EVANSTON, Ill. – The Northwestern Wildcats will add seven preferred walk-ons to the program this fall, Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald announced on Wednesday.
In addition to 20 student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent in February to join the Wildcats, Drew Luckenbaugh (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove), Cody Link (Madison, Wis./Edgewood), David McCuskey (Orono, Minn./Orono), Jason Goosen (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood), Jack Tirmonia (Canton, Ohio/Jackson), Parker Oliver (Dallas, Texas/Texas Christian Academy) and Tyler Gillikin (Atlanta, Ga./The Westminster Schools) will join Chicago's Big Ten Team as preferred walk-ons.
"We are excited to have these young men join our football family later this year," said Fitzgerald. "They're a critical part of our program."
Find complete information on the newest Wildcats below:
TYLER GILLIKIN
Long Snapper
6'3/215/Atlanta, Ga. (The Westminster Schools)
High School: Captained The Westminster Schools to the 2015 Georgia AAA State Championship … First Team All-State Class AAA … First Team All-Metro Atlanta … Piled up 82 tackles and led the Wildcats with 23 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles as a senior … Played both offense (tackle, tight end) and defense, earning Team Defensive Player of the Week honors four times, and Offensive Player of the Week laurels twice … Helped lead the Wildcats to the 2014 Georgia AAA Semifinals … Three-sport athlete also earned varsity letters in track (high jump) and basketball … National Honor Society … Honor Roll student … AP Scholar.
Personal: Born Tyler Brent Gillikin in Atlanta … Father, Walt, was a swimmer at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill … Mother, Taryn, was an All-American swimmer at the University of Kansas … Twin brother Blake committed to Penn State as a punter … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Biology.
JASON GOOSEN
Offensive Line
6'8/305/Virginia Beach, Va. (Tallwood)
High School: Played in Virginia National Guard Under Armour High School East vs. West All-Star game … 2015 Tallwood Lineman of the Year … 2014 and 2015 All-757 Honorable Mention … Lettered all four years for Tallwood … 2016 Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award … 2014 Latin Honor Society inductee.
Personal: Born Jason Tyler Goosen in Virginia Beach, Va. … Parents are Theodore Goosen and Teresa Plasse-Goosen … Brother Theo plays offensive line at Cornell … Cousin, Jennifer, played lacrosse at Niagara University … Cousin, Erin, ran cross country and track & field at Union College … Anticipated major at Northwestern is STEM or Engineering.
CODY LINK
Linebacker
6'5/220/Madison, Wis. (Edgewood)
High School: Recorded 92 tackles and scored two defensive touchdowns senior year … Named to 2015 All-City team … All-Conference linebacker (2015) and tight end (2014, 2015) … Named team MVP senior year … Captained Edgewood to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs last year, the team's third playoff appearance in four years … Three-sport athlete all four years … Turned down scholarship offers to play college baseball … All-State Academics in 2015 … Honor Roll student … National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Cody Patrick Link in Naperville, Ill. … Parents are Patrick and Kelly … Mother is in the UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame for track and cross country ... Sister, Courtney, runs track and cross country at St. Louis University … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
DREW LUCKENBAUGH
Kicker, Punter
6'1/200/Spring Grove, Pa. (Spring Grove)
High School: Recorded 52 points (eight field goals, 28 PATs) and 23 touchbacks senior year … Booted 45-yard game winner, his longest of the season … Totaled 76 points (14 field goals, 34 PATs) sophomore year, 68 points (10 field goals, 38 PATs) freshman year … Set school record with 47-yard field goal freshman year … Led Spring Grove to Division I co-championship in 2012 … First Team All-County Kicker all four years … Second Team All-County punter senior year … Most field goals in the state of Pennsylvania in 2013 … Wendy's Heisman State Finalist … Second in graduating class … 4.0 GPA, class president, Distinguished Honor Roll every semester … National Honor Society … Placed eighth nationally at 2015 Team America Rocketry Challenge.
Personal: Born Andrew Myles Luckenbaugh in York, Pa. … Parents are Joseph and Lisa Luckenbaugh … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Computer Science.
DAVID MCCUSKEY
Running Back
5'11/180/Orono, Minn. (Orono)
High School: Totaled 2,108 all-purpose yards (1,727 rushing), 170 rushing yards per game, 26 touchdowns and 7.5 yards per carry as a senior captain at Orono … Racked up 4,350 all-purpose yards (3,558 rushing yards) and 40 touchdowns during high school career … All-State, team MVP … Holds school record for rushing yards and touchdowns … Academic All-State … Yale Book Award recipient … Honor Roll student … Junior class president … AP Scholar.
