A long, long breakdown........
theathletic.com
Is Nebraska Closer to a Breakthrough or a Breakdown? In Scott Frost's fifth season, a lot is on the line.
by Mitch Sherman, The Athletic
LINCOLN - The red flags around Nebraska rose early this year.
Not the traditional symbol adorned with that big red "N," raised high to wave from all corners of this state.
No, these flags are warning signs. For the thousands who pledge steady support to the Huskers, the red flags are there, undoubtedly. They never actually receded after last season, a fifth consecutive year for Nebraska that finished in strikingly sad fashion.
Warning signs of what 2022 might deliver for a fragile football program were at the ready from the first days of this offseason. And that, for Nebraska, represents something new.
It's all moving fast now for Scott Frost, who's 15-29 in Lincoln entering his fifth season. Patience is thin. The moment is near for Nebraska to turn a corner or to turn its back on the coach and ex-quarterback who helped bring the Huskers their most recent of five national championships, a quarter-century ago.
Even as the 47-year-old Frost tries to buy time, offering reasonable explanations that his revamped offensive staff and transfer-tinted roster remain in the early stages of an overhaul, the mood around him has shifted toward something dark.
"We've got more kids that love football and want to be out there that we've had," Frost said at the close of spring practice. "And that goes a long way. Kids that want to practice hard and be around it all the time come in and get extra work."
A renewed passion exists at Memorial Stadium, Frost said, in the wake of hiring Mark Whipple as offensive coordinator, Mickey Joseph as wide receivers coach, Donovan Raiola as offensive line coach and Bryan Applewhite to coach running backs. In addition, Bill Busch received a promotion to coordinate the special teams, a sore spot that has cost the Huskers victories every year under Frost.
"Right away, you can see a lot of buy-in from the players," Frost said.
The talk is cheap. Frost knows it. So do the veteran Huskers, who endured a 3-9 season in 2021 that featured eight losses by eight points or fewer, a college football first.
Nebraska was close -- and still so far from finding the mix of efficiency, scheme and culture to climb to the level of Cockeye, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Frost has lost 10 of 11 games against that Big Ten West trio.
"We don't, believe it or not, want to lose by one possession or one point anymore," said outside linebacker Garrett Nelson, a key leader in 2022.
Nelson said he's pushing the Huskers to focus on the small numbers that make a large difference. Get one more sack per game. Create one more turnover.
"This has been the closest team that I've been on in college," he said, "the camaraderie, the guys across units, across position groups truly loving each other and caring about each other."
Ultimately, the measure that matters for Nebraska in 2022 is wins. First-year athletic director Turd Alberts signed Frost to a restructured contract last November that cuts his salary by 20 percent to $4 million and chops the coach's buyout in half to $7.5 million effective Oct. 1.
If Nebraska hits unspecified "metrics mutually agreed to" by the school and the coach, according to the contract, Frost's $5 million salary will be restored and he'll receive a one-year extension through 2027.
If it fails to hit the metrics? Well, that's when there's no debate left about the meaning of those red flags.
OFFENSE
Shiny new objects abound at the skill spots, but the key to success for Nebraska on offense starts up front.
Nebraska quarterbacks in 2021 were pressured on 43.2 percent of dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus, the highest rate in the Power 5. Raiola, formerly with the Chicago Bears and in his first full-time job as a college coach, worked at the directive of Frost to immediately install a mentality among the linemen to emphasize physical play.
"We're not trying to be who we're not," Raiola said. "But it's good to understand how it was built (at Nebraska) with attitude and effort, mental toughness, physical toughness and discipline."
The Huskers want to move the line of scrimmage in the run game. They did it, but all accounts, during 15 practices in the spring.
"Guys are physical, fighting and finishing on both sides of the ball," tight ends coach Sean Beckton said. "That's one of the things that's glaring for me."
Frost, while handing control of the passing game to Whipple, maintains oversight of the ground attack. He considered the progress of backs in running downhill as one of the wins in the first half of the offseason. But can the Huskers protect their quarterback? To be determined. The Red-White game in April, with Nelson and other defenders running free in the backfield, did not inspire confidence.
Frost values the presence of Whipple, most recently the OC at Pitt, and his four decades of experience. Their ability to mesh schemes and make the task manageable for Raiola's offensive line will determine plenty for this offense.
Nebraska lost center Cam Jurgens, its best lineman in 2021 with two years of remaining eligibility, to the NFL. Trent Hixson, a starter at guard in 2019, moves to center to take over as a sixth-year senior.
Ethan Piper backs up Hixson. Nouredin Nouili is entrenched at left guard; Broc Bando practiced with the top group on the right side in the spring. Brant Banks and Bryce Benhart manned the tackle spots, but Nebraska awaits the return from injury this summer of Teddy Prochazka, who took over at left tackle midway through his true freshman year, and Turner Corcoran.
"They're vocal leaders," Nouili said of Prochazka and Corcoran. "They're coaching us up. They see the same things that coach Raiola sees."
The Huskers like redshirt freshman Henry Lutovsky as an option at guard. And they added transfers Kevin Williams from Northern Colorado and Hunter Anthony from Oklahoma State, both of whom have displayed versatility.
