Philadelphia Eagles: Players to watch in the Big 10 Championship game

One of the biggest reasons Northwestern has found themselves in the Big 10 Championship is because of how well they have been on defense this season. They give up 14.6 points per game, the second-best scoring defense in the entire country. Granted, the sample size isn’t as big, but it is still very impressive, especially in the Big 10.

One of the driving forces on their defense has come from the linebacking core in Paddy Fisher. The fifth-year senior has been a big part of Northwestern’s climb to potential Big 10 champions. He’s a tackling machine, seemingly always filling the box score with tackles every week.

Fisher’s first two years at Northwestern were excellent, as he put up 100-plus tackle seasons and always found himself around the ball. In both years, Fisher forced four fumbles in each year. His coverage skills aren’t as bad either, as he’s recorded an interception in all four of his years.

What is going to help Fisher transition to the NFL is the amount of experience he has in an elite college conference. Being a four-year starter at a Big 10 college isn’t something you see every day in college players. Doing it as an inside linebacker and vocal point of the defense makes it even more impressive.

Since he seems more like a finished product and not as young as other prospects at linebacker, Fisher could see himself drafted on Day 3 of the NFL Draft next offseason. He’s going to make an NFL roster and bring a competitive mindset to a team needing a linebacker. It’s no secret that the linebacker position is a glaring need for the Philadelphia Eagles, and if they want to improve this group, they will look into drafting Paddy Fisher.