Off Season College Football News from other places

[SoCal_Corn]

the ATHLETIC

Nebraska’s special teams need a kick-start: Enter Kelen Meyer’s booming leg​

LINCOLN, Neb. — Across central Nebraska last fall, they stopped to watch.
“I have never seen opposing coaches and players stand there and watch a kicker kick,” Ord High School coach Nate Wells said. “They’d just stare at him in warmups. It was unbelievable.”
When Kelen Meyer kicks a football, Wells said, it makes a “different” sound — like the unique crack of a bat when a slugger connects.
Meyer, set to join the Huskers this fall, hit a 58-yard field goal in September at Central City to equal the record in Nebraska’s Class C and fall short of the all-time state high school mark by 1 yard. He missed wide left, with enough distance, from 64 yards in October at Centura. Meyer nailed 89 of 92 kickoffs for touchbacks. He won the award for longest kickoff, at 79 yards, in August at Alex Henery’s Midwest Kicking Camp, erasing the record held by former two-year Nebraska starter and NFL kicker Brett Maher.

“Real good leg strength,” said Henery, who started from 2007 to 2010 for the Huskers before playing four seasons in the NFL, “way better than I had when I came out of high school.”
Meyer alone can’t fix Nebraska’s problems with special teams, a source of frustration since the start for coach Scott Frost. Frost is 12-20 in three years. Woes within coverage and return units have plagued the Huskers in particular over the past two seasons. They ranked 114th nationally in 2020 and 120th two seasons ago in special teams efficiency, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
It’s clear that for Nebraska to contend in the Big Ten West, special teams must rate as a priority and grow into a strength.
Meyer represents a new start of sorts for the Huskers. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound multi-sport athlete helped Ord to a 12-0 finish in 2020 and a Class C-2 championship. He’s part of Nebraska’s next walk-on class. And his potential value in Lincoln as a freshman — even if it’s simply to boot kickoffs through the end zone — ranks higher than many of the scholarship recruits to sign last month.
“It’s a dream come true,” Meyer said of the opportunity to kick at Nebraska. “I’ve dreamt about it since I was a little kid. When I got the offer, it was not a hard decision.”
His inclusion among the 2021 group of newcomers looms especially large upon recognition that Nebraska has allowed three kickoff returns for touchdowns in its past 11 games, including a 98-yarder by Aron Cruickshank in the Huskers’ 28-21 win at Rutgers to end the season last month.

Despite the effectiveness as a kicker of first-team All-Big Ten senior Connor Culp, Nebraska averaged 57.2 yards per kickoff, 109th nationally, and ranked 87th in kickoff coverage.
What if the Huskers had a leg to boot it through the end zone? Or through the uprights on kickoffs, as Meyer did regularly while kicking off from the 40-yard line in high school, five yards closer to midfield than the kickoff point in college?

“That’s something I’d love to do,” Meyer said. “I know I have the capability.”
Culp, a graduate transfer from LSU, may return to Nebraska next season. He’s yet to announce a decision about his available sixth year. The roster includes four other kickers and four punters. Notably, the Huskers last year signed Australian Daniel Cerni to punt, but an injury wiped out his first year on campus.
None likely have the leg to largely eliminate kickoff returns against Nebraska.

It’s a subject about which Henery knows something. Nebraska led the nation in kickoff distance in his junior and senior seasons, averaging 68.6 yards per kickoff in 2010. Henery was an All-American as a senior and left Nebraska in possession of the NCAA record for career field goal accuracy at 89.5 percent (68 of 76).
He booted a Nebraska-record 57-yard field goal in 2008 to beat Colorado. After Henery, also a standout punter, was drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles, Maher took over and twice earned All-Big Ten honors. Maher spent time this year with the Arizona Cardinals, his sixth NFL organization.
Punter Sam Koch remains active, too, with the Ravens, carrying on a long lineage of strong Nebraska legs.
Perhaps Meyer is next up. He’s worked with Henery for several years at the ex-Husker’s Omaha camps, and with former All-Big 12 Nebraska punter Kyle Larson.
Henery, Larson, Maher and Koch, in addition to the late Sam Foltz, an All-Big Ten punter in 2017, all landed with the Huskers as walk-ons out of Nebraska high schools.
Meyer said he looks up to the other kickers for their well-rounded skill sets. Many of them starred in other sports. A multi-time state tournament qualifier in golf and wrestling, Meyer played wide receiver and defensive back for Ord. He also punts.