Personal: Born David J McCuskey in Edina, Minn. … Parents are Connie and Dave … Great grandfather, David McCuskey, was Hall of Fame wrestling coach for Iowa … Anticipated major at Northwestern is political science.
PARKER OLIVER
Wide Receiver
5'11/180/Dallas, Texas (Texas Christian Academy)
High School: Filled the stat sheet with 715 receiving yards, 578 passing yards and 492 rushing yards to go along with 16 touchdowns as a senior captain at Trinity Christian …. Totaled 4,255 all-purpose yards and 40 touchdowns (25 receiving, eight rushing, seven passing) during a three-year varsity career with the Trojans … 2015 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 5A Male Athlete of the Year … Two-time TAPPS 5A All-State Offense … Two-time First Team All-District … Two-time Academic All-State … Trinity Christian Offensive MVP as a senior … Also earned four varsity letters in track, competing in the 100m, 200m, 4x100 relay, long jump and triple jump … Two-time TAPPS 5A 100m State Champion … 2015 TAPPS 5A Triple Jump State Champion … Holds Trinity Christian records in the triple jump and as part of the 4x100 relay … National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Parker Scott Oliver in Dallas … Parents are Greg and Stephanie Oliver … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
JACK TIRMONIA
Wide Receiver
6'3/190/Canton, Ohio (Jackson)
High School: Recorded 44 catches, 645 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior year captain … All-Ohio Division I Second Team … First Team Division I Northeast Ohio Inland All-District … First Team All-Stark County … First Team All-Federal League … Invited to Blue-Grey All-American Game at AT&T Stadium (declined to participate), selected for Stark County East-West All-Star Game … Class vice president junior year … National Honor Society … Honor Roll student.
Personal: Born Jackson Nicholas Tirmonia in Canton, Ohio … Parents are Michael and Allison Tirmonia … Michael was Honorable Mention All-American in golf at Wittenberg University … Grandfather, Jerry Krisher, won 1954 football national championship at Ohio State, drafted in fifth round by Philadelphia Eagles … Undecided on anticipated major at Northwestern, interested in Economics.
In addition to 20 student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent in February to join the Wildcats, Drew Luckenbaugh (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove), Cody Link (Madison, Wis./Edgewood), David McCuskey (Orono, Minn./Orono), Jason Goosen (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood), Jack Tirmonia (Canton, Ohio/Jackson), Parker Oliver (Dallas, Texas/Texas Christian Academy) and Tyler Gillikin (Atlanta, Ga./The Westminster Schools) will join Chicago's Big Ten Team as preferred walk-ons.
"We are excited to have these young men join our football family later this year," said Fitzgerald. "They're a critical part of our program."
Find complete information on the newest Wildcats below:
TYLER GILLIKIN
Long Snapper
6'3/215/Atlanta, Ga. (The Westminster Schools)
High School: Captained The Westminster Schools to the 2015 Georgia AAA State Championship … First Team All-State Class AAA … First Team All-Metro Atlanta … Piled up 82 tackles and led the Wildcats with 23 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles as a senior … Played both offense (tackle, tight end) and defense, earning Team Defensive Player of the Week honors four times, and Offensive Player of the Week laurels twice … Helped lead the Wildcats to the 2014 Georgia AAA Semifinals … Three-sport athlete also earned varsity letters in track (high jump) and basketball … National Honor Society … Honor Roll student … AP Scholar.
Personal: Born Tyler Brent Gillikin in Atlanta … Father, Walt, was a swimmer at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill … Mother, Taryn, was an All-American swimmer at the University of Kansas … Twin brother Blake committed to Penn State as a punter … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Biology.
JASON GOOSEN
Offensive Line
6'8/305/Virginia Beach, Va. (Tallwood)
High School: Played in Virginia National Guard Under Armour High School East vs. West All-Star game … 2015 Tallwood Lineman of the Year … 2014 and 2015 All-757 Honorable Mention … Lettered all four years for Tallwood … 2016 Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award … 2014 Latin Honor Society inductee.
Personal: Born Jason Tyler Goosen in Virginia Beach, Va. … Parents are Theodore Goosen and Teresa Plasse-Goosen … Brother Theo plays offensive line at Cornell … Cousin, Jennifer, played lacrosse at Niagara University … Cousin, Erin, ran cross country and track & field at Union College … Anticipated major at Northwestern is STEM or Engineering.
