Carson Ness is emerging as a reliable Red Raiders target with big-play upside
In the 2026 season, Carson Ness has 3 catches for 25 yards through Northwestern (IA)’s opener, and he showed early chemistry in a 65-14 loss to Western Illinois by getting involved in the passing game right away.[1][4] The wider picture is encouraging: he entered 2026 as a sophomore wideout on the roster and has already proven he can be a dependable part of the Red Raiders’ receiver rotation, with Northwestern’s staff highlighting him as a key offensive piece in 2025.[2][3] For a team, his appeal is straightforward—he looks like a young WR with room to grow, functional game reps already on the resume, and enough early trust to suggest more production is coming if the offense keeps feeding him.[1][3][4]
