Northwestern football position previews – Defensive backs

CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 15: Robert Fitzgerald #6 of the Northwestern Wildcats celebrates with Braden Turner #9 of the Northwestern Wildcats and Garner Wallace #18 of the Northwestern Wildcats after Fitzgerald caught an interception during a football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Michigan Wolverines on November 15, 2025 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ben Hsu/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

With Northwestern football's season opener closing in, InsideNU is back with another positional preview, where we break down each positional group's depth, quality and expectations.

InsideNU has so far published previews onquarterbacks(7/6),running backs(7/15),wide receivers(7/20),tight ends(7/28),offensive linemen(8/4),defensive linemen(8/9) and linebackers (8/16).

Today, let's look at Northwestern's defensive backs.

Overview

Returners: Alijah Jones (So.), Robert Fitzgerald (R-Sr.), Ore Adeyi (Gr.), Seth Valeri (R-Fy.), Braden Turner (R-Sr.), Josh Fussell (R-Jr.), J.J. Lewis (R-Jr.), Damon Walters (R-Jr.), Terrion Curry-Hicks (R-So.), Marquet Dorsey Jr. (So.), Jalen Lewis (R-Jr.), Jon Jon Stevens Jr. (So.), Tito Williams Jr. (R-So.), Jack Oyola (R-Sr.), Timi Oke (R-So.), Sean Martin (R-So.), Cole Shivers (R-Jr.)

Losses: Fred Davis II (graduated), Dillon Tatum (transferred to Miami University), Evan Smith (transferred to Duke), Garner Wallace (graduated)

Newcomers: Brenden Deasfernandes (graduate transfer from Central Michigan), Montae Pate (graduate transfer from Weber State), Gabe Davis-Ray (Fy.), Jaden Vaughn (Fy.), Nate Dawson (Fy.)

Northwestern's secondary will be one of its strengths this year. Although Fred Davis II and Garner Wallace are gone, the Wildcats brought back a lot of their talent from last year and introduced some new, exciting cornerbacks.

The biggest name on this list is Robert Fitzgerald, the superstar safety who established himself as one of the premier defensive contributors in the Big Ten. Fitzgerald ranked first in solo tackles (70) among Big Ten players and was the key connector in Northwestern's defense last year. He was a constant presence on defense in his free safety role, and his play recognition and physical build allowed him to stuff run offenses.

Fitzgerald will be supported by Damon Walters at the strong safety position, who is coming off a season-ending injury last season. Walters earned All-Big Ten honors in 2024, recording 42 tackles, two passes broken up and an interception. If he can return to the level he previously played at, Northwestern's safety corps could be very scary. Jon Jon Stevens Jr. and Alijah Jones also return to provide depth at that position.

Josh Fussell: Locked in on the outside pic.twitter.com/his4iK9gvu

- Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) April 6, 2026

Starting nickelback Braden Turner and CB1 Josh Fussell also return to Northwestern as key contributors. Turner had a great 2025 season, appearing in all 13 games and recording 56 total tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, an interception and two pass breakups. Fussell also had great moments, including solid games against Oregon, Penn State and Purdue. He struggled to guard the Big Ten's elite, giving up 189 yards to Michigan's Andrew Marsh, but Fussell had a solid season as Northwestern's top cornerback.

Northwestern did well to replace its departures in the transfer portal. The Wildcats beat out Cal and Purdue to land Central Michigan's Brenden Deasfernandes. Deasfernandes has great positional size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and agility, allowing him to deal with physical wide receivers on the line of scrimmage. Northwestern also landed graduate student Montae Pate from Weber State. Pate earned All-Big Sky First Team honors last year, logging 53 tackles, five for loss, nine pass breakups and an interception.

Northwestern also reshuffled its defensive backs coaching personnel over the offseason. LaMarcus Hicks earned a promotion to Defensive Backs Coach after spending three years training cornerbacks, filling the void that former assistant head coach and safeties coach Harlon Bennett left when he departed for Pitt. Hicks' cornerback room helped hold opposing offenses to 193.5 passing yards per game, fifth in the Big Ten. Hicks could frustrate opposing offenses even more as he steps into his new coaching role.