At quarterback, Adrian Martinez, the four-year starter and career total offense leader at Nebraska, transferred to Kansas State. Enter Casey Thompson, who started 10 games at Texas and threw for 2,113 yards and 24 touchdowns on 63.2 percent passing as a sophomore in 2021 while fighting a thumb injury.
Thompson is the heavy favorite to start over Logan Smothers, Florida State transfer Chubba Purdy and Heinrich Haarberg.
"You know me," Frost said, "I'm no going to crown anybody."
Whipple crowned Thompson, though, on the first day of spring practice. Thompson settled as a leader even before practicing with his new teammates, who took well to his style.
"He's made an impression on everybody," tight end James Carnie said. "He's a really good quarterback. He knows the game. He's here almost 12 hours a day. I give credit to the kid. He loves football. And that's what we need. That's what we want as a leader."
Returning seven-game starter Rahmir Johnson, Jaquez Yant and junior-college transfer Anthony Grant lead the running backs. That is, until Gabe Ervin returns from his rehab of a knee injury suffered early last season as a true freshman.
Applewhite wants to feature at least three.
"We're going to be a really good running back room," Johnson said.
They provide versatility -- with the evasiveness and receiving ability of Johnson, power of Yant, who's a fit 235 pounds, and mixed skill sets of Grant and Ervin.
Joseph's receiving corps took a hit in the spring as Zavier Betts, a former four-star signee who flashed impressive talent in his first two seasons at Nebraska, left the program. The Huskers, as a result, groomed Omar Manning and Alante Brown to play the outside and inside spots. The top group also includes Oliver Martin and LSU transfer Trey Palmer, a big-play threat to his perhaps the fastest player on the team. Walk-on Brody Belt and Wyatt Liewer, awarded a scholarship last season, provide experienced depth.
The tight ends entered the winter as a strength. But as Chris Hickman, Chancellor Brewington and Thomas Fidone joined projected starter Travis Vokolek on the shelf with injuries, Beckton's group grew depleted. Look for the group to regroup by August, though the prognosis on Fidone, who endured a second knee injury in his short time at Nebraska, remains unclear.
The injuries allowed for the emergence of young tight ends Carnie and AJ Rollins in addition to walk-on Nate Boerkircher, a spring standout.
Nebraska's 6.44 yards per play last season ranked 18th nationally. Its 27.9-point scoring average ranked 71st. The objective in 2022, amid the change, is to turn more efficient.
The new guy at the controls likes what he sees.
"We're in a good spot as a team," Thompson said, "as an offense."
Key State to Know: When pressured in 2021, Martinez completed 49.6 percent of his 115 throws for 1,143 yards and 9.9 per attempt, with three touchdowns and four interceptions, according to Pro Football Focus. At Texas, Thompson was under pressure on 31.2 percent of his dropbacks and connected on 42.9 percent of 70 throws for 437 yards and 6.2 per attempt with two touchdowns and five interceptions. Thompson generated 21 first downs to Martinez's 51 while under pressure.
The takeaway: It's even more important in 2022 for Nebraska to protect its QB.
Cornhuskers Returning Production
DEFENSE
Fortunately for the Huskers, they stayed healthy during the spring on the defensive line. Unfortunately, the lack of depth and experience has already placed them in a compromising position.
Through recruiting misses, attrition, developmental problems, and a shifting scheme, Nebraska is left to march toward August with scraps of its once-strong group at the interior spots. After the post-spring decision by Casey Rogers to enter the transfer portal, Ty Robinson stands as its lone experienced defensive tackle. The search for help through the portal is ongoing.
Behind Robinson, who started four games and collected 27 tackles last year, Nash Hutmacher and veteran walk-on Colton Feist have risen to the top of a logjam that includes Marquis Black, Mosai Newsom, Ru'Quan Buckley and Jailen Weaver. The Huskers are high on Hutmacher, the former wrestling champ and accomplished weightlifter.
"I think he belongs in this league," defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said. "I think he should be out there playing football."
Still, none of the reserves were quite ready last year.
"Shoot," Robinson said, "if that's all we've got, we'll roll with it."
Such a scenario might fray the nerves of defensive line coach Mike Dawson. Dawson shifted roles this year after the departure to Oregon of former defensive line coach Tony Tuioti. Still in Dawson's group are the outside linebackers. Or are they defensive ends? In this scheme, adjusted for strength of personnel, it's likely the latter.
Nebraska looks strong on the edge, with Nelson and Caleb Tannor. They combined last year for 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Backups Jimari Butler and Blaise Gunnerson are about one year behind Nelson and Tannor in their progression, according to Chinander. Both members of the young duo rate as breakout candidates.
Leadership comes from Nelson, a vocal presence, plus inside linebackers Nick Henrich and Luke Reimer and defensive backs Quinton Newsome and Myles Farmer.
Nebraska has improved methodically for Chinander since the 42-year-old coordinator followed Frost from UCF in 2017.
"The standard has been set from last year on what kind of defense we want to be," Nelson said. "I've thought about it. I don't want there to be a drop-off."