“He reminds me of the great athletes at kicker that we used to have at Nebraska,” said Wells, the Ord coach who worked as a student manager for the Huskers from 1997 to 2000. “Whether he’s going to have that future is up to Kelen. But I know that he has that kind of leg and talent.”

Meyer said he realized as a kid that his ability to kick was “not something that everyone can do.” Wells said he saw Meyer hit on 45-yard field goals as a sixth-grader. Meyer could hit from close to 60 in practice as a 130-pound freshman. He connected from 70 in practice this year.
It’s the reason behind the actions of those Ord opponents who stopped to watch him warm up in the fall.
Meyer said he saw them. He appreciated it. Their eyes added pressure, often difficult to simulate in practice.
At Nebraska, inside Memorial Stadium, whether kicking off, attempting field goals or punting, there will be more eyes. The pressure will rise.
“There’s a lot of difference between that and kicking at the high school,” Meyer said.


He’s ready to tackle his next job and to follow in the versatile, strong footsteps of the Nebraska kickers who came before him. And try to kick-start the Huskers’ sagging special teams.

 

[SoCal_Corn]

the ATHLETIC

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan close to finalizing 5-year deal: Source​

Michigan and football coach Jim Harbaugh are close to finalizing a five-year deal, a source told The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner on Thursday.

Harbaugh hasn't signed yet but is expected to soon.

The expected base salary is $4 million, but Harbaugh could earn up to $8 million with incentives. The buyout of the contract is also expected to be low.

Harbaugh, 57, is 49-22 in six seasons as head coach at Michigan and 34-16 in Big Ten play. The former Michigan star quarterback has led his alma mater to four top-20 poll finishes, with his best season coming in 2016 — when the Wolverines ranked No. 10.

After going 2-4 in 2020, Harbaugh dismissed defensive coordinator Don Brown.

Analyzing the construct of the deal​

Nick Baumgardner, Michigan beat writer: It's important to note that Harbaugh could have refused to sign this deal and continued to operate under his original contract, which still has one more year left on it at $8 million per. This deal ― which comes mid-pandemic ― appears to be closer in line, in terms of base salary, with what Michigan's overall performance has been on the field throughout his run. At the same time, if Harbaugh can reignite the program ― Michigan's prepared to reward him financially for it.

What the low buyout means​

Baumgardner: The buyout number on Michigan's end allows the school more flexibility if things don't turn around for Harbaugh and he begins preparation for his seventh year at the school. Michigan is 11-8 over its last two seasons (19 games) and has been unable to capture what Harbaugh had during the 20-6 start to his run with the program. Michigan hasn't won a bowl game since his first season and still has zero wins over Ohio State. Progress still has to happen here.

What is required for Harbaugh to see this deal through?​

Baumgardner: The first order of business for Harbaugh is getting the program off the mat. Michigan didn't just trend in a bad direction this season, the Wolverines were a mess ― a team sapped of confidence, often appearing without much direction or energy in general. COVID-19 certainly played a role in Michigan's problematic year, but other programs dealt with the pandemic, too. Harbaugh has to prove he's capable of turning this around. It's his mess. Michigan believes he's capable of cleaning it up.

 

[HuskerGarrett]

the ATHLETIC

Nebraska’s special teams need a kick-start: Enter Kelen Meyer’s booming leg​

LINCOLN, Neb. — Across central Nebraska last fall, they stopped to watch.
“I have never seen opposing coaches and players stand there and watch a kicker kick,” Ord High School coach Nate Wells said. “They’d just stare at him in warmups. It was unbelievable.”
When Kelen Meyer kicks a football, Wells said, it makes a “different” sound — like the unique crack of a bat when a slugger connects.
Meyer, set to join the Huskers this fall, hit a 58-yard field goal in September at Central City to equal the record in Nebraska’s Class C and fall short of the all-time state high school mark by 1 yard. He missed wide left, with enough distance, from 64 yards in October at Centura. Meyer nailed 89 of 92 kickoffs for touchbacks. He won the award for longest kickoff, at 79 yards, in August at Alex Henery’s Midwest Kicking Camp, erasing the record held by former two-year Nebraska starter and NFL kicker Brett Maher.

