After three schools and 30-plus Power 4 games, Aidan Chiles has found his voice

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Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles has proven he's up for the challenge in his fourth season of college football.

Chiles is a Long Beach native who hasn’t been afraid of change, having spent his college career in different parts of the country.

He’s remained a quality starter throughout his career and has been up for another arduous schedule as a member of the Wildcats this season.

"That's why I came here," Chiles told USA TODAY Sports. "Those are the games you want to play in and those are the games you watch when you are a little kid. … I'm grateful for the opportunity. I'm ready."

The veteran quarterback faced his toughest test so far this season, taking on the defending national champion Indiana and Penn State in back-to-back weeks. Oregon, Ohio State and Iowa still remain on the schedule.

Chiles has displayed his dual-threat abilities and continues to give Northwestern a reason to be excited this season.

Chiles had the opportunity to put his stamp on Northwestern history, becoming the first player to score a touchdown in the first game at the new Ryan Field, a 35,000-seat venue that cost more than $870 million, on Friday, Oct. 2. Northwestern beat Penn State 34-13. He completed 10-of-14 passes for 93 yards and added 21 rushing yards and a touchdown on six carries. His rushing added to the Wildcats' 413 total rushing yards for the evening.

Chiles has completed 63-of-89 pass attempts for 900 yards and six touchdowns without throwing an interception in four games this season. He's also rushed for 41 yards and five touchdowns on 36 attempts.

After spending three seasons with head coach Jonathan Smith at Oregon State and Michigan State, a return to the transfer portal led Chiles to Northwestern, where he now partners with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and quarterback coach Jerry Neuheisel.

"Aidan has done a tremendous job since his arrival, and I truly believe in the partnership between him, Chip and Jerry," Northwestern head coach David Braun said during a news conference Aug. 25. "The partnership between those three is really special.

"It's not easy coming in halfway through spring ball, but Aidan did a good job leaning into the hard work.”

Chiles committed to Northwestern nearly a week after Kelly was hired as offensive coordinator.

There was a level of familiarity between the trio. Chiles was a four-star quarterback while playing at Downey High School and took a visit to UCLA while Kelly was at the helm in 2022.

"I've known Aidan since he was in high school," Kelly told the Big Ten Network in the Fall. "… He went to Oregon State and played as a true freshman, which is rare. The one thing he has besides his talent is that he's played 30-plus games of Power 4 football."

Chiles has learned to embrace the college football landscape and has not shied away from a leadership role.

"Coming to a new team was a new experience for me, but it was challenging in all the right ways," Chiles said. "It's made me a better person and a better player and the guys around me have motivated me to become the leader that I am."

Chiles entered the season as a late-round prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft, but a strong senior campaign can help build his stock up before April.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After three schools and 30-plus Power 4 games, Aidan Chiles has found his voice

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