A point of pride in the Northwestern defensive unit is its ability to stop the run, and, through five games, that skill has proven to be a work in progress, culminating in holding Louisiana-Monroe to just 87 yards on the ground Saturday.
“We’re getting better every week,” defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle told The Daily on Tuesday. “That’s the rally cry right now. One day better, one week better.”
However, the Wildcats’ (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) progress will be tested Saturday by Penn State’s two-headed monster in its backfield. With the added pressure of filling graduate student linebacker Yannis Karlaftis’ spot after he went down with an injury against ULM, this weekend will prove revealing.
Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are the motors of the Nittany Lion (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) ground attack. Both Singleton and Allen ran for over 1,000 yards last season, figures that placed them in the top 10 of the Big Ten.
The pair is back to its usual antics in 2025.
Singleton and Allen have already combined to score 11 touchdowns on the ground. Additionally, Allen currently averages 6.98 yards per carry and leads the team with 377 rushing yards.
“We pride ourselves on stopping the run, and we got a great opportunity and a great test this week,” defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle said. “We’re gonna have our work cut out for us, but I think our guys are ready.”
McGarigle will have to tackle this challenge with a defense that allows the fourth-most rushing yards per game in the Big Ten and an alternative option at linebacker.
At his weekly press conference Monday, coach David Braun called Karlaftis’ injury “a long-term deal.” Karlaftis played in each of NU’s first five games and earned his first start of the season against ULM.
Braun said that his impact will be missed in more ways than one.
“(Yannis) was here for three weeks, and you thought (Yannis) had been here for three years,” coach David Braun said. “The way that he integrated in this team, the energy that he brings, the passion for the game of football that he has.”
McGarigle, who also handles the linebacker coaching duties, told the Daily he expects junior Jack Sadowsky V, redshirt sophomore Payton Roth and redshirt sophomore Nigel Glover could see elevated roles at linebacker.
Sadowsky possesses the most experience of the bunch. The Iowa State transfer started all 13 games at linebacker in his 2023 freshman season. Last year, he played in all 13 games, making four starts.
Braun and McGarigle, though, lauded how Roth and Glover have contributed in other ways.
“Those guys are playing really fast and making plays on special teams,” McGarigle said. “That is encouraging for when they get the chance to play on defense. They’ll be ready to go.”
Ultimately, the ’Cats still have their two anchors at the linebacker position in graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein and redshirt junior linebacker Braydon Brus.
Uihlein has started all five games in 2025, and his 35 total tackles only trail redshirt junior safety Robert Fitzgerald. The linebacker has also nabbed two interceptions, making him the first NU linebacker to have multiple interceptions in a season since 2023.
Last season, Uihlein earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. This season, he has earned himself what McGarigle called the biggest honor in the program: team captaincy.
“He’s a unique person in a good way and has a chance to lead these guys, and they rally around them,” McGarigle said. “We love having him in the middle.”
In NU’s first five games, McGarigle noted the way Uihlein has made strides in open field tackling, driving people back and racking up takeaways.
The ’Cats will also lean on Brus, who has also started every game this season. With 2025 being his first year stepping into a starting role, McGarigle has been impressed by his continuous improvement.
“(Brus is) playing fast,” McGarigle said. “He’s been a guy that has been ready for a while… He’s getting better every week as a full-time starter.”
Whoever the ’Cats trot out, Braun’s philosophy on weekly improvement has been evident on the defensive side of the ball.
To McGarigle, it’s been the tackling and run stopping ability of his defense that has grown stronger.
NU opened its season against Tulane, where the defense allowed 269 yards on the ground. While ULM is not the same caliber of team, allowing less than 100 rushing yards was a welcome change for McGarigle.
With the group of guys in the linebacker room, McGarigle has confidence heading into this weekend.
“I think the guys are ready,” McGarigle said. “Mac Uihlein is our defensive leader, and he’s going to lead the charge.”
Email: annawatson2027@u.northwestern.edu
X: @adub_sports
Related Stories:
— Football: Braun emphasizes Stone’s development, rush defense ahead of Penn State matchup
— Captured: Football: Northwestern rocks Louisiana-Monroe 42-7
— Northwestern leans on young receivers in 42-7 win over Louisiana-Monroe