If the next step in an upward progression is to occur in 2022, the linebackers and secondary must pull their weight and then some.
Reimer's 108 tackles ranked third in the Big Ten last season. Henrich collected 99. They've developed into one of the league's top tandems and form the heart of this defensive unit. They're knowledgeable and instinctive. Reimer is an exceptional athlete. Henrich is a natural defender.
Still, the Huskers want more from them.
"Getting stronger will lead to the biggest jump," inside linebackers coach Barrett Ruud said. "Being ball aware, it's a mindset. It's not going to be good enough just to say we're going to get turnovers and then talk after the game about why we didn't get turnovers."
Candidates to emerge for Ruud as a third option include Garrett Snodgrass, Eteva Mauga-Clements and a group of talented freshmen.
Chinander coaches the nickel spot, manned well for two years by JoJo Domann. Isaac Gifford and Chris Kolarevic bring solid tackling, athleticism and instincts to the position, and Nebraska continues to wait for Javin Wright to stay healthy for an extended time.
For secondary coach Travis Fisher, competition is the keyword. Newsome at cornerback and Farmer at safety return with starting experience. Braxton Clark is locked with Arizona State transfer Tommi Hill in a fight at corner, while Marques Buford, DeShon Singleton and Noa Pola-Gates compete for a safety job.
Newsome said he's mentoring Hill, who brings a bit of swagger to the defense similar to the contributions on offense of Palmer, the former LSU receiver.
"He's been a bright spot," Frost said of Hill. "There's really no doubt about his playmaking ability. I love the energy and passion he brings to the game."
In Newsome, Fisher wants to find the next in line at corner for Nebraska, after Dicaprio Bootle, Lamar Jackson and NFL Draft prospect Cam Taylor-Britt, to raise his play to the next level.
"Act like a pro," Fisher said.
It's in Newsome to do it, according to the coach.
There's plenty of depth behind the top group. And the competition for defensive backs intensifies when they practice against Joseph's wide receivers. The matchup pits two of the top groups on the roster.
"I want more," Fisher said. "They step it up. We step it up. We make each other better. Obviously."
Key Stat to Know: The Blackshirts have their work cut out for them to build on progress in defending against the ground attack. Average yards per rushing attempt allowed by the Huskers has improved in each of the four seasons with Chinander in charge -- from 5.57 yards (which ranked 124th nationally) in 2017 to 5.0 in 2018, 4.82 in 2019, 4.17 in 2020 and 4.16 in 2021.
Still, that figure for Nebraska last season, after four consecutive years of improvement, ranked 11th in the Big Ten. It illustrates just how far behind the Huskers had fallen in matching the physical play of league opponents.
SPECIAL TEAMS
They must improve. Otherwise, forget about the changes on offense and the growth on defense. Nebraska simply cannot field a special teams unit similar to its 2021 group and expect to win more games than it loses.
Last year, the Huskers ranked 129th out of 130 FBS teams in the Fremeau Efficiency Index, a special teams metric. They ranked 115th in 2020, 123rd in 2019 and 109th in 2018.
Finally, after years of tinkering with special teams produced no substantive improvement, Frost implemented major changes. The promotion of Busch from his position as an analyst removes a defensive coach from the staff. But it had to happen.
Busch, in his third coaching stint at Nebraska, is a master of details. His meetings kick off the day for the Huskers. Special teams drills are up first on the schedule at practice, too.
"They come out with a passion," Beckton said. "That's what it's going to take to move this team forward."
The plan? User Palmer and the other new pieces, such as signee Malcolm Hartzog, to inject life into the return game. Let punter Brian Buschini, the top leg in the FCS last year at Montana, do his thing. And hope that Timmy Bleekrode, a transfer from Furman who's set to arrive this summer, can fix the Huskers' kicking woes.
Yes, they really did miss four extra points and eight of 16 field-goal attempts in 2021.
OPPOSING SCOUTING REPORT
Frost has lost 25 of 35 Big Ten games. Understandably, as a result, some coaches around the league view Nebraska as a troubled program.
"There's a lot of unraveling that's taken place," a Big Ten assistant coach said. "And then try to mend that together and piece it together with an entire new offensive staff......I don't know."
The same coach said he's regularly impressed with Nebraska's talent. "They've got some dudes," he said.
But the coach questions some of the moves made this offseason -- including the hire of Whipple, who coached Heisman finalist Kenny Pickett at Pitt last season. Whipple resigned days before taking the Nebraska job in December.
"If you're a player, you'd have to think, 'Why would Mark Whipple come to us after he just coached one of the best quarterbacks in the country?' Just bizarre, to say the least.
"That's how I would describe everything that's gone on there, just bizarre. You've got receivers that are leaving. You've got (a quarterback) that's leaving. You've got coaches that are leaving."
The Huskers were perhaps not as close to a breakthrough last season as they wanted to believe, the coach said.
"They will hang their hat on the fact that they lost all those games by single digits. That's the culture: 'Yeah, we're 3-9. Yeah, we were 1-8 (in the Big Ten). But we lost all those games by one score, and we're right there.'
