2008 Northwestern Wildcats

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ESPN - Rittenberg: Big Ten notebook - College Football

Northwestern wide receiver Andrew Brewer doesn't mind waking up at 5 a.m., even if it's just for spring practice. When Brewer fractured his humerus during a blocking drill weeks before the 2007 opener, his return date seemed very much in doubt. But he caught a break when it was determined he didn't need surgery on the shoulder.

"The surgery would have delayed me in the long run, no matter what," Brewer said. "They were saying they were potentially going to have to take out the plate and screws later on. Any time you cut off muscle, it's a slower recovery."

Brewer wore a hard cast for several weeks, then a custom-made splint, but went cast-less by mid-October and worked on his running. A former quarterback who started three games as a freshman, Brewer is projected to start at wide receiver this fall.

"I've worked my way pretty much close to 100 percent," he said.