“Real good leg strength,” said Henery, who started from 2007 to 2010 for the Huskers before playing four seasons in the NFL, “way better than I had when I came out of high school.”
Meyer alone can’t fix Nebraska’s problems with special teams, a source of frustration since the start for coach Scott Frost. Frost is 12-20 in three years. Woes within coverage and return units have plagued the Huskers in particular over the past two seasons. They ranked 114th nationally in 2020 and 120th two seasons ago in special teams efficiency, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
It’s clear that for Nebraska to contend in the Big Ten West, special teams must rate as a priority and grow into a strength.
Meyer represents a new start of sorts for the Huskers. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound multi-sport athlete helped Ord to a 12-0 finish in 2020 and a Class C-2 championship. He’s part of Nebraska’s next walk-on class. And his potential value in Lincoln as a freshman — even if it’s simply to boot kickoffs through the end zone — ranks higher than many of the scholarship recruits to sign last month.
“It’s a dream come true,” Meyer said of the opportunity to kick at Nebraska. “I’ve dreamt about it since I was a little kid. When I got the offer, it was not a hard decision.”
His inclusion among the 2021 group of newcomers looms especially large upon recognition that Nebraska has allowed three kickoff returns for touchdowns in its past 11 games, including a 98-yarder by Aron Cruickshank in the Huskers’ 28-21 win at Rutgers to end the season last month.

Despite the effectiveness as a kicker of first-team All-Big Ten senior Connor Culp, Nebraska averaged 57.2 yards per kickoff, 109th nationally, and ranked 87th in kickoff coverage.
What if the Huskers had a leg to boot it through the end zone? Or through the uprights on kickoffs, as Meyer did regularly while kicking off from the 40-yard line in high school, five yards closer to midfield than the kickoff point in college?

“That’s something I’d love to do,” Meyer said. “I know I have the capability.”
Culp, a graduate transfer from LSU, may return to Nebraska next season. He’s yet to announce a decision about his available sixth year. The roster includes four other kickers and four punters. Notably, the Huskers last year signed Australian Daniel Cerni to punt, but an injury wiped out his first year on campus.
None likely have the leg to largely eliminate kickoff returns against Nebraska.

It’s a subject about which Henery knows something. Nebraska led the nation in kickoff distance in his junior and senior seasons, averaging 68.6 yards per kickoff in 2010. Henery was an All-American as a senior and left Nebraska in possession of the NCAA record for career field goal accuracy at 89.5 percent (68 of 76).
He booted a Nebraska-record 57-yard field goal in 2008 to beat Colorado. After Henery, also a standout punter, was drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles, Maher took over and twice earned All-Big Ten honors. Maher spent time this year with the Arizona Cardinals, his sixth NFL organization.
Punter Sam Koch remains active, too, with the Ravens, carrying on a long lineage of strong Nebraska legs.
Perhaps Meyer is next up. He’s worked with Henery for several years at the ex-Husker’s Omaha camps, and with former All-Big 12 Nebraska punter Kyle Larson.
Henery, Larson, Maher and Koch, in addition to the late Sam Foltz, an All-Big Ten punter in 2017, all landed with the Huskers as walk-ons out of Nebraska high schools.
Meyer said he looks up to the other kickers for their well-rounded skill sets. Many of them starred in other sports. A multi-time state tournament qualifier in golf and wrestling, Meyer played wide receiver and defensive back for Ord. He also punts.

“He reminds me of the great athletes at kicker that we used to have at Nebraska,” said Wells, the Ord coach who worked as a student manager for the Huskers from 1997 to 2000. “Whether he’s going to have that future is up to Kelen. But I know that he has that kind of leg and talent.”

Meyer said he realized as a kid that his ability to kick was “not something that everyone can do.” Wells said he saw Meyer hit on 45-yard field goals as a sixth-grader. Meyer could hit from close to 60 in practice as a 130-pound freshman. He connected from 70 in practice this year.
It’s the reason behind the actions of those Ord opponents who stopped to watch him warm up in the fall.
Meyer said he saw them. He appreciated it. Their eyes added pressure, often difficult to simulate in practice.
At Nebraska, inside Memorial Stadium, whether kicking off, attempting field goals or punting, there will be more eyes. The pressure will rise.
“There’s a lot of difference between that and kicking at the high school,” Meyer said.


He’s ready to tackle his next job and to follow in the versatile, strong footsteps of the Nebraska kickers who came before him. And try to kick-start the Huskers’ sagging special teams.