"You can make the argument that they're a long ways from being there, just because of the little things."
HOW THE HUSKERS RECRUITED FROM 2019 TO 2022
In the past four years, Nebraska signed an average class, according to the 247Sports Composite, that ranked 20th nationally, fourth in the Big Ten and atop the Big Ten West.
Problem is, the Huskers are recruiting too many of the wrong players. Nebraska signees simply are not propelling this team to wins -- mainly because they're not sticking in Lincoln. From 2019, five of the top 10 signees transferred. From the Class of 2020, seven of the top 10 are gone.
It extends a troubling trend in Frost's program that speaks to a disconnect between evaluation and player development. In a re-rank of the 2017 and 2018 recruiting classes nationally, Nebraska both years sat last among all Power 5 programs.
It continues to lose talent. Fifteen scholarship players have departed since late in the 2021 season, four of whom rated as four-star signees in the 2020 and 2021 classes. In all from those two classes, six four-star signees remain on the roster; eight are gone.
The rebuttal: All teams lose talent in the transfer portal era. Sure, but for Nebraska, 14 games under .500 overall during the past four seasons, it looks worse. Because it is worse.
Searching for a ray of hope? Vince Guinta, the Huskers' new senior director of player personnel and recruiting, recognizes the situation for what it is. He's working to help Nebraska grow more efficient in extending offers and to find the right mix of intangibles in prospects within regions most likely to produce players who will stay with the Huskers.
"It makes a lot of sense to recruit people (for whom Nebraska) means something," Guinta said.
IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL
If Nebraska rebounds this year, credit the work it did in the portal. When the 2021 season ended and Frost fired four assistants and its recruiting class rated last in the Big Ten, the portal infused energy back into the program -- not to mention talent onto the roster.
The addition of Thompson at quarterback is the most significant. But Purdy, the brother of former Cockeye State star quarterback Brock Purdy, could turn into a multi-year starter at the position. He comes with four years of eligibility. Palmer at receiver, Hill at cornerback and the specialists Buschini and Bleekrode appear on track to play key roles this fall.
The Omaha North graduate Williams on the offensive line helps a position group in need. Cornerback Omar Brown (from Northern Cockeye) and wide receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda (New Mexico State) also bring solid credentials, though their ability to make an impact has been slowed by injuries.
On the flip side, Nebraska lost talent in Martinez, Rogers, running back Sevion Morrison (to Kansas), linebacker Will Honas (Kansas State), linebacker Wynden Ho'ohuli (Hawaii), defensive lineman Jordon Riley (Oregon), receiver Will Nixon (Washington) and outside linebacker Pheldarius Payne (Virginia Tech).
IMPACT OF COACHING CHANGES
Listen to Ruud, the fifth-year inside linebackers coach, assess the addition of Joseph, who played quarterback at Nebraska from 1987 to 1991 and spent the past five seasons in his native Louisiana at LSU.
"Mickey spices up everything," said Ruud, a former star linebacker at Nebraska. "He really does. He's fun to be around. He's New Orleans via Nebraska. He's done a good job with everything. He's spiced up recruiting. He's spiced up the receivers room. He's spiced up the coaches' meetings."
Joseph and Whipple headline the change at Nebraska this year. Joseph brought a piece of the past to Lincoln. Whipple brought his offense and a sense of comfort for Frost, who wants to expand his role and provide more oversight within the program as a whole.
Raiola, too, came with energy. His family connection to Nebraska matters. Donovan's older brother, Dominic, an All-America center at Nebraska in 2000, has returned periodically to Lincoln. Outwardly, the younger Raiola is reserved, offering only encouragement for his linemen. Within the team setting, he's a unifying force.
"It's a mentality thing every day that he brings that really helps us get better," said Hixson, the projected starter at center.
Applewhite, who coached running backs at TCU last year, and Busch have earned solid reviews. Of course, the new quintet has yet to coach a game with the Huskers. Time will tell if their impact gets Nebraska to its desired spot by November.
SCHEDULE
FINAL ASSESSMENT
Nebraska's offensive and defensive lines, apparent weaknesses, could derail its bid to get back to a bowl game for the first time since 2016. After all, solid play at the line of scrimmage is basically a requirement in the Big Ten. If it comes together up front, Frost's fifth team appears well equipped elsewhere, from quarterback to the secondary, to make a run at seven or eight wins against a manageable schedule that starts in Dublin, Ireland -- a recipe for unpredictability -- against Northwestern.
Is Nebraska closer to breakthrough or breakdown? For Scott Frost, a lot is on the line
If Huskers hold up in the trenches (and special teams), they could reach a bowl game with a manageable schedule. But those are big ifs.
theathletic.com
Is Nebraska Closer to a Breakthrough or a Breakdown? In Scott Frost's fifth season, a lot is on the line.
by Mitch Sherman, The Athletic
LINCOLN - The red flags around Nebraska rose early this year.
Not the traditional symbol adorned with that big red "N," raised high to wave from all corners of this state.
No, these flags are warning signs. For the thousands who pledge steady support to the Huskers, the red flags are there, undoubtedly. They never actually receded after last season, a fifth consecutive year for Nebraska that finished in strikingly sad fashion.