CODY LINK
Linebacker
6'5/220/Madison, Wis. (Edgewood)
High School: Recorded 92 tackles and scored two defensive touchdowns senior year … Named to 2015 All-City team … All-Conference linebacker (2015) and tight end (2014, 2015) … Named team MVP senior year … Captained Edgewood to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs last year, the team's third playoff appearance in four years … Three-sport athlete all four years … Turned down scholarship offers to play college baseball … All-State Academics in 2015 … Honor Roll student … National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Cody Patrick Link in Naperville, Ill. … Parents are Patrick and Kelly … Mother is in the UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame for track and cross country ... Sister, Courtney, runs track and cross country at St. Louis University … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
DREW LUCKENBAUGH
Kicker, Punter
6'1/200/Spring Grove, Pa. (Spring Grove)
High School: Recorded 52 points (eight field goals, 28 PATs) and 23 touchbacks senior year … Booted 45-yard game winner, his longest of the season … Totaled 76 points (14 field goals, 34 PATs) sophomore year, 68 points (10 field goals, 38 PATs) freshman year … Set school record with 47-yard field goal freshman year … Led Spring Grove to Division I co-championship in 2012 … First Team All-County Kicker all four years … Second Team All-County punter senior year … Most field goals in the state of Pennsylvania in 2013 … Wendy's Heisman State Finalist … Second in graduating class … 4.0 GPA, class president, Distinguished Honor Roll every semester … National Honor Society … Placed eighth nationally at 2015 Team America Rocketry Challenge.
Personal: Born Andrew Myles Luckenbaugh in York, Pa. … Parents are Joseph and Lisa Luckenbaugh … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Computer Science.
DAVID MCCUSKEY
Running Back
5'11/180/Orono, Minn. (Orono)
High School: Totaled 2,108 all-purpose yards (1,727 rushing), 170 rushing yards per game, 26 touchdowns and 7.5 yards per carry as a senior captain at Orono … Racked up 4,350 all-purpose yards (3,558 rushing yards) and 40 touchdowns during high school career … All-State, team MVP … Holds school record for rushing yards and touchdowns … Academic All-State … Yale Book Award recipient … Honor Roll student … Junior class president … AP Scholar.
Personal: Born David J McCuskey in Edina, Minn. … Parents are Connie and Dave … Great grandfather, David McCuskey, was Hall of Fame wrestling coach for Iowa … Anticipated major at Northwestern is political science.
PARKER OLIVER
Wide Receiver
5'11/180/Dallas, Texas (Texas Christian Academy)
High School: Filled the stat sheet with 715 receiving yards, 578 passing yards and 492 rushing yards to go along with 16 touchdowns as a senior captain at Trinity Christian …. Totaled 4,255 all-purpose yards and 40 touchdowns (25 receiving, eight rushing, seven passing) during a three-year varsity career with the Trojans … 2015 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 5A Male Athlete of the Year … Two-time TAPPS 5A All-State Offense … Two-time First Team All-District … Two-time Academic All-State … Trinity Christian Offensive MVP as a senior … Also earned four varsity letters in track, competing in the 100m, 200m, 4x100 relay, long jump and triple jump … Two-time TAPPS 5A 100m State Champion … 2015 TAPPS 5A Triple Jump State Champion … Holds Trinity Christian records in the triple jump and as part of the 4x100 relay … National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Parker Scott Oliver in Dallas … Parents are Greg and Stephanie Oliver … Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
JACK TIRMONIA
Wide Receiver
6'3/190/Canton, Ohio (Jackson)
High School: Recorded 44 catches, 645 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior year captain … All-Ohio Division I Second Team … First Team Division I Northeast Ohio Inland All-District … First Team All-Stark County … First Team All-Federal League … Invited to Blue-Grey All-American Game at AT&T Stadium (declined to participate), selected for Stark County East-West All-Star Game … Class vice president junior year … National Honor Society … Honor Roll student.
Personal: Born Jackson Nicholas Tirmonia in Canton, Ohio … Parents are Michael and Allison Tirmonia … Michael was Honorable Mention All-American in golf at Wittenberg University … Grandfather, Jerry Krisher, won 1954 football national championship at Ohio State, drafted in fifth round by Philadelphia Eagles … Undecided on anticipated major at Northwestern, interested in Economics.