Heading into last season, Northwestern was one of the hottest stories in Division I college football. The Wildcats’ high-flying offense, featuring multiple sets, few huddles and dynamic skill players, turned the Big Ten on its ear in 2000, and behind conference coach-of-the-year Randy Walker, Northwestern had reversed a downward slide that began in the waning years of the Gary Barnett era.

But before the Wildcats even had a chance to assemble for training camp to prepare for a push toward the Big Ten title, tragedy struck the program. Senior safety Rashidi Wheeler, a returning starter and team leader, died after heat-related complications suffered during an unsupervised workout Aug. 3.

In the aftermath, Walker’s off-season conditioning program was called into question, and the emergency response system came under scrutiny when a nearby telephone didn’t work.

And naturally, the players themselves were hit hard by the loss of their teammate, leader and friend. Playing on raw emotion, the Wildcats started the season with four wins in their first five games, but eventually the trauma caught up with them, and the season ended with a thud -- a six-game losing streak characterized by shaky execution on offense and downright terrible defense. They gave up 43.7 points per game during that losing streak, including 56 and 59 in back-to-back Big Ten losses, and their bowl hopes were finally dashed in a shocking home-field loss to Bowling Green on Senior Day.

Last year’s squad had plenty of talent -- witness the nine Wildcats that were drafted by or signed free-agent contracts with NFL clubs -- but obviously the team was distracted, distraught, and devastated by Wheeler’s death, and in the end the burden was just too much to bear.

The defensive struggles over the last two years have been due in part to the effectiveness of the quick-strike offense. Much like NFL teams that have tried -- and failed with -- the run-and-shoot attack, the Northwestern defense has tended to log too many minutes on the field. The constant wear-and-tear was clearly evident at the end of last season. Last year the Wildcat offense, which ranked fifth in the Big Ten in yardage, slipped to eighth in the conference in scoring. When drives don’t translate into points, the effect can wear on a team, and that’s in part what happened last year.

This year, adjustments planned by new offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar should address those concerns. The spread formation will be phased out, huddles are back in vogue, and controlling the clock will be more of a focus going forward.

"We’re just kind of evolving and seeing where it goes," Dunbar told The Daily Northwestern. "We have some concepts -- I use that word probably too much -- that we’re trying to explore and we’ll see how they fit. As we evaluate it we’ll make determinations -- basically what I call the good and the not-so-good."

The not-so-good is that the Wildcats have to replace their leading passer, rusher and receiver. Gone are Heisman candidates Zak Kustok at quarterback and Damien Anderson at running back, as well as wide receiver Sam Simmons, tight end David Farman and three-fifths of the starters on the line.

"Damien and Zak accounted for about 90 percent of our offense last year," Walker told The Daily Northwestern. "So there’s a huge gap that needs to be filled, but I think we’ve got some guys that can do it."

And some of those guys are actually Walker’s. In his fourth year on campus, Walker finally has enough of his own recruits to incorporate into the lineup, players who came to Evanston to play for him instead of Barnett, and who buy into his coaching methods.

Terry Hoeppner, a former Walker assistant who took over at Miami when his mentor left, understands what Walker is going through. He told The Daily Northwestern, "That’s why they give coaches five-year contracts. A lot of coaches say you need five years -- that’s kind of the magic number. By the fourth year, you’re with the guys who understand you. The communication comes easier -- you don’t have to explain and reiterate everything."

Six players who had a year of eligibility remaining left the program this year, further clearing the decks for Walker’s recruits to make their stamp on this year’s team. Add in a shuffled coaching lineup that moved Dunbar from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator and brought in Greg Colby from Kent State to run the defense, and it could feel like a completely different team taking the field for the season opener Aug. 31 at Air Force.