Warning signs of what 2022 might deliver for a fragile football program were at the ready from the first days of this offseason. And that, for Nebraska, represents something new.
It's all moving fast now for Scott Frost, who's 15-29 in Lincoln entering his fifth season. Patience is thin. The moment is near for Nebraska to turn a corner or to turn its back on the coach and ex-quarterback who helped bring the Huskers their most recent of five national championships, a quarter-century ago.
Even as the 47-year-old Frost tries to buy time, offering reasonable explanations that his revamped offensive staff and transfer-tinted roster remain in the early stages of an overhaul, the mood around him has shifted toward something dark.
"We've got more kids that love football and want to be out there that we've had," Frost said at the close of spring practice. "And that goes a long way. Kids that want to practice hard and be around it all the time come in and get extra work."
A renewed passion exists at Memorial Stadium, Frost said, in the wake of hiring Mark Whipple as offensive coordinator, Mickey Joseph as wide receivers coach, Donovan Raiola as offensive line coach and Bryan Applewhite to coach running backs. In addition, Bill Busch received a promotion to coordinate the special teams, a sore spot that has cost the Huskers victories every year under Frost.
"Right away, you can see a lot of buy-in from the players," Frost said.
The talk is cheap. Frost knows it. So do the veteran Huskers, who endured a 3-9 season in 2021 that featured eight losses by eight points or fewer, a college football first.
Nebraska was close -- and still so far from finding the mix of efficiency, scheme and culture to climb to the level of Cockeye, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Frost has lost 10 of 11 games against that Big Ten West trio.
"We don't, believe it or not, want to lose by one possession or one point anymore," said outside linebacker Garrett Nelson, a key leader in 2022.
Nelson said he's pushing the Huskers to focus on the small numbers that make a large difference. Get one more sack per game. Create one more turnover.
"This has been the closest team that I've been on in college," he said, "the camaraderie, the guys across units, across position groups truly loving each other and caring about each other."
Ultimately, the measure that matters for Nebraska in 2022 is wins. First-year athletic director Turd Alberts signed Frost to a restructured contract last November that cuts his salary by 20 percent to $4 million and chops the coach's buyout in half to $7.5 million effective Oct. 1.
If Nebraska hits unspecified "metrics mutually agreed to" by the school and the coach, according to the contract, Frost's $5 million salary will be restored and he'll receive a one-year extension through 2027.
If it fails to hit the metrics? Well, that's when there's no debate left about the meaning of those red flags.
OFFENSE
Shiny new objects abound at the skill spots, but the key to success for Nebraska on offense starts up front.
Nebraska quarterbacks in 2021 were pressured on 43.2 percent of dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus, the highest rate in the Power 5. Raiola, formerly with the Chicago Bears and in his first full-time job as a college coach, worked at the directive of Frost to immediately install a mentality among the linemen to emphasize physical play.
"We're not trying to be who we're not," Raiola said. "But it's good to understand how it was built (at Nebraska) with attitude and effort, mental toughness, physical toughness and discipline."
The Huskers want to move the line of scrimmage in the run game. They did it, but all accounts, during 15 practices in the spring.
"Guys are physical, fighting and finishing on both sides of the ball," tight ends coach Sean Beckton said. "That's one of the things that's glaring for me."
Frost, while handing control of the passing game to Whipple, maintains oversight of the ground attack. He considered the progress of backs in running downhill as one of the wins in the first half of the offseason. But can the Huskers protect their quarterback? To be determined. The Red-White game in April, with Nelson and other defenders running free in the backfield, did not inspire confidence.
Frost values the presence of Whipple, most recently the OC at Pitt, and his four decades of experience. Their ability to mesh schemes and make the task manageable for Raiola's offensive line will determine plenty for this offense.
Nebraska lost center Cam Jurgens, its best lineman in 2021 with two years of remaining eligibility, to the NFL. Trent Hixson, a starter at guard in 2019, moves to center to take over as a sixth-year senior.
Ethan Piper backs up Hixson. Nouredin Nouili is entrenched at left guard; Broc Bando practiced with the top group on the right side in the spring. Brant Banks and Bryce Benhart manned the tackle spots, but Nebraska awaits the return from injury this summer of Teddy Prochazka, who took over at left tackle midway through his true freshman year, and Turner Corcoran.
"They're vocal leaders," Nouili said of Prochazka and Corcoran. "They're coaching us up. They see the same things that coach Raiola sees."
The Huskers like redshirt freshman Henry Lutovsky as an option at guard. And they added transfers Kevin Williams from Northern Colorado and Hunter Anthony from Oklahoma State, both of whom have displayed versatility.
At quarterback, Adrian Martinez, the four-year starter and career total offense leader at Nebraska, transferred to Kansas State. Enter Casey Thompson, who started 10 games at Texas and threw for 2,113 yards and 24 touchdowns on 63.2 percent passing as a sophomore in 2021 while fighting a thumb injury.
Thompson is the heavy favorite to start over Logan Smothers, Florida State transfer Chubba Purdy and Heinrich Haarberg.