Wow. It would be nice to have a good kicker again

 

[Jim14510]

Wow. It would be nice to have a good kicker again

Culp was solid but doesn't have a huge leg.

 

[SoCal_Corn]

The ATHLETIC:

Top Nebraska signee Thomas Fidone is putting in prep work for a breakout spring​

OMAHA, Neb. — The Nebraska football weight room is going to feel otherworldly next week to Thomas Fidone.
In fact, a fitness center wedged into a strip mall would appear luxurious by comparison to the space in which Fidone worked for the past two months to ready his body for the rigors of college.
Too often, athletes get serious about injury prevention only after they endure a major setback. For Fidone, the four-star tight end out of Council Bluffs (Cockeye) Lewis Central blessed with a rare combination of size, speed and skill, the primary obstacle in his way to an NFL career is not grounded in achievement or potential.
It’s the challenge of playing healthy. And staying healthy.
So four times a week since his senior season of high school ended in early November, Fidone has worked with Grant Eberly, co-owner of First Pick Performance, to strengthen the areas of Fidone’s lower body most susceptible to wear and tear.

Fidone has added 10 pounds, up to 235, to his 6-foot-5 frame. The premier signee in the Huskers’ 2021 recruiting class as the No. 1-ranked player at his position nationally and a top-50 prospect by Rivals.com and 247Sports, Fidone brings a swagger next week to Lincoln as he reports among 13 early enrolling freshmen and three Division I transfers.
His eyes are set on earning freshman All-America honors this year. Fidone, 18, plans to contend for All-Big Ten and All-America recognition in his time at Nebraska and move to the NFL by age 22. He envisions his place among Travis Kelce, George Kittle and others as an elite tight end.
‘You’ve got to set the bar high,” Fidone said after a recent session with Eberly.
On a Tuesday morning in early January, they met inside a makeshift training area in West Omaha. Fidone brought his sister, Maddie, a ninth-grade volleyball player who attends high school in South Dakota. She bore a strong physical resemblance to her brother.
Natural athleticism is a family trait, Eberly said.

Fidone, while finishing a set of lunges across the thinly carpeted floor with weights in both of his large hands, kept an eye on his sister, using a squat rack for the first time. He offered her encouragement and advice as they advanced through a set of drills with about a dozen others, including Mason Armstead, a Princeton wide receiver and Omaha Pickle Smoochers Prep graduate.
Eberly trains Notre Dame receiver Xavier Watts, formerly of Omaha Burke, and has worked with various high-level athletes, including former NFL running back Danny Woodhead.
Fidone is unique, Eberly said. He predicts big things at Nebraska. Eberly’s business partner, Christian Dudzik, a former star safety at North Dakota State and Omaha Skutt, believes Fidone will play in the NFL.

“I’m a Nebraska fan,” Eberly said. “If they mess Thomas up, I’m not going to be a Nebraska fan anymore. This is close to a can’t miss.”
When Fidone signed in December, Nebraska coach Scott Frost said the tight end possessed “probably as much potential as anybody I’ve ever recruited.”
“When you watch his tape and look at his frame and his speed and just the talent that he has,” Frost said, “we’re anxious to get to work with him. And I think he’s going to be versatile enough to do quite a few things.”
Of course, Fidone must be healthy to help the Huskers. He caught 43 passes for 845 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games last fall at Lewis Central. But he dealt with knee pain related to tendonitis and ankle issues, playing regularly at less than 100 percent.

As he started an evaluation in November, Eberly asked Fidone to lay on his back, bend his legs and squeeze a 10-pound ball between his knees. Fidone’s legs shook almost immediately. The trainer prescribed an initial four-week program with simple exercises to loosen Fidone’s quads, strengthen his hamstrings, inner knees, ankles and glutes.
Already, he feels much stronger, Fidone said. He’s lifting more weight than ever.
“My body definitely needed it,” Fidone said. “I feel like I’m still raw. But being able to be explosive, have that quick twitch and quick hips, it’s important. I’ve come a long way.”
With a base of knowledge on injury prevention, Fidone said he feels equipped to take advantage of the Huskers’ offerings right away in strength and conditioning.
Fidone’s list of suitors included LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and homestate Cockeye. He picked the Huskers in August and set the tone for a Nebraska recruiting class strengthened by its regional flavor.