Kustok started 30 straight games for Northwestern, and his leadership and numbers will be tough to replace. But he was among the many players who had disappointing seasons last year. His statistics were still impressive -- he posted career highs with 231 completions, 404 attempts, a .572 completion percentage, 20 touchdowns and 2,692 yards passing, along with 580 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on the ground. But he also threw a career-high 10 interceptions, and he finished 10th in the Big Ten in passing efficiency rating.

This year, sophomore Tony Stauss (6-2, 202) will be given every opportunity to win the starting position. He took snaps in four games last year, completing 23-of-38 passes for 136 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Junior Matt Danielson (6-0, 222) was initially listed at No. 2 on the spring depth chart, but it appears that freshman Brett Basanez (6-2, 190) has moved past him into the primary backup role.

Meanwhile, freshman Alexander Webb (6-0, 190) -- who joined the program over the winter after graduating early from Park High School in Dallas, had an impressive spring game, going 6-for-7 for 51 yards and running five times for 23 yards and a pair of scores. He’s likely to be red-shirted, so Northwestern fans should hold their excitement in check for at least one season.

Anderson entered last year as the leading returning rusher and Heisman Trophy vote getter in the country, but injuries and extra attention from opposing defenses kept him from accomplishing what he had hoped to as a senior. He wound up with 757 yards rushing, eight touchdowns and 4.4 yards per carry -- or about one-third of his totals as a junior. His season ended three games early with an injury against Indiana, but he still finished as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,485 yards.

Now a handful of players are gunning for the right to replace him in the starting lineup, and nobody had moved clear of the pack at the end of spring practice. Junior Torri Stuckey took over at the end of last year and gained 218 yards over the last two games, but he was moved to safety in the spring.

Senior Kevin Lawrence (5-11, 206) was Anderson’s primary backup and is likely the man to take over the starting job. But he will be challenged by junior Jason Wright (5-10, 198), who had the most carries in the spring game, and also from freshman Jeff Backes (5-10, 185) and sophomore Noah Herron (5-11, 219). Backes is a former Ohio Mr. Football award winner and was impressive in the spring game, carrying seven times for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

Lawrence was the initial replacement for Anderson last year, but he injured his knee the next week against Iowa and was done for the year. His 5.1-yard average on 57 carries was the best mark on the team, and he is certainly not lacking for confidence as he tries to win the starting job.

Herron had a chance to prove himself as well but broke his foot and didn’t get out of the gate. Meanwhile, speaking of injuries, junior Louis Ayeni (5-11, 198) returns to the lineup after a medical red-shirt season in 2001 and could fight his way into the mix. Sophomore Rob Shirley (6-0, 230) could provide a different look as a fullback, while freshman Clifton Dawson (5-10, 185) adds depth.

Continuing the theme of what’s missing from last year, the ‘Cats must replace Sam Simmons, who was a fifth-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins in April. He led the team with 807 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a senior, even though he battled a broken finger early in the season. He had 168 yards receiving against Penn State, but didn’t come through with any dramatic, game-winning touchdowns as he did in back-to-back games against Minnesota and Michigan in 2000. Still, he will be missed for his reliability and special-teams play.

However, the receiving corps is still experienced enough to provide a security blanket for a young quarterback. Senior Jon Schweighardt (5-11, 192) and junior Kunle Patrick (6-0, 204) each started 10 games last season and rank among the top 15 all-time on the school’s receiving list. Patrick was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, leading the team with 56 catches last year, and his 672 yards and five touchdowns were second-best on the team. Schweighardt checked in third with 43 grabs, 469 yards and four scores.

Junior Ronnie Foster (6-1, 198) rocketed up the depth chart this spring and is the current No. 3 receiver. He had 14 catches in backup duty last year. Meanwhile, sophomore Jovan Witherspoon (6-3, 203) is a highly regarded transfer from Notre Dame who came on strong at the end of the season, catching 12 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown over the final four games.

Sophomore Ashton Aikens (6-2, 195) and junior Roger Jordan (6-3, 215) each cracked double figures in catches last year as well and will push for playing time this season.

