EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald has named Clayton Thorson the team's starting quarterback for the season opener against Stanford on Sept. 5.
Thorson, a redshirt freshman, has won the job, at least for now, over fifth-year senior Zack Oliver and redshirt sophomore Matt Alviti. The three were involved in a three-way competition throughout spring practice and training camp.
Throughout the competition, Thorson was widely presumed to be the favorite. After Saturday's scrimmage in Kenosha, he seemed to be facing stiff competition from Oliver. But it is Thorson who will start against the Cardinal.
Thorson is one of Pat Fitzgerald's top recruits in his soon-to-be-10-year tenure at Northwestern.