Fidone has stayed in close contact with tight ends coach Sean Beckton. They converse on FaceTime to educate Fidone on the playbook, offensive installation, route concepts and signals.
“He wants me to have a great start this spring,” Fidone said.
Fidone has jumped on board early with Nebraska players, echoing the messages delivered by Huskers who are navigating issues related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Quarterback signee Heinrich Haarberg of Kearney, Neb., recently spent time with Fidone on a visit to the Omaha area. Future roommates in Lincoln, they worked out together with Eberly and in football-specific drills through the Warren Academy.
Fidone said he expects to begin his time at Nebraska in a hybrid receiving role. He’s ready to line up in the slot or as a wideout before learning more of the concepts of a traditional tight end. Nebraska is set to bring back three of its top four tight ends next season. But with the departure of Wan’Dale Robinson to the transfer portal, the Huskers return no receiver who caught more than 13 passes.

Likely, it’s where Fidone can first contribute — and what Frost meant in calling him versatile.
If the years ahead go as planned, Fidone will be known for more than his versatility.
“Look at him,” Eberly said. “There’s a grown man in there that hasn’t come out yet.”

 

[Eaton Beaver]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-f...ay-from-alabama-with-1-million-annual-salary/

 

[SoCal_Corn]

Jonathan Rutledge out at Nebraska: Special teams analyst on Huskers’ philosophy​

LINCOLN, Neb. — Jonathan Rutledge is 31, and he’s coached at Ole Miss, his alma mater and home-state school, plus Memphis, North Carolina, Missouri, Auburn and, for a 10-month stretch that ended in late December, at Nebraska.
Getting fired is part of coaching, the worst part.

The Huskers hired him last February as senior special teams analyst to address the lagging third phase of the game. Rutledge was not allowed to coach on the field. He recruited All-Big Ten kicker Connor Culp as a graduate transfer from LSU and Australian punter Daniel Cerni in the offseason.
From his office, the meeting room and a spot on game days that shifted in November from the coaching box to the sideline, Rutledge directed the Nebraska kicking game.
“We didn’t play to my standards at all,” he said.

Cerni, the Huskers’ only specialist on scholarship, suffered a season-ending injury before the Oct. 24 opener. Nebraska, in winning three of eight games, finished 95th nationally in punting average. It ranked 105th in punt coverage, 94th in kickoff returns, 87th in kickoff coverage and 14th in punt returns.
Paid $150,000 for his one season at Nebraska, Rutledge remains in Lincoln with his family. He’s looking for his next stop, perhaps an NFL opportunity or a return to his SEC roots.
Rutledge, in an interview Thursday, discussed his relationship with Nebraska coach Scott Frost, their “philosophical differences,” his expectations for the Huskers and the challenge of running special teams as an analyst.

On what terms did your work for Frost end?
Frost and I are good friends. I wish him the best, because he’s pretty genuine. There’s not many in this business like that. He’s a good person, a good coach, a good man. It is what it is, we didn’t do very well on special teams this year. There was a lot of stuff out of my control, but that’s kind of part of it. I probably would have done the same thing.
What was out of your control, other than Cerni’s injury?
There were some other injuries with guys who were critical to what we wanted to be. But you have to move on and deal with it, find better players to fill that role. It just didn’t work out. Daniel’s injury was a huge blow. It was going to be a good competition between him and Will (Przystup) anyway. But competition brings out the best in you. Even if he hadn’t won the job, which I think he would have, it would have at least pushed Will to be the best that he could be. When Daniel went down, it was a loss.
You saw how Cockeye was able to make it work on special teams, and a lot of it had to do with Tory Taylor, another Aussie punter. I’ve had five Aussies over the years. I know how they operate. I know how they work. They’re just different. They’re really talented.

Will the kickers who you brought to Lincoln stay?
Daniel’s coming back. Nobody’s leaving. I talked to almost all of those guys. I fully believe that he might be All-Big Ten soon. And Connor’s coming back. I am the reason why Connor’s here. I recruited and figured he could be All-Big Ten, and he was. I actually told him that in the recruiting process.

What could Cerni have added as a freshman?
He has a really big leg. Like all the other Aussies, he can do a lot of things with his feet. Everybody grows up in America throwing the ball. (Australians) kick the ball. That’s their pastime. In Aussie rules football, they have to punt the ball to move it forward. They have to hit a receiver in stride on a go ball or a post route. They have to be that accurate. So without him, you miss out on some punts inside the 5- and 10-yard line that he can do very well, not to mention the rugby rollout stuff that we didn’t get the chance to do. It moves the pocket. It moves the launch point.
Maybe that (blocked punt against) Purdue doesn’t happen. It was a bust on our shield. It’s on me, I guess, as much as it can be. As an off-the-field guy, you don’t get to truly coach it.

