Alex Honig’s Humble Response Shows What Makes Northwestern Special

There is just something different about this Northwestern football team.

Whether it is the chemistry between players, the trust in the coaching staff or the way everyone seems to be working toward the same goal, the Wildcats are beginning to look like a team that genuinely enjoys playing for one another.

And following Northwestern’s dominant 45-14 Homecoming victory over Ball State, tight end Alex Honig provided another example of that mentality.

Honig made one of the most impressive catches of the afternoon, hauling in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Aidan Chiles late in the third quarter to extend Northwestern’s lead to 45-14.

It was an incredible play that capped off a 10-play, 99-yard touchdown drive and put the finishing touches on another impressive offensive performance.

But when Honig was asked about the catch afterward, he was quick to give credit to his quarterback.

“I didn’t realize during the play, but looking back afterwards, I saw on the big screen that Aidan made a heck of a play coming out of the pocket, creating time and seeing me down the field,” Honig said.

Rather than focusing entirely on his own catch, Honig emphasized the trust he has in Chiles and his ability to keep plays alive.

Honig explained that the Wildcats had run the same play on consecutive snaps and that he trusted himself to win his one-on-one matchup. When Chiles extended the play and found him downfield, Honig was ready.

“It’s always fun having a guy back there that no matter what happens up front or what happens during the play, you always got to be ready for the ball to come your way,” Honig said.

He then summed up the catch with a simple explanation.

“See ball, get ball. That’s really all that was.”

It was a humble response from a player who had just made a difficult touchdown catch, and it speaks to the type of chemistry Northwestern appears to be building.

Honig finished Saturday’s victory with two receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown, continuing to establish himself as another reliable option in Chip Kelly’s offense.

Meanwhile, Chiles put together another impressive performance, completing 17 of 23 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground.

But what has been particularly encouraging about Northwestern’s offense is that the production has not been limited to just one or two players.

Griffin Wilde continued his breakout season with eight receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown against Ball State, while Drew Wagner added four catches for 61 yards and another score.

Honig also found the end zone, giving Chiles three different touchdown targets on the afternoon.

That balance reflects the growing trust between Northwestern’s quarterback and his teammates.

Chiles has shown he is willing to spread the football around, while his receivers and tight ends continue finding ways to make plays when their opportunities come.

And the players seem to understand that their individual success is connected to the success of the entire offense.

That is what makes Honig’s comments so interesting.

He could have spent his time discussing the difficulty of the catch or his ability to beat the defender. Instead, he made sure to recognize the effort Chiles put into extending the play.

It might seem like a small detail, but those moments can reveal a lot about a team’s mentality.

Northwestern has now won consecutive games and improved to 4-1, with its only loss coming in a competitive road matchup against Indiana.

The Wildcats have also scored at least 34 points in each of their four victories, a significant change for a program that has struggled to consistently produce offensively in recent seasons.

Kelly deserves plenty of credit for the creativity and production of Northwestern’s offense, while head coach David Braun continues to establish a team-first culture throughout the program.

Of course, there will be tougher challenges ahead, beginning with next week’s road matchup against Michigan State.

But what stands out about this Northwestern team goes beyond the wins and statistics.

Players appear to trust one another, embrace their roles and recognize the contributions of their teammates.

That type of chemistry is not always easy to establish, especially with a new offensive coordinator and several players adjusting to different responsibilities.

Yet Northwestern continues showing signs of a team that is growing more comfortable together every week.

Honig’s touchdown catch was impressive enough on its own. But his response afterward might have been just as meaningful.

It was another reminder that something special could be developing in Evanston, and the Wildcats appear determined to keep building on it.