Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Reflect on Legacy, Culture at NU Pro Day
3/20/2026 4:33:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. – As Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun prepared to watch 17 of his former players take the next step in their Pre-Draft process during Northwestern's Pro Day on Tuesday inside Ryan Fieldhouse, he harped on the group's undeniable legacy.
"Something this entire group will be able to be really proud of for years to come is the legacy they've left on this football program," Braun said. "At the end of the day, the leadership from this senior group in the 2025 season is the best I've ever been around.
"Something we've challenged our team going into the spring season is stepping up, replacing guys like Mac Uihlein, Caleb Tiernan and Aidan Hubbard and the list goes on and on. We're sitting here today with 17 guys that are chasing down their NFL dreams. There's a group of NFL scouts that are awfully excited to be at Northwestern."
Several weeks after Tiernan, Evan Beerntsen and Aidan Hubbard became the first Wildcats to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine since 2013, they joined more than a dozen of their teammates for one last showcase in their indoor practice facility.
Tiernan, the No. 8 ranked offensive tackle in PFF's 2026 NFL Draft rankings, logged 43 consecutive starts on the Northwestern offensive line. He allowed zero sacks in eight of the Wildcats' nine Big Ten games in 2025. Tiernan raved of his position group's evolution in the latter stages of his collegiate career.
"The growth was monumental," Tiernan said. "When you bring in guys who love football, it's super easy to be competitive and love the guys you're doing it with. We had such a good combination of those traits that allowed us to transform there."
For Braun, the offensive line's transcendence into one of the Big Ten's premier units doesn't happen without Tiernan's leadership. Braun said the tackle made a conscious decision to reach his "full potential," and Tiernan's persistence has paid marked dividends.
"I told NFL personnel this morning, being elected a captain on the 2025 Northwestern football team is the ultimate honor," Braun said. "It was uncomfortable for [Tiernan], but he stepped into it. He owned it. He brought credibility. He was truly authentic to himself and he had a ton of influence on this football program."
"The legacy he and those other captains left behind is something that will live as a part of this program for a long, long time."
Unlike Tiernan, who spent five seasons with the Wildcats, quarterback Preston Stone finished his college career with a final year in Evanston after his journey began at SMU. But Stone made an immediate imprint on the NU culture, earning the role of team captain during his graduate year.
Stone threw for 2,700 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2025. He said the team's player leadership provided constant reminders of the program's lofty standard.
"It's a standard of competitive excellence," Stone said. "The best players are the hardest workers on the team. There's no one that gets around the standard. There's no one who's able to take any days off or any work off. It's just a collective understanding that every guy's got to do their job and put their best foot forward."
For Beerntsen, who won two national championships at South Dakota State before transferring into the Big Ten this past season, the Wildcats' camaraderie was palpable from the moment he stepped on campus.
As he made the jump from the FCS to Power Four football, Beerntsen didn't allow a sack or quarterback hit in 13 starts at right guard in 2025. The Green Bay, Wis., native said he helped coach up his younger counterparts on the offensive line last season, but they taught him just as much.
"They brought in a lot of guys and were just very welcoming with open arms," Beerntsen said. "The brotherhood we had in the locker room was just cool to see this year. Being a transfer coming in, there might be a little animosity — you're coming in to compete. But everybody huddled together, and we were supporting each other throughout the year."
The collective foundation, forged by veteran leaders like Tiernan, Uihlein, Hubbard and countless others, will define the program's championship pursuit long after the 2025 graduates reach the next step in their careers, Braun said.
"We have to make sure we continue to adapt and evolve and make sure we're continuing to position the program to compete for Big Ten Championships," Braun said. "Today is about our 17 seniors, our guys that are out there showcasing their skillset and everything that they'll bring to the NFL. I could not be more excited to celebrate these guys today."
"Something this entire group will be able to be really proud of for years to come is the legacy they've left on this football program," Braun said. "At the end of the day, the leadership from this senior group in the 2025 season is the best I've ever been around.
"Something we've challenged our team going into the spring season is stepping up, replacing guys like Mac Uihlein, Caleb Tiernan and Aidan Hubbard and the list goes on and on. We're sitting here today with 17 guys that are chasing down their NFL dreams. There's a group of NFL scouts that are awfully excited to be at Northwestern."
Several weeks after Tiernan, Evan Beerntsen and Aidan Hubbard became the first Wildcats to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine since 2013, they joined more than a dozen of their teammates for one last showcase in their indoor practice facility.
Tiernan, the No. 8 ranked offensive tackle in PFF's 2026 NFL Draft rankings, logged 43 consecutive starts on the Northwestern offensive line. He allowed zero sacks in eight of the Wildcats' nine Big Ten games in 2025. Tiernan raved of his position group's evolution in the latter stages of his collegiate career.
"The growth was monumental," Tiernan said. "When you bring in guys who love football, it's super easy to be competitive and love the guys you're doing it with. We had such a good combination of those traits that allowed us to transform there."
For Braun, the offensive line's transcendence into one of the Big Ten's premier units doesn't happen without Tiernan's leadership. Braun said the tackle made a conscious decision to reach his "full potential," and Tiernan's persistence has paid marked dividends.
"I told NFL personnel this morning, being elected a captain on the 2025 Northwestern football team is the ultimate honor," Braun said. "It was uncomfortable for [Tiernan], but he stepped into it. He owned it. He brought credibility. He was truly authentic to himself and he had a ton of influence on this football program."
"The legacy he and those other captains left behind is something that will live as a part of this program for a long, long time."
Unlike Tiernan, who spent five seasons with the Wildcats, quarterback Preston Stone finished his college career with a final year in Evanston after his journey began at SMU. But Stone made an immediate imprint on the NU culture, earning the role of team captain during his graduate year.
Stone threw for 2,700 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2025. He said the team's player leadership provided constant reminders of the program's lofty standard.
"It's a standard of competitive excellence," Stone said. "The best players are the hardest workers on the team. There's no one that gets around the standard. There's no one who's able to take any days off or any work off. It's just a collective understanding that every guy's got to do their job and put their best foot forward."
For Beerntsen, who won two national championships at South Dakota State before transferring into the Big Ten this past season, the Wildcats' camaraderie was palpable from the moment he stepped on campus.
As he made the jump from the FCS to Power Four football, Beerntsen didn't allow a sack or quarterback hit in 13 starts at right guard in 2025. The Green Bay, Wis., native said he helped coach up his younger counterparts on the offensive line last season, but they taught him just as much.
"They brought in a lot of guys and were just very welcoming with open arms," Beerntsen said. "The brotherhood we had in the locker room was just cool to see this year. Being a transfer coming in, there might be a little animosity — you're coming in to compete. But everybody huddled together, and we were supporting each other throughout the year."
The collective foundation, forged by veteran leaders like Tiernan, Uihlein, Hubbard and countless others, will define the program's championship pursuit long after the 2025 graduates reach the next step in their careers, Braun said.
"We have to make sure we continue to adapt and evolve and make sure we're continuing to position the program to compete for Big Ten Championships," Braun said. "Today is about our 17 seniors, our guys that are out there showcasing their skillset and everything that they'll bring to the NFL. I could not be more excited to celebrate these guys today."
Players Mentioned
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