Northwestern's Solomon Vault expected to miss 2017 season

After three years in a reserve role for Northwestern, 2017 was supposed to be the season that Solomon Vault finally got his chance at the top of the depth chart.

Friday proved the exact opposite to be true however, as a Northwestern team spokesman told Caleb Friedman of InsideNU.com that Vault underwent surgery for a lower-body injury and is expected to miss the entire upcoming season.

Vault enjoyed moderate success last season as a junior, recording 15 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns behind now-departed receivers Austin Carr and Andrew Scanlan. With Vault on the shelf, fellow wideouts Flynn Nagel and Macan Wilson could see a significant increase in touches.

Vault's absence will also hurt Northwestern's return team, as the senior returned 23 kickoffs for a total of 560 yards and a touchdown last season.