Northwestern’s run scheme under Mick McCall was pretty simple, especially with Justin Jackson in the backfield. The shifty, slightly undersized back excelled at picking out holes on slow-developing zone plays, seemingly knowing exactly when to get up the field and through a swiftly closing gap. Jeremy Larkin did some things differently, but early this year he largely carried on that tradition.
But with Jackson gone, Larkin medically retired, and other injuries befalling more veteran running backs, the Wildcats have turned to a different type of runner entirely. Isaiah Bowser, a freshman out of Sidney, Ohio enrolled early partially to put on muscle, and already stands at 6-foot-1 and 216 pounds.