Quick learning curves help freshmen Vitale, Lowry

The learning curves were conquered quickly by Northwestern freshmen Dan Vitale and Dean Lowry.

Just six months after their respective high school graduations, the first-year players already have made increasingly impressive marks with the Gator Bowl-bound Wildcats.

Some major college programs make freshman wait their turn to work their way up a depth chart. Wildcat coach Pat Fitzgerald said he has no problem calling on first-year players, especially if they are ready and able.

“Danny is very gifted athletically, a very bright young man who I thought made a lot of big plays as the season went along.” Fitzgerald said. “Dean is physically very gifted, he’s got great size and had a great quarter academically. As the year went along he was more comfortable in his role and really started to play well.”

Vitale and Lowry are among four freshman to crack the lineup and both are expected to play when Northwestern (9-3) meets Mississippi State (8-4) in the Jan. 1 Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Wildcats are scheduled to leave Evanston for Jacksonville early Wednesday and open several days of training Thursday at Jacksonville University.

A 6-foot-2 tight end from Wheaton, Vitale topped the depth chart at "super back" -- a combination tight end and fullback -- coming out of training camp.

Through 12 games -- including 10 starts -- he was fifth among Northwestern receivers with 21 catches for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Vitale broke out against Michigan State with nine receptions for 110 yards and earned Big Ten freshman of the week honors.

But in August, he had no great expectations entering preseason Camp Kenosha.

“I just went into camp thinking I was going to do everything I could just to get on the field,” said Vitale, who won a 2010 state championship as a Tiger running back/wide receiver. “It’s been a very good growing experience, especially starting off with little reps and progressively getting more time and getting the ball thrown to me, and I’ve learned a lot.”

The intense preseason training helped Vitale prepare, although he admitted there were some major adjustments to make.

“The speed of the game (is different),” he said. “And I never had to block as much. That’s been one of the key aspects of the game this year.”

Lowry, a 6-foot-6 reserve defensive lineman from Rockford, appeared in all 12 games. He’s had eight solo tackles and five assists plus a fumble recovery against Vanderbilt and a quarterback sack at Michigan State.

“It’s been crazy -- a lot of good times but a lot of stressful times trying to balance school and football,” Lowry, an all-stater who played on back-to-back unbeaten Rockford Boylan championship teams, said. “But now I’m feeling real confident going to a bowl game. I have the technique and the coaching has definitely helped me get there. I feel really good.”

Last summer, Lowry also didn’t figure he’d be in line for the role he eventually earned.

“Probably not,”  he said. “I took one day at a time as the coaches told me. But I really didn’t think I’d be at this point yet.”

And Lowry said he continues to learn.

“Everyone’s bigger, stronger and faster,” he said. “A lot of physical teams we played against they kind of pushed me around a little bit, but I learned from that.”

A year ago Vitale was on a holiday break from Wheaton Warrenville South and wrapping up Christmas shopping. He already knew he was bound for Northwestern after committing the previous June.

“There was nothing to worry about, nothing to focus on except getting ready to come here,” Vitale said.  “Actually I think I was little worried about finals. I think I had them after break.”

Lowry, meanwhile, was preparing for a holiday basketball tournament with his Boylan Catholic team.

“We had just finished winning a state football championship,” Lowry said. “It was basketball season and I was sweating a lot, losing a lot of weight.”

Fast forward 12 months and both were among three Northwestern players named to the all-Big Ten freshman team. Redshirt freshman cornerback Nick VanHoose also landed on the squad.

Some of his teammates have experienced as many as four bowl games.

Lowry can’t wait for his first.

“I’m just going to embrace it and see how it goes,” he said.