Northwestern tight ends Alex Honig and Luke Dehnicke praised new starting quarterback Aidan Chiles, highlighting his Big Ten experience, talent and growing chemistry with the Wildcats' new-look offense under Chip Kelly.
Aidan Chiles has quickly earned the trust of his new teammates at Northwestern. That was especially clear from two of the Wildcats' new tight ends, Alex Honig and Luke Dehnicke, who spoke highly of Chiles during Northwestern's media availability.
Chiles was officially named Northwestern's starting quarterback earlier this week after competing throughout fall camp with Ryan Boe and Nicco Marchiol.
Now, the Wildcats are preparing to see what the Michigan State transfer can do when he takes his first snap against South Dakota State on Sept. 5.
Honig said he and Dehnicke were already familiar with Chiles from watching him play at Michigan State, making his experience in the Big Ten an important source of confidence.
“Absolutely excited,” Honig said. “We both have watched him at Michigan State. It gives us a lot of trust knowing that he started so many games, knowing that he’s played in the Big Ten.”
That experience could be particularly valuable for Northwestern's tight ends as they adjust to a new offense under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
Honig said Chiles has been able to showcase his skill set while translating his abilities into Kelly's system, adding that the excitement surrounding the offense continues to grow.
Nov 8, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies tight end Alex Honig (86) runs the ball against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn ImagesDehnicke echoed those comments, praising Chiles both on and off the field.
“For sure, he’s a super great guy, great to be around and he’s a special talent on the field for sure,” Dehnicke said. “It’s been really fun to play with him and have him throw us the ball.”
That chemistry could become an important part of Northwestern's offense. Both Honig and Dehnicke stand at 6-foot-6, giving Chiles two massive targets who can provide reliable options over the middle and in the red zone.
If Kelly finds ways to consistently involve the tight ends, they could become an important part of Chiles' first season leading the Wildcats.
The confidence from Honig and Dehnicke also reflects a larger theme surrounding Northwestern's new-look offense. Players throughout the program have expressed excitement about Chiles' ability and the way he has handled the transition to Evanston.
Now, that confidence will have to translate onto the field.
With Chiles officially taking over as the starter and Kelly calling the plays, Northwestern will look to turn that growing chemistry into production.
If the quarterback can continue developing relationships with his tight ends and the rest of the Wildcats' playmakers, the offense could look significantly different in 2026.
