Long before Sawchuk recorded the most rushing yards by a Wildcat newcomer in a season opener since 2005, or stepped foot on Northwestern’s campus, he crossed paths with Thompson on the recruiting trail.
As the top high school recruit in Colorado’s Class of 2021, Sawchuk garnered attention from schools all across the nation. One recruiting pitch for the two-time Gatorade Colorado Player of the Year came from Thompson, then the running backs coach at Cal.
Sawchuk went a different route, committing to Oklahoma before transferring to Florida State for the 2025 season. Upon entering his name into the transfer portal after the 2025 campaign, Thompson made sure his second effort at getting to coach Sawchuk wouldn’t fall short.
“When I first saw him in the portal, I was almost like, ‘It’s too good to be true,’” Thompson said. “He’s a guy that I would have loved to have had the opportunity to coach at the previous school I was at. I’m a firm believer that relationships are meant to last. It was like, ‘Hey, we get a second go-around.’”
Sawchuk heard from Thompson, who also recruited his younger brother, Gabe, upon entering the portal. After learning of Northwestern’s interest, Sawchuk decided to take a visit to Evanston. Right away, he saw an excellent opportunity to grow as a player, an amazing culture and a great coaching staff. He knew it was where he wanted to play his fifth season of college football.
Immediately, Sawchuk has made a contribution on special teams. The Littleton, Colorado native appeared on 18 special teams snaps in Week 1, the second-most on the team, playing kick returns as well as both kick and punt coverage.
Sawchuk was named the team’s special teams player of the week for his performance. Once a high school cornerback, Sawchuk called special teams a “trip down memory lane” for him.
“I love special teams. I get a chance to run down and try to make tackles, defeat blocks, whatever it is,” Sawchuk said. “Since I’ve been in college, I've realized that special teams makes such a difference in a game. It really is a difference maker in the game — the hidden yardage, being able to flip the field, being able to pin the opponent deep down inside their own territory. It changes the game.”
The 6-foot, 205-pound ball carrier joins a dynamic backfield alongside fifth-year running back Joseph Himon II and fourth-year running back Caleb Komolafe, who tallied 735 and 1,001 all-purpose yards, respectively, in 2025. Himon led the Wildcats in rushing yards (87) in Week 1, while Komolafe paced the team in carries (10).
Getting ready to face a Colorado defense both Thompson and Sawchuk identified as “really fast” across all three levels, the Wildcats will lean on their three-headed monster at running back to spark the offense.
“Everybody has different styles between me, Joe and Komo,” Sawchuk said. “It’s hard to defend that. Three different running backs can enter the game, and every one of them is different. Being able to attack a defense in that way, it makes it that much harder for them to prepare.”
