Factors that led to Hunter Johnson being named Northwestern’s starting quarterback

Well, we certainly did not see that one coming.

Not only did nearly every single Inside NU writer rank Ryan Hilinski as the most important player on Northwestern’s football roster in 2021, but all of us (besides Lia, who hedged) thought he would be the starter.

Of course, when it comes to Northwestern football, we should have expected the unexpected; and Hunter Johnson being named the starter multiple weeks in advance of the opener against MSU, something that Fitz has not done since Clayton Thorson was entrenched as NU’s starter prior to his senior season, certainly qualifies as the unexpected.