Taking the job as an analyst, were you concerned about the lack of coaching contact allowed with your players?
I wasn’t that concerned. I was able to coach the coaches. They put in the plan (in practice). We got along well. And we had really good success at Missouri doing it that way. We didn’t have the best players in the conference there either, but we were able to make it work. The kids played hard. We were trying to do the same thing here.
(Coverage and return units) was a hodgepodge, trying to get it to work together. I was able to oversee all of it from afar. It was a challenge. It didn’t work out the way we hoped. I’m interested to see the way it goes from here, because I think they’re just hiring another analyst. I don’t know how that’s going to work, but I’m sure Coach Frost will get it right.

Should Nebraska dedicate one of its 10 assistant coaching jobs to a special teams coordinator?
I would say so. But honestly, I’m not running the program.

What happened on the two fake punts successfully executed against Nebraska?
Against Illinois, we had 10 on the field. The (punter) made a play. It looked bad on his part, but it looked worse on ours. If we’d have had that (11th player) in the game, he was supposed to be there to support. We couldn’t find him. Punt return is the hardest one to get everyone on the field. We had a lot of help. We had the strength staff, and my GA did an incredible job all year getting everybody where they needed to be. It was just that one play, we couldn’t get the right person on the field.
The Rutgers fake, they out-schemed us. We couldn’t contain. We were supposed to. But it didn’t get translated from the meeting room and practice field to the game. That happened on offense and defense and special teams all year. The execution part didn’t work out.

How strong is Nebraska’s commitment to special teams?
I can’t really tell you that. I know there’s been two coaching changes now (with special teams), and hopefully the third will get it right. Culture is a big factor in special teams. It’s here. It’s growing. It’s just growing at a slow pace. When you look at the Big Ten, and especially the West in Wisconsin, Cockeye and Northwestern, those coaches have been there. Everything is clicking. Everything carries over. Everything is how it’s supposed to be.

What is Frost’s involvement with special teams?
He was so involved with the offense, he didn’t really have enough time to get with special teams. It does help when the head coach is in meetings. But obviously, we’ve got to get the offense figured out, too. If we’ve got a good offense, we don’t have to punt as much.

What are your philosophical differences with him?
I have a different kind of energy. It’s 100 on the Richter scale. I’m a fiery guy. Coach Frost is who he is; he’s not a big, fiery guy, but obviously he’s had a lot of success being who he is. That might have played a role (in the departure). But we get along great. It’s just one of those things.

Did the assistant coaches prioritize working with you?
Oh yeah, they were great. It’s a really good group of coaches. They really know football. They’re really good recruiters, and that’s honestly hard to find in this business, too. I’ve been in programs where they’re really good recruiters and not so much on the Xs and Os. And I’ve been with coaches who are good on the Xs and Os and not so much on the recruiting. I think there’s a good mix on the staff. I hope they get it right.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

That's a great heckin interview

 

[SoCal_Corn]

Nebraska’s inability to get more from playmakers puts offense at a crossroads​

LINCOLN, Neb. — A new season starts this week at Nebraska. Football players returned to campus ready to work on strength and conditioning ahead of a spring-practice plan that has yet to take shape amid a still-burgeoning pandemic.

Feel relatively assured, though, that the Huskers, set to open the academic semester Monday alongside thousands of fellow students, will practice this spring, unlike a year ago.
What’s more uncertain is the direction in the fourth year under coach Scott Frost. In particular, where is the offense headed? Evidence from the past three seasons suggests it could use a reboot. And over the past four weeks, since the Huskers put up 620 yards and overcame four turnovers in a 28-21 win at Rutgers, they’ve looked from the outside like a program split down the middle.

On one side sits Erik Chinander’s defense, showing steady growth.
Linebackers JoJo Domann and Will Honas, safeties Deontai Williams and Marquel Dismuke and defensive end Ben Stille recently announced their intent to return as sixth-year seniors. Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, too, is coming back as a fourth-year senior after he considered a jump to the NFL.
The Huskers return their top eight tacklers and nine of 11 defensive starters from a group that ranked 44th nationally in allowing 5.46 yards per play — improved from 62nd in 2019 and 75th in 2018. It could enter the fall as the most experienced defense in school history.
Chinander’s momentum is real.


