When Northwestern football coach Randy Walker pulled junior running back Torri Stuckey aside after Monday’s practice, Stuckey thought they were having a routine chat.
“But then he asked me to step up to his office,” Stuckey said.
In the meeting, Walker asked Stuckey, who started two games in the backfield for the Wildcats last season, if he would mind switching to defense.
Surprisingly, Stuckey was more than happy to oblige.
“I always had missed defense,” said Stuckey, who played both defensive back and running back in high school. “I didn’t want to ask to move, but (I knew) if they asked I would be more than glad to.”
The 5-foot-11, 197-pounder is listed second at free safety behind junior Mark Roush on the preseason depth chart, which was released Wednesday.
Stuckey’s speed will help bolster a position that was a major weakness for NU in 2001. The Cats allowed 262.6 passing yards per game.
The high school experience will aid with the adjustment, Stuckey said. But when it comes to the specifics of NU’s defensive system, he said, “I have no clue.”
The team’s summer workouts will provide Stuckey a chance to learn the Xs and Os.
As for his offensive career, it’s a thing of the past.
“My whole focus is going to be on the defense and trying to start at defensive back (in the fall), to try to be the jack of all trades,” he said.
Despite Stuckey’s move, four running backs are listed as possible starters.
Senior Kevin Lawrence, who backed up Damien Anderson in 2001, is the leading candidate, but freshman standout Jeff Backes, sophomore Noah Herron and junior Jason Wright are all listed on the depth chart.
Another surprise was the listing of Dan Pohlman at middle linebacker backing up senior Pat Durr.
Pohlman, a sophomore who has been busy this spring playing designated hitter and left field for the NU baseball team, was thought to be a strong candidate to start at outside linebacker.
“There’s a lot of linebackers that we have, and we’re not really sure where everyone goes,” Pohlman said. “They’re just kind of trying things.”
Playing behind Durr, an All-Big Ten candidate, Pohlman will take advantage of the opportunity to learn from one of NU’s best.
“I kind of plan on being Pat’s shadow,” Pohlman said. “He’s our senior leader on defense. He knows everything. He’s like a coach on the field.”
Freshman Eric VanderHorst and sophomore John Pickens were slotted as the No. 1 outside linebackers, while Jarvis Adams (strong safety), Raheem Covington (left cornerback) and Marvin Ward (right cornerback) round out the starting defensive backfield.
Luis Castillo and Thomas Derricks are listed as the top defensive tackles, while freshmen Demaris Wilson, David Thompson and Greg Lutzen will be competing for the two starting defensive end spots.
Sophomore Tony Stauss will be backed up at quarterback by either Brett Basanez or Alexander Webb, who left high school early to participate in NU’s spring practices. Basanez redshirted the 2001 campaign.
Kunle Patrick, Ronnie Foster and Jon Schweighardt are listed as the Cats’ starting wide receivers. Derek Martinez, Jeff Roehl, Austin King, Matt Ulrich and Carl Matejka make up the offensive line, and Trai Essex is listed as the top tight end.
David Wasielewski is listed as the starting punter and placekicker.