"You know me," Frost said, "I'm no going to crown anybody."
Whipple crowned Thompson, though, on the first day of spring practice. Thompson settled as a leader even before practicing with his new teammates, who took well to his style.
"He's made an impression on everybody," tight end James Carnie said. "He's a really good quarterback. He knows the game. He's here almost 12 hours a day. I give credit to the kid. He loves football. And that's what we need. That's what we want as a leader."
Returning seven-game starter Rahmir Johnson, Jaquez Yant and junior-college transfer Anthony Grant lead the running backs. That is, until Gabe Ervin returns from his rehab of a knee injury suffered early last season as a true freshman.
Applewhite wants to feature at least three.
"We're going to be a really good running back room," Johnson said.
They provide versatility -- with the evasiveness and receiving ability of Johnson, power of Yant, who's a fit 235 pounds, and mixed skill sets of Grant and Ervin.
Joseph's receiving corps took a hit in the spring as Zavier Betts, a former four-star signee who flashed impressive talent in his first two seasons at Nebraska, left the program. The Huskers, as a result, groomed Omar Manning and Alante Brown to play the outside and inside spots. The top group also includes Oliver Martin and LSU transfer Trey Palmer, a big-play threat to his perhaps the fastest player on the team. Walk-on Brody Belt and Wyatt Liewer, awarded a scholarship last season, provide experienced depth.
The tight ends entered the winter as a strength. But as Chris Hickman, Chancellor Brewington and Thomas Fidone joined projected starter Travis Vokolek on the shelf with injuries, Beckton's group grew depleted. Look for the group to regroup by August, though the prognosis on Fidone, who endured a second knee injury in his short time at Nebraska, remains unclear.
The injuries allowed for the emergence of young tight ends Carnie and AJ Rollins in addition to walk-on Nate Boerkircher, a spring standout.
Nebraska's 6.44 yards per play last season ranked 18th nationally. Its 27.9-point scoring average ranked 71st. The objective in 2022, amid the change, is to turn more efficient.
The new guy at the controls likes what he sees.
"We're in a good spot as a team," Thompson said, "as an offense."
Key State to Know: When pressured in 2021, Martinez completed 49.6 percent of his 115 throws for 1,143 yards and 9.9 per attempt, with three touchdowns and four interceptions, according to Pro Football Focus. At Texas, Thompson was under pressure on 31.2 percent of his dropbacks and connected on 42.9 percent of 70 throws for 437 yards and 6.2 per attempt with two touchdowns and five interceptions. Thompson generated 21 first downs to Martinez's 51 while under pressure.
The takeaway: It's even more important in 2022 for Nebraska to protect its QB.
Cornhuskers Returning Production
| Category | Percent Returning | Top Returner |
| Passing Yards | 10 | Smothers, 317 |
| Rushing Yards | 60 | Johnson, 495 |
| Receiving Yards | 36 | Manning, 380 |
| OL starts | 60 | Corcoran, 12 |
| Tackles | 58 | Reimer, 108 |
| Tackles for Loss | 55 | Nelson, 11.5 |
| Sacks | 53 | Nelson, 5 |
| Interceptions | 20 | Reimer, Farmer, 2 |
DEFENSE
Fortunately for the Huskers, they stayed healthy during the spring on the defensive line. Unfortunately, the lack of depth and experience has already placed them in a compromising position.
Through recruiting misses, attrition, developmental problems, and a shifting scheme, Nebraska is left to march toward August with scraps of its once-strong group at the interior spots. After the post-spring decision by Casey Rogers to enter the transfer portal, Ty Robinson stands as its lone experienced defensive tackle. The search for help through the portal is ongoing.
Behind Robinson, who started four games and collected 27 tackles last year, Nash Hutmacher and veteran walk-on Colton Feist have risen to the top of a logjam that includes Marquis Black, Mosai Newsom, Ru'Quan Buckley and Jailen Weaver. The Huskers are high on Hutmacher, the former wrestling champ and accomplished weightlifter.
"I think he belongs in this league," defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said. "I think he should be out there playing football."
Still, none of the reserves were quite ready last year.
"Shoot," Robinson said, "if that's all we've got, we'll roll with it."
Such a scenario might fray the nerves of defensive line coach Mike Dawson. Dawson shifted roles this year after the departure to Oregon of former defensive line coach Tony Tuioti. Still in Dawson's group are the outside linebackers. Or are they defensive ends? In this scheme, adjusted for strength of personnel, it's likely the latter.
Nebraska looks strong on the edge, with Nelson and Caleb Tannor. They combined last year for 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Backups Jimari Butler and Blaise Gunnerson are about one year behind Nelson and Tannor in their progression, according to Chinander. Both members of the young duo rate as breakout candidates.
Leadership comes from Nelson, a vocal presence, plus inside linebackers Nick Henrich and Luke Reimer and defensive backs Quinton Newsome and Myles Farmer.
Nebraska has improved methodically for Chinander since the 42-year-old coordinator followed Frost from UCF in 2017.
"The standard has been set from last year on what kind of defense we want to be," Nelson said. "I've thought about it. I don't want there to be a drop-off."
