N’WESTERN: Four Days and Counting

Indiana has a challenging assignment this weekend when it hosts No. 22 Northwestern (6-1/2-1) for Homecoming. HoosierNation.com continues its day-by-day preview of this weekend's match-up with “Four Names to Know” from Coach Pat Fitzgerald’s team…

Nate Williams, MLB – while Northwestern enjoyed a big 48-26 win over Purdue last weekend, it suffered a big loss as well as senior middle linebacker Malcolm Arrington was lost for the season with a left knee injury. Arrington ranked second on the team with 51 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss, and his play was one of the reasons the Wildcats’ defense had shown such tremendous improvement from a year ago. With Arrington out, the sophomore Williams moves into the starting lineup. The 6-2, 235-pound Williams has been used sparingly this season, totaling just 10 tackles in seven games. His best outing was against Purdue, when he replaced the injured Arrington and finished with four stops.

Keep up with the Hoosiers for less than $10 per month!! Sign up for a 7-day Free Trial to HoosierNation.com to what you've been missing. You'll get recruiting updates, recruit videos, expert commentary, breaking news - everything you need from HoosierNation.com!! Try it for seven days...FOR FREE!! Corey Wootton, DE - Wootton has been one of the leaders of a Wildcat defense that has gone from one of the country’s worst at pressuring the quarterback to one of the best. Wootton ranks in the top five in the Big Ten with 4.5 sacks, and also has eight tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries. As a team, Northwestern ranks 11th in the nation with 3.0 sacks/game, and their season total of 21 has already exceeded last year’s entire output (18). Another player to keep an eye on is reserve defensive end Vincent Browne, who has contributed 22 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks as well. Wootton, Browne and Kevin Mims give Coach Pat Fitzgerald a trio of productive defensive ends who can apply plenty of pressure to either Kellen Lewis or Ben Chappell.

Eric Peterman, WR – Northwestern’s co-MVP of the offense in 2007, Peterman ranks is one of four Wildcats with at least 25 catches this season (27) and his 324 yards ranks second on the squad. That comes on the heels of the ’07 campaign when Peterman ranked among the Big Ten leaders with 66 catches to go along with 744 yards and three touchdowns. While Peterman’s primary contributions have been as a receiver, he’s also someone Northwestern likes to use on gimmick plays as well. In last week’s win over Purdue the former high school quarterback threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Sidney Stewart on a reverse, and he’s 2-for-2 passing this year for 55 yards. Whether it’s his ability to make a big play after the catch or him being a threat on a gimmick play, Peterman is someone the IU defense will have to be very wary of Saturday afternoon.

Jordan Mabin, CB – this redshirt freshman moved into the starting lineup four games ago and has proven to be an impact player. Mabin recorded six tackles plus an interception last week against Purdue and had eight stops the prior week against Michigan State. Last week’s interception was his team-high second of the season, and he returned it to the Purdue one-yard line to set up a second half Wildcat touchdown. Some IU fans may remember Mabin because he was an Ohio product who gave serious consideration to playing for the Hoosiers before eventually settling on Fitzgerald’s team two years ago. It will be up to Andrew Means, Terrance Turner and Demarlo Belcher to make sure Mabin doesn’t have a memorable outing against his former suitors.

What’s coming up:
On Monday - Five Numbers to Note
On Tuesday Four Names to Know
On Wednesday – Three Key Match-Ups
On Thursday – Two Big Concerns
On Friday – One Bold Prediction

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