Pat Fitzgerald still will not say whether Dan Persa will start Saturday against Boston College.
Although Persa is listed as the No. 1 quarterback on Northwestern’s depth chart, his recovery from a ruptured Achilles remains a major concern.
“If he’s ready to go, he’ll start,” Fitzgerald said Monday. “If he’s not, he won’t.”
In Tuesday’s Big Ten Football Coaches Teleconference call with the media, Fitzgerald again declined to say much about whether Persa would start on Saturday. If Persa is unable to play, then Kain Colter will start in his place. Colter split time with Evan Watkins at the end of last season after Persa went down against Iowa on Nov. 13.
Even if Persa plays, most expect that Colter will still receive a number of snaps under center. The mobile Colter should help Northwestern’s run game, especially with Persa still feeling discomfort when he runs the ball straight ahead.
“Lateral is fine, really easy,” Persa said on Tuesday after practice, according to WildcatReport.com. “Straight ahead, putting strain on that Achilles, is the harder thing for me.”
Colter ran the first-team offense for the majority of practice, but it remains unclear how much playing time either quarterback will receive.
One advantage Fitzgerald’s relative silence is giving the Wildcats: Boston College will have to prepare for two quarterbacks instead of just one.