From Pass Thrower To Pass Catcher (Spring Football)

Andrew Brewer's football career at Northwestern has not turned out exactly like he planned. But while his position may have changed, his attitude has remained the same.

"If you told me coming in my freshman year that I'd end up as a wide receiver, I might have looked at you funny," the former quarterback said. "Ultimately, though, I know God's got a plan for me."

This spring, Brewer has been transitioning from quarterback, where he started three games for the Wildcats last year, to wide receiver.

Coach Pat Fitzgerald said the shift began near the end of last season, when sophomore C.J. Bachér became the everyday quarterback. With standout receiver Shaun Herbert graduating this year, the coaching staff decided to move the athletic Brewer to wideout.

Fitzgerald said he hopes Brewer can be a valuable addition to the team as a receiver, and possibly even on punts and kickoffs. 

"When (Brewer) is a quarterback, all he can be is a quarterback," Fitzgerald said. "Now he's available to us on special teams as well, his impact is doubled at least."

The shift has forced Brewer to deal with changes both on and off the field. After a lifetime of perfecting five-step drops and reading defenses, Brewer spends his practices learning post patterns and blocking techniques. At the same time, he has had to come terms with his less visible role in NU's offense.

Wide receiver coach Kevin Johns has overseen the football side of Brewer's transition, which he says has been eased by the sophomore's innate athletic ability.

"When he steps out on the field, he's a natural athlete," Johns said. It's hard to teach people how to run fast. And he can do that: He just goes out and plays fast."

Brewer said he has yet to perfect certain receiving fundamentals, like the downfield release a wideout makes after the snap. But Johns said the former Oklahoma All-State quarterback's inherent skills on the gridiron more than make up for his lack of polish at wide receiver.

"There are some little coaching points of wide receiver play he needs to perfect," Johns said. "But when the ball's snapped, he just goes and plays football.

"And he's pretty darn good."

More difficult for Brewer has been the adjustment to his downsized role in the Cats' offense. As quarterback, the sophomore was responsible for every facet of the Cats' attack. He read opposing team's defenses, changed plays at the line of scrimmage and held NU's fate in his hands every time he dropped back in the pocket. Now Brewer will be taking orders in the huddle from the same quarterback, Bachér, with whom he once competed for the starting job.

Instead of sulking about the change, however, the sophomore has simply adjusted his expectations to match his new position. Brewer said he believes he can impact the game just as much as he did from behind center.

"I know I'm not the star now," Brewer said. "But playing wide receiver, I don't have go out and touch the ball every time to make a difference in the game."

Fitzgerald agreed with his new wideout.

"(Brewer) is going to have the opportunity to play a lot of football for us," Fitzgerald said.

With spring football coming to a close, Brewer said he has set his expectations for next season. Among those expectations are some lofty goals.

"I'm trying to shoot for All-Big Ten wide receiver my first time out," he said. "Some may think that's impossible, but I have high standards. So that's what I'm going for."

Reach Jake Simpson at james-simpson@northwestern.edu