Meanwhile, the future depth at wide receiver is impressive, with freshmen Eric Batis (6-1, 180), Matt Bruksch (6-3, 190), Jonathan Fields (5-8, 165), Bob Holsen (6-1, 190), and Adam Paoli (5-9, 160) all gaining experience after red-shirt seasons.

Tight end David Farman departed on the heels of a 12-catch season, but the position wasn’t much of a focus over the last two seasons. That will change in the new offense, and look for junior Eric Worley (6-4, 252), sophomore Trai Essex (6-4, 258), and freshman Joe Wohlscheid (6-7, 276) to have expanded roles this year.

Although Northwestern lost tackles Leon Brockmeier and Mike Souza, and guard Lance Clelland from last year’s starting lineup, the two guys who are back are among the best in the Big Ten.

Senior right guard Jeff Roehl (6-4, 299) and senior center Austin King (6-4, 281) have spent the off-season collecting kudos from national publications such as The Sporting News, which selected Roehl to its first-team All-Big Ten squad, and tabbed King the second-team all-conference center and fourth-best in the country.

Roehl, a transfer from Notre Dame, has started in all 23 games he has played at Northwestern and was an honorable mention All-America selection last year. Meanwhile, King is a three-year starter who missed part of the Iowa game with an ankle injury last year, but has otherwise started every game at center since the third week of his freshman year.

Sophomore Matt Ulrich (6-2, 292) is the leading candidate to take over at left guard, while the tackles will be juniors Carl Matejka (6-4, 301) and Derek Martinez (6-5, 304).

The top backups will be sophomores Don Baskin (6-2, 296) and Bill Newton (6-7, 298), and freshman Zach Strief (6-7, 335). Meanwhile, sophomores Steve Natali (6-3, 282) and Ikechuku Ndukwe (6-5, 330) and freshman Vince Clarke (6-5, 288) round out the roster.

Senior David Wasielewski (5-10, 229) returns after handling the kicking chores for the first time last season. He connected on just 7-of-13 field goals and struggled on the mid-range kicks, going just 2-for-7 from inside 40 yards. But he was 5-for-5 from 40-to-49 yards and kicked a game-winning 47-yarder at the gun to beat Michigan State, 27-26.

However after that kick he made only one of four attempts in the season’s final eight games, and sophomore Brian Huffman (6-1, 202) will get a look this fall.

The numbers were ugly on defense last year, as the ‘Cats finished 10th in the conference in pass defense, 11th in rushing defense, 11th in scoring defense, 11th in total defense, 11th in opponent first downs -- well, you get the picture.

The defensive line under-performed, putting pressure on the secondary by failing to mount a consistent pass rush and not stopping the run. Gone from that line are tackle Salem Simon and end Napoleon Harris, who became the seventh first-round NFL draft pick in school history when the Oakland Raiders took him at No. 23 in April.

Injuries hit the line hard last year, but that allowed a couple of freshmen to get starting experience. Thomas Derricks (6-1, 280) and Luis Castillo (6-4, 288) return as sophomores with the inside track on starting jobs at the defensive tackle spots.

"We may not have a great deal of experience with this unit right now, but we are as talented as we’ve ever been," Walker said.

Two guys who haven’t played a down yet -- red-shirt freshmen Demaris Wilson (6-4, 245) and David Thompson (6-3, 245) -- could factor into the equation.

Wilson and Thompson were penciled in as the starting defensive ends after spring practice, while junior Matt Anderson (6-3, 286) and sophomore Colby Clark (6-2, 277), who both started last year, have slipped back to No. 2 on the depth chart and must fight for their jobs in August.

Leading tackler Kevin Bentley (147 stops and 12 sacks) was a fourth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in April, and Billy Silva, who finished second with 121 tackles, is also gone, but the linebackers still have a potential star in senior Pat Durr (6-1, 233). He finished third with 103 tackles last season and tied Harris for second with nine sacks, and drew praise for his performance in spring practice.

