Northwestern RB has NFL ambitions; knows what he must do to get there

Gavin Sawchuk took a very unique and interesting route to Northwestern. A four-star tailback recruit out of high school, Sawchuk originally committed to Oklahoma, where he was the Sooners' leading rusher, and an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2023.

He spent the 2025 season, as a redshirt junior, with the Florida State Seminoles.

After playing for two historical blue bloods, Sawchuk explained why he chose Northwestern as the destination to finish out his college career.

"I mean a lot of it had to do with this team," he said at a media opportunity on Monday.

"It's a special group of guys. Coaching staff is great as well. Having (Offensive Coordinator) Chip (Kelly), someone like that as an offensive coach, you know that offensive mind, behind the ball, is big.

"Loved being able to meet (head) coach (David) Braun and see what he's all about. He's one of the best guys I've been around."

Sawchuk has next level motivation and professional ambition.

“My goal is to get to the NFL,” Sawchuk said during spring ball.

“I want to be under somebody who has been in the NFL, knows what it takes to get there and has put running backs specifically in the league.”

Right now, the Littleton, Colorado native projects as a day three, to potentially undrafted kind of prospect. He does have top end, track level speed, so if he really excels in his role in Evanston this season, and truly flourishes under new Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly, his draft stock will soar.

"I think the world of Gavin," Kelly said at a media availability on Monday. "He's one of the smartest young guys I've ever been around. He picks stuff up like that. He's a one-timer.

"You really don't have to explain anything to him more than once because he gets it the first time. He really understands the game."

Kelly, as well as running backs coach Aristotle Thompson, are great mentors for Sawchuk, and their developmental capabilities were obviously a big draw for Sawchuk to come play his final season in Evanston.

However, Sawchuk has had great coaching in his previous stops along the way as well.

“He was really well coached," Kelly continued.

"He got coached by DeMarco Murray when he was at Oklahoma, and DeMarco is as meticulous as they come with his notes, so I knew Gavin was going to be that way. DeMarco said that you’re going to get a really good one, and he wasn’t lying. [Gavin] just has to continue to improve on a daily basis and I think he can accomplish anything he wants from a goal standpoint.”

As we said, Sawchuk has elite, next level speed. He's also an asset on passing downs, with great contact balance and a penchant for being efficient in the red zone.

However, his college football CV is still lacking in explosion plays/breakaway runs, and he sometimes struggles to let the play and the blocking schemes develop in front of him, before he attacks the running lane.

He discussed what he's working on to try and level up.

"I think the most important thing is just showing my value as a player, as a running back," he said.

"Being able to run the ball, third down blocking, catching routes out of the back field, explosive plays, and also too special teams. You know, that's a big part of trying to make a job in the league.

"You got to be able to play special teams. So just trying to make my value known to the scouts."

That is an incredibly self-aware assessment by Sawchuk there. He knows that he needs to show everybody that he can generate those chunk plays, and also that his direct route to the NFL mainly lies on special teams.

He seems to understand the possibility that he'll need to first establish himself on ST, before he can become a real player on offense. 

This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Northwestern RB has NFL ambitions; knows what he must do to get there