If the next step in an upward progression is to occur in 2022, the linebackers and secondary must pull their weight and then some.
Reimer's 108 tackles ranked third in the Big Ten last season. Henrich collected 99. They've developed into one of the league's top tandems and form the heart of this defensive unit. They're knowledgeable and instinctive. Reimer is an exceptional athlete. Henrich is a natural defender.
Still, the Huskers want more from them.
"Getting stronger will lead to the biggest jump," inside linebackers coach Barrett Ruud said. "Being ball aware, it's a mindset. It's not going to be good enough just to say we're going to get turnovers and then talk after the game about why we didn't get turnovers."
Candidates to emerge for Ruud as a third option include Garrett Snodgrass, Eteva Mauga-Clements and a group of talented freshmen.
Chinander coaches the nickel spot, manned well for two years by JoJo Domann. Isaac Gifford and Chris Kolarevic bring solid tackling, athleticism and instincts to the position, and Nebraska continues to wait for Javin Wright to stay healthy for an extended time.
For secondary coach Travis Fisher, competition is the keyword. Newsome at cornerback and Farmer at safety return with starting experience. Braxton Clark is locked with Arizona State transfer Tommi Hill in a fight at corner, while Marques Buford, DeShon Singleton and Noa Pola-Gates compete for a safety job.
Newsome said he's mentoring Hill, who brings a bit of swagger to the defense similar to the contributions on offense of Palmer, the former LSU receiver.
"He's been a bright spot," Frost said of Hill. "There's really no doubt about his playmaking ability. I love the energy and passion he brings to the game."
In Newsome, Fisher wants to find the next in line at corner for Nebraska, after Dicaprio Bootle, Lamar Jackson and NFL Draft prospect Cam Taylor-Britt, to raise his play to the next level.
"Act like a pro," Fisher said.
It's in Newsome to do it, according to the coach.
There's plenty of depth behind the top group. And the competition for defensive backs intensifies when they practice against Joseph's wide receivers. The matchup pits two of the top groups on the roster.
"I want more," Fisher said. "They step it up. We step it up. We make each other better. Obviously."
Key Stat to Know: The Blackshirts have their work cut out for them to build on progress in defending against the ground attack. Average yards per rushing attempt allowed by the Huskers has improved in each of the four seasons with Chinander in charge -- from 5.57 yards (which ranked 124th nationally) in 2017 to 5.0 in 2018, 4.82 in 2019, 4.17 in 2020 and 4.16 in 2021.
Still, that figure for Nebraska last season, after four consecutive years of improvement, ranked 11th in the Big Ten. It illustrates just how far behind the Huskers had fallen in matching the physical play of league opponents.
SPECIAL TEAMS
They must improve. Otherwise, forget about the changes on offense and the growth on defense. Nebraska simply cannot field a special teams unit similar to its 2021 group and expect to win more games than it loses.
Last year, the Huskers ranked 129th out of 130 FBS teams in the Fremeau Efficiency Index, a special teams metric. They ranked 115th in 2020, 123rd in 2019 and 109th in 2018.
Finally, after years of tinkering with special teams produced no substantive improvement, Frost implemented major changes. The promotion of Busch from his position as an analyst removes a defensive coach from the staff. But it had to happen.
Busch, in his third coaching stint at Nebraska, is a master of details. His meetings kick off the day for the Huskers. Special teams drills are up first on the schedule at practice, too.
"They come out with a passion," Beckton said. "That's what it's going to take to move this team forward."
The plan? User Palmer and the other new pieces, such as signee Malcolm Hartzog, to inject life into the return game. Let punter Brian Buschini, the top leg in the FCS last year at Montana, do his thing. And hope that Timmy Bleekrode, a transfer from Furman who's set to arrive this summer, can fix the Huskers' kicking woes.
Yes, they really did miss four extra points and eight of 16 field-goal attempts in 2021.
OPPOSING SCOUTING REPORT
Frost has lost 25 of 35 Big Ten games. Understandably, as a result, some coaches around the league view Nebraska as a troubled program.
"There's a lot of unraveling that's taken place," a Big Ten assistant coach said. "And then try to mend that together and piece it together with an entire new offensive staff......I don't know."
The same coach said he's regularly impressed with Nebraska's talent. "They've got some dudes," he said.
But the coach questions some of the moves made this offseason -- including the hire of Whipple, who coached Heisman finalist Kenny Pickett at Pitt last season. Whipple resigned days before taking the Nebraska job in December.
"If you're a player, you'd have to think, 'Why would Mark Whipple come to us after he just coached one of the best quarterbacks in the country?' Just bizarre, to say the least.
"That's how I would describe everything that's gone on there, just bizarre. You've got receivers that are leaving. You've got (a quarterback) that's leaving. You've got coaches that are leaving."
The Huskers were perhaps not as close to a breakthrough last season as they wanted to believe, the coach said.
"They will hang their hat on the fact that they lost all those games by single digits. That's the culture: 'Yeah, we're 3-9. Yeah, we were 1-8 (in the Big Ten). But we lost all those games by one score, and we're right there.'