The offense, by comparison, is flailing. Its 23.1-point scoring average against a Big Ten-only schedule marked its lowest figure since 1969. In yards per play, the Huskers dropped from 20th in Frost’s first year to 72nd in 2019 and 2020.

Nebraska entered last season with a solid core on the offensive line and at tight end, experience at quarterback and running back with Adrian Martinez and Dedrick Mills, promising youth at wide receiver and two dynamic, game-changing talents from the 2019 recruiting class in Wan’Dale Robinson and Luke McCaffrey.
Three months later, Robinson is gone, having transferred last week to home state Kentucky after Nebraska failed to find the featured role for him that would boost his NFL appeal, and the future for McCaffrey is murky after a disjointed second season in Lincoln.

McCaffrey, a four-star prospect, threw one touchdown pass and six interceptions while starting two games last season. If the QB situation stays intact at Nebraska, he’s headed this spring toward a new version of the same competition waged in the fall, only this time with McCaffrey framed not as the exciting, fresh option but as a fallback, a known commodity with deficiencies in the passing game that could limit the Huskers’ offensive reach.

He’s not alone in taking steps slowly.

Which offensive skill players signed to scholarship since December 2017, other than Martinez, remain in the program and have contributed most? It’s McCaffrey, Rahmir Johnson, who’s rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons, and Zavier Betts and Travis Vokolek, who combined to catch 21 passes for 222 yards and one score in their first action last fall.
Ten others left early, not including Mills, who gave up his extra year to take a shot at the NFL. Gone, too, this winter from the offense are senior linemen Brenden Jaimes and Matt Farniok and tight end Jack Stoll. Their decisions are reasonable. But the offensive exodus in general, which includes former starting offensive guard Boe Wilson as a transfer to Western Kentucky, presents an appearance in contrast to what’s cooking on defense at Nebraska.

The Huskers tried to replace Mills and Robinson with transfers Markese Stepp, a four-star running back in 2018 who spent three seasons at USC, and FCS All-America wide receiver Samori Toure of Montana.
Beyond Martinez, a rock despite his own woes with turnovers and struggles in the vertical passing game, and a small group of other veterans, dysfunction persists. McCaffrey’s path — or lack of a clear one — in his redshirt freshman year tells of a system in need of recalibration.

The Huskers called on McCaffrey for key contributions in five of eight games. In those five games, he filled four decidedly unique jobs. He was effective as a multi-position threat against Ohio State, shifting from wide receiver to running back and quarterback in a role Nebraska ditched after the season opener. McCaffrey came off the bench against Northwestern, unsuccessful in a fourth-quarter comeback bid.
He started twice, leading Nebraska to a win against Penn State before his four-turnover performance set the tone for a demoralizing defeat against Illinois. Then McCaffrey provided a valuable change of pace against Cockeye, helping to flip the flow on Black Friday in a game that Nebraska could have won if not for a series of fundamental errors in the second half.
The fact is, Nebraska has struggled to develop and execute a consistent plan for him. It happened, too, with Robinson, whose rushing attempts went from zero against Ohio State and Northwestern to 16 against Penn State as the Huskers managed injuries and availability issues.

The haphazardness is in part responsible for McCaffrey’s delayed development and similar stunted growth among other young offensive skill players.
As the Huskers return to Lincoln and count heads at the start of a new year, more change may be afoot — on the roster and among the coaching staff. But the team will take shape, one with the promise of spring and the potential to bridge Nebraska’s growing chasm between the levels of progress on the offensive and defensive sides.

 

[MtnHusker]

thanks for posting these. @HuskerGarrett it would be great if this was a regular feature.

 

[SoCal_Corn]

thanks for posting these. @HuskerGarrett it would be great if this was a regular feature.

I think this is a regular feature...🤣

 

[Toe]

 

[SoCal_Corn]

THe ATHLETIC - Mail Bag my Mitch

Whoever JOHN W is below, he asked MY question too....😎

Logan Smothers’ chances? Confidence waning in Scott Frost? Nebraska mailbag​

LINCOLN, Neb. — One month down, seven to go in the offseason. Thanks for keeping things lively here.

To the mailbag questions.

