Northwestern football Top 10 Most Important Players for 2016

As we kick off our 2016 Northwestern Football Summer Guide, we first turn our attention to the most important players heading into the season. We didn't define "important," but instead chose to leave it open to interpretation — every writer could define importance in their own way, be it based on offseason improvement, play-to-play importance, or need to step up for a departed starter. Here's how our staff ranked their Top 10, as well as the overall rankings.

Zach Pereles	Ben Goren	Sam Brief	Ian McCafferty	Rob Schaefer	Tristan Jung	Zach Wingrove	Josh Burton	Martin Oppegaard	Will Ragatz	*Overall*
1 (most important)	Clayton Thorson	Clayton Thorson	Clayton Thorson	Clayton Thorson	Clayton Thorson	Clayton Thorson	Clayton Thorson	Clayton Thorson	Justin Jackson	Clayton Thorson	*Clayton Thorson*
2	Anthony Walker	Solomon Vault	Anthony Walker	Anthony Walker	Anthony Walker	Anthony Walker	Anthony Walker	Justin Jackson	Anthony Walker	Anthony Walker	*Anthony Walker*
3	Keith Watkins	Ifeadi Odenigbo/Xavier Washington	Justin Jackson	Defensive ends	Justin Jackson	Blake Hance	Keith Watkins	Anthony Walker	Clayton Thorson	Ifeadi Odenigbo	*Justin Jackson*
4	Solomon Vault	Nate Hall	Solomon Vault	Garrett Dickerson	Keith Watkins	Justin Jackson	Garrett Dickerson	Garrett Dickerson	Matt Harris	Blake Hance	*Keith Watkins*
5	Garrett Dickerson	Both offensive guards and tackles	Keith Watkins	Offensive guards	Ifeadi Odenigbo	Solomon Vault	Ifeadi Odenigbo	Keith Watkins	Ifeadi Odenigbo	Keith Watkins	*Ifeadi Odenigbo*
6	Ifeadi Odenigbo	Justin Jackson	Garrett Dickerson	Austin Carr	Solomon Vault	Keith Watkins	Austin Carr	Ifeadi Odenigbo	Solomon Vault	Solomon Vault	*Solomon Vault*
7	Matt Harris	Keith Watkins	Ifeadi Odenigbo	Justin Jackson	Offensive line	Jordan Thompson	Kyle Quiero	Austin Carr	Blake Hance	Kyle Quiero	*Garrett Dickerson*
8	Justin Jackson	Kyle Queiro	Xavier Washington	Solomon Vault	Garrett Dickerson	Garrett Dickerson	Nate Hall	Jack Mitchell	Jordan Thompson	Nate Hall	*Jordan Thompson*
9	Austin Carr	[as yet unnamed starting true FR WR]	Jordan Thompson	Other wide receivers	Jordan Thompson	Marcus McShepard	Justin Jackson	Xavier Washington	Godwin Igwebuike	Eric Olson	*Austin Carr*
10	Jordan Thompson	Garrett Dickerson	Austin Carr	Kyle Queiro	Jack Mitchell	Backup quarterback	Jack Mitchell	Jordan Thompson	Jack Mitchell	Jack Mitchell	*Blake Hance*

Throughout the next two weeks, we'll be having debates on whether the players belong where they ended up on the ladder, starting later today with No.