-Slot: Chase Farrell, Drew Wagner, Carson Grove
Expect the top six guys to see looks, with Russell, Grove, Crane or one of the first-years possibly mixing in for a play or two from time to time.