Last year’s Northwestern secondary could only be described as an enigma.

Only 11 Division I-A teams and one Big Ten team surrendered more yards per game through the air than the Wildcats. Yet the Cats also had a propensity for the big play, picking off a Big Ten-leading 20 passes.

So the question in 2006 is whether or not the secondary can keep the turnovers up and the yardage down.

Ironically, the unit’s effectiveness may hinge on a player who had spent his whole career until this year throwing or catching passes, not trying to knock them down.

Sophomore Eric Peterman, who originally committed to NU as a quarterback before spending his freshman season at wide receiver, is expected to start at cornerback this season. The move became necessary because junior Deante Battle is on academic suspension and his return to the team is in question.

“I don’t know. It’s really out of my hands and so it’s other people’s decision at this point whether he’ll return to Northwestern or not,” coach Randy Walker said of Battle. “But that’s why we carried Peterman over to defense. I mean Eric Peterman’s having a heck of a spring – He’s picking up by leaps and bounds over there.”

The switch to the other side of the ball hasn’t been easy for Peterman, especially since he didn’t know he would be making the change until two days before spring practice began.

“There are different techniques involved and different keys to read,” Peterman said. “But I think I’m doing alright. I have a lot more learning to do. I just need to keep developing and keep learning.”

The other starting cornerback spot belongs to senior Marquice Cole, who was second in the Big Ten last season with five interceptions.

Cole will also be looked to as one of the leaders of the defense this season along with senior safety Bryan Heinz. Heinz figures to be especially motivated to have a great campaign after missing the entire 2005 regular season because of a torn ACL he suffered during the preseason.

“It was extremely tough,” Heinz said of sitting out. “It was probably the toughest thing I had to do in my whole life. You work toward a goal all summer, and then to see that goal dissolve is really hard.”

Heinz returned for the Sun Bowl and recorded his seventh career interception in NU’s loss to UCLA.

This season, Heinz looks forward to playing a major role in improving NU’s 117th-ranked defense by contributing off the field as well as on it.

“I expect to be a leader,” Heinz said. “It will be my fifth year here and my fourth year playing. I want to be someone guys can look to if they have questions or problems.”

Heinz will team with promising sophomore Brendan Smith to form what should be an effective duo. With that pair at safety and Cole, Peterman and possibly Battle at cornerback, Heinz believes the 2006 version of the NU secondary will be an improved one.

“I think we will be more effective than we have been in the past,” Heinz said. “The young guys are no longer young. They know what they’re doing now.”

Reach Andrew Simon at [email protected].