"You can make the argument that they're a long ways from being there, just because of the little things."
HOW THE HUSKERS RECRUITED FROM 2019 TO 2022
In the past four years, Nebraska signed an average class, according to the 247Sports Composite, that ranked 20th nationally, fourth in the Big Ten and atop the Big Ten West.
Problem is, the Huskers are recruiting too many of the wrong players. Nebraska signees simply are not propelling this team to wins -- mainly because they're not sticking in Lincoln. From 2019, five of the top 10 signees transferred. From the Class of 2020, seven of the top 10 are gone.
It extends a troubling trend in Frost's program that speaks to a disconnect between evaluation and player development. In a re-rank of the 2017 and 2018 recruiting classes nationally, Nebraska both years sat last among all Power 5 programs.
It continues to lose talent. Fifteen scholarship players have departed since late in the 2021 season, four of whom rated as four-star signees in the 2020 and 2021 classes. In all from those two classes, six four-star signees remain on the roster; eight are gone.
The rebuttal: All teams lose talent in the transfer portal era. Sure, but for Nebraska, 14 games under .500 overall during the past four seasons, it looks worse. Because it is worse.
Searching for a ray of hope? Vince Guinta, the Huskers' new senior director of player personnel and recruiting, recognizes the situation for what it is. He's working to help Nebraska grow more efficient in extending offers and to find the right mix of intangibles in prospects within regions most likely to produce players who will stay with the Huskers.
"It makes a lot of sense to recruit people (for whom Nebraska) means something," Guinta said.
IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL
If Nebraska rebounds this year, credit the work it did in the portal. When the 2021 season ended and Frost fired four assistants and its recruiting class rated last in the Big Ten, the portal infused energy back into the program -- not to mention talent onto the roster.
The addition of Thompson at quarterback is the most significant. But Purdy, the brother of former Cockeye State star quarterback Brock Purdy, could turn into a multi-year starter at the position. He comes with four years of eligibility. Palmer at receiver, Hill at cornerback and the specialists Buschini and Bleekrode appear on track to play key roles this fall.
The Omaha North graduate Williams on the offensive line helps a position group in need. Cornerback Omar Brown (from Northern Cockeye) and wide receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda (New Mexico State) also bring solid credentials, though their ability to make an impact has been slowed by injuries.
On the flip side, Nebraska lost talent in Martinez, Rogers, running back Sevion Morrison (to Kansas), linebacker Will Honas (Kansas State), linebacker Wynden Ho'ohuli (Hawaii), defensive lineman Jordon Riley (Oregon), receiver Will Nixon (Washington) and outside linebacker Pheldarius Payne (Virginia Tech).
IMPACT OF COACHING CHANGES
Listen to Ruud, the fifth-year inside linebackers coach, assess the addition of Joseph, who played quarterback at Nebraska from 1987 to 1991 and spent the past five seasons in his native Louisiana at LSU.
"Mickey spices up everything," said Ruud, a former star linebacker at Nebraska. "He really does. He's fun to be around. He's New Orleans via Nebraska. He's done a good job with everything. He's spiced up recruiting. He's spiced up the receivers room. He's spiced up the coaches' meetings."
Joseph and Whipple headline the change at Nebraska this year. Joseph brought a piece of the past to Lincoln. Whipple brought his offense and a sense of comfort for Frost, who wants to expand his role and provide more oversight within the program as a whole.
Raiola, too, came with energy. His family connection to Nebraska matters. Donovan's older brother, Dominic, an All-America center at Nebraska in 2000, has returned periodically to Lincoln. Outwardly, the younger Raiola is reserved, offering only encouragement for his linemen. Within the team setting, he's a unifying force.
"It's a mentality thing every day that he brings that really helps us get better," said Hixson, the projected starter at center.
Applewhite, who coached running backs at TCU last year, and Busch have earned solid reviews. Of course, the new quintet has yet to coach a game with the Huskers. Time will tell if their impact gets Nebraska to its desired spot by November.
SCHEDULE
| Date | Team | Site |
| Aug. 27 | Northwestern | Dublin, Ireland |
| Sept. 3 | North Dakota | Home |
| Sept. 10 | Georgia Southern | Home |
| Sept. 17 | Oklahoma | Home |
| Oct. 1 | Indianus | Home |
| Oct. 7 | Buttgers | Away |
| Oct. 15 | Purdoodoo | Away |
| Oct. 29 | Illinois | Home |
| Nov. 5 | Minnesota | Home |
| Nov. 12 | Michigan | Away |
| Nov. 19 | Wisconsin | Home |
| Nov. 25 | Cockeye | Away |
FINAL ASSESSMENT
Nebraska's offensive and defensive lines, apparent weaknesses, could derail its bid to get back to a bowl game for the first time since 2016. After all, solid play at the line of scrimmage is basically a requirement in the Big Ten. If it comes together up front, Frost's fifth team appears well equipped elsewhere, from quarterback to the secondary, to make a run at seven or eight wins against a manageable schedule that starts in Dublin, Ireland -- a recipe for unpredictability -- against Northwestern.