In Colby’s new defense, the linebackers will take on a more aggressive role, which should suit Durr’s skills. For added inspiration, former Northwestern All-America linebacker Pat Fitzgerald has been moved to linebacker coach after joining the coaching staff before last season.

Walker is counting on Durr for more than just tackles this year -- he wants him to step forward and be the leader on the defense.

Durr will move to Silva’s vacated middle linebacker spot, while the starters on the outside will be sophomore John Pickens (6-2, 226) and freshman Eric VanderHorst (6-2, 235). They will be pushed by senior Vincent Cartaya (6-3, 233), junior Doug Szymul (6-0, 214) and freshman Braden Jones (6-2, 220).

The secondary lost only one starter -- strong safety Marvin Brown, who was eventually replaced by the end of the season. The leader of the group will be senior cornerback Raheem Covington (5-9, 182), who made 55 tackles, picked off two passes and broke up nine others last year, his second as a starter.

"Raheem is very talented and gifted," Walker said. "We are counting on him to be a leader within that group."

The other cornerback will be sophomore Marvin Ward (5-11, 200), who started the final seven games as a freshman and broke up 10 passes to go with 55 tackles. Sophomore Jarvis Adams (5-10, 205) will start at strong safety -- last year he came off the bench after battling an ankle sprain, but still managed 39 tackles and two picks in being selected to the Big Ten all-freshman team by The Sporting News.

At free safety, junior Mark Roush (6-0, 191) returns after starting five games last year, when he piled up 55 tackles. Also in the fight for playing time are sophomores Herschel Henderson (6-3, 195) and Dominique Price (6-0, 205), who were forced into duty last year because of injuries. Price was selected Northwestern’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year and could push Roush at free safety, while the coaches like Henderson’s potential at cornerback.

The Wildcats have to replace four-year starter J.J. Standring, who averaged 43.1 yards per kick last season, good for third-best in the Big Ten.

Wasielewski and Huffman are also battling for the punting duties, and the early edge goes to Wasielewski, who averaged 40.1 yards per punt at Florida before he transferred to Northwestern.

While the big stars struggled a bit on offense last year, they were still incredibly productive return men. Simmons ranked second in the Big Ten with an average of 12.8 yards per punt return and brought one back 71 yards for a touchdown against Minnesota. Anderson finished fourth among Big Ten kickoff returners with a 25.8-yard average.

Shifty running back Backes is the likely replacement on punt returns, with Patrick also a candidate for those duties, while Backes and Fields are projected on kickoff returns.

The ‘Cats also have to replace long-snapper King and holder Standring. Look for VanderHorst and King to handle the snapping, while Danielson and Patrick are the holder candidates.

Walker’s focus during recruiting was on skill players -- he signed two quarterbacks, three running backs, three wide receivers and a tight end.

Webb came to campus early and showed in spring practice that he’s got the skills to play at this level. The other quarterback, Derrell Jenkins (6-1,180) from Illinois, was recruited as a defensive back by many schools and could have a future in the secondary.

Wide receiver Brandon Horn (6-1, 210) has potential with good speed for his size, while running back Clifton Dawson (5-10, 185) is a speedster out of Ontario.

Defensive lineman Loren Howard (6-4, 280) was regarded as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Arizona. He can bench-press 385 pounds, has a 34-inch vertical leap and could be a pass-rushing star in years to come.

Barry Cofield (6-5, 265), a defensive line recruit from Cleveland, is also targeted as a pass-rusher, while Milwaukee’s Demetrius Eaton (6-2, 215) is projected as a linebacker with smarts and quickness.

The Wildcats should benefit from the coaching changes and the emergence of Walker’s recruiting classes in the system, but there are just too many holes to fill to expect much from them this fall.

Replacing Kustok, Anderson and Simmons in one season might be too much to ask on offense, and the defense is unproven up front. It will likely be at least one more year before Northwestern returns to its bowl-worthy form.