Key Player

Robert Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald is arguably the Wildcats' best player on defense. Fitzgerald racked up 115 total tackles, six tackles for loss, four breakups and an interception en route to a Second Team All-Big Ten season last year. He blends elite instincts with solid physicality and frame, which allowed him to become one of the conference's (and the nation's) best tacklers. When defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle played Fitzgerald closer to the line of scrimmage, Fitzgerald frequently blew up running plays. If he shores up his issues in man coverage, Fitzgerald could be an unmistakable thorn in the side of opposing quarterbacks.

Turn on the tape, Robert Fitzgerald is pic.twitter.com/RwhwndvXO8

- Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) March 6, 2026

Head coach David Braun sees Fitzgerald as a foundational piece of the Wildcats' defense thanks to his defensive contributions and veteran leadership.

Fitz had always been a critical element of our team on special teams and in packages on defense," Braun said at Big Ten Media Day. But last year? He really stepped into that boundary safety role and emerged, in my opinion, as one of not only the best performers in the Big Ten but truly one of the best football players in the Big Ten.

I think that's the ultimate compliment to any football player," Braun continued. He's a football player. He's a throwback. He's a great tackler. He's a great leader. He's physical. He's instinctual. To have him back leading our defense is something that all of us are really excited about."

Fitzgerald anchors an emerging safety position that contains some breakout candidates. Sophomore Jon Jon Stevens Jr. featured in all 13 games last season and could see extensive time at free safety if Fitzgerald spends some time at strong safety. Strong safety Damon Walters, who missed most of 2025 dealing with a season-ending injury, has All-Big Ten honors to his name. Alijah Jones, a sophomore who logged 10 tackles in 12 appearances last season, could also get some game time.

Big Question

Outside of Fussell, who steps up at outside corner?

With Davis II fighting for a spot on the Commanders' 53-man roster and Wallace out of eligibility, the cornerback slot looks open. Fussell logged significant minutes in Northwestern's CB1 role and delivered impressive performances against respectable teams such as Illinois and Minnesota. Turner looked very solid at nickel, setting the stage for a very exciting 2026 season in Northwestern's bowl win over Central Michigan, where he logged an interception, a fumble recovery and a touchdown. Yet, outside of that, there aren't many surefire guarantees at cornerback. At this position, depth seems to be one of the biggest X-factors.

Deasfernandes could be the most meaningful acquisition for Northwestern at cornerback. After struggling for game time at Iowa and transferring to Central Michigan in 2024, he broke out last year. Deasfernandes led the Chippewas in pass breakups (eight), including four against Northwestern in the GameAbove Bowl. Deasfernandes is physically adept and can provide suffocating man coverage. But can he succeed at the Power Two level after making the jump from the Group of Five?

Ore Adeyi is competing with Deasfernandes for the second starting spot at corner. After missing the entire 2024 season due to injury, he started five games for Northwestern last year, recording 19 total tackles, five pass breakups and an interception (against Penn State's Drew Allar). Adeyi has spent his entire collegiate career in Evanston and played important snaps last year. Yet, at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Adeyi projects as slightly undersized for the outside corner position, which could make dealing with physical wide receivers difficult. Will he still see that level of involvement with more competition at the outside cornerback role? Adeyi may have an edge through familiarity, but it's still anyone's game going into the season.

Although Weber State transfer Pate projects to play some snaps, Pate is pretty lean for a cornerback (175 pounds) and could need some time adjusting to the FBS level. Regardless, the cornerback position has a lot of depth and quality to it, and there are a lot of ways Northwestern's coaching staff could approach it come September.

Depth Chart

Projected 2026 DB Depth Chart

Starting outside corners: Josh Fussell, Ore Adeyi

Starting safeties: Robert Fitzgerald, Damon Walters

Starting nickel: Braden Turner

Backup outside corners: Brenden Deasfernandes, Montae Pate

Backup safeties: Jon Jon Stevens Jr., Alijah Jones