Does Logan Smothers have a legitimate shot to be the starting QB this year? Adrian Martinez just doesn’t seem to have the arm talent to lead Nebraska. — Jacob W.
If Smothers has continued to work on the skills that made him one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks nationally in the Class of 2020, he should get a legitimate look in the spring. Smothers has spent the past year on campus, making personal sacrifices during a pandemic as his parents and four brothers remained home in Alabama. He traveled with the Huskers to all five road games last season after his longtime commitment made him an anchor of coach Scott Frost’s third recruiting class in Lincoln.
There exists no reason for the Huskers to overlook Smothers. He’s tough, fast and showed solid accuracy in high school, completing 76 percent of his throws as a senior. Smothers looked like a solid fit for Nebraska when the Huskers offered him in spring 2018. He still does.
Nebraska missed a game-breaking element from its QB play last year. Opponents did not have to contend with a deep threat, which hurt the short passing game and the ground attack. Though Martinez completed 71.5 percent of his passes, a career-best mark, his 7.0 yards per attempt and 9.8 yards per completion ranked as the lowest figures in his three years. Martinez threw just four touchdowns in 151 passes. That’s one per 37.8 throws. As a freshman, he threw one per 20.4.
Martinez will be there when spring practice opens in March. Unless something changes with his status, expect Luke McCaffrey to also factor. Regardless, Smothers has earned a shot to get reps with the top offense in the spring. The Huskers need to see what he can do. The other options provide a known set of skills. Smothers’ ceiling is still to be determined.

What would have to happen for Nebraska to move away from Frost? He’s obviously not on the hot seat, but there is serious pressure mounting for him to show on-the-field results. At what point is he not the guy at Nebraska? — Ross V., Pevely, Mo.
It would take an implosion over the next year to put Frost’s job in danger. In these budget-conscious times, economics and optics rate as giant factors in determining job security. Frost is signed at $5 million per year through 2026, and the school is prepared this spring to break ground on the $155 million football facility designed to function well for his program.
Unless Frost and Nebraska experience a situation to rival the problems at Tennessee, it would take a season in 2021 with perhaps two wins or fewer for administrators to pull the plug on the entire Bill Moos-Frost operation.
Moving into 2022 and beyond, it gets difficult to project. Nebraska seemingly needs a winning season in the next two years to prevent Frost’s seat from getting uncomfortably hot. I’m not sure if he (or any Big Ten coach) could survive five consecutive losing seasons.

The Cameron Jurgens experiment, success or failure? — John B.
Still to be determined. I’m not ready to stick him on the Rimington Trophy watch list, but there’s hope for Jurgens to turn into a consistent center, even a dominant one. Minus the Cockeye game last year, in fact, his snapping issues did not surface as regularly as in his redshirt freshman year. And everyone who stared in the trenches at Daviyon Nixon in 2020 experienced some sort of trouble. Frost is committed to making it work with Jurgens. Nebraska will continue to look for ways to improve his snapping. Just as important is his health. Unless Jurgens can avoid more lower-body injuries, his development will lag.
And if it gets to the point where Frost has simply grown too stubborn to make a change, that would relegate Jurgens’ 2018 move from tight end as a failure. It’s not there yet.

Is Frost too stubborn to make wholesale changes on offense or in the program to get things on track? — Brian J.
It’s an interesting question and one with an answer that might go a long way in determining the Huskers’ fate next season. How stubborn is Frost? Logic would suggest that after three consecutive losing seasons, a first for Frost in his life as a football player or coach, he’d open his office door wider to advice from assistant coaches and trusted outside voices.
Frost has a key decision to make about the Huskers’ commitment to special teams and their level of reliance on an experienced defense. After his firing in December of senior special-teams analyst Jonathan Rutledge, will the fourth-year coach consider a full-time coordinator? Will Frost place his trust in the defense to win games next season?
As for making wholesale changes on offense, that’s asking a bit much.

Are we going to see any four- or five-tight end sets next year? — John H.
With all the quality we have at tight end and running back and the lack of proven wide receiver talent, is there a chance the Huskers go to more old school smashmouth football versus the disaster that has been the spread offense? With a quality defense, it would seem to make sense to me. — Steve T.
No on the four- or five-tight end sets. That was a joke, right? What you might see instead are four or five receivers that include as many as four players recruited to Nebraska as tight ends. Austin Allen and Travis Vokolek return as two of the top pass-catching threats on the roster.
With former tight end Chris Hickman at receiver and freshman four-star tight end Thomas Fidone likely in position to dabble at slot receiver and split wide, why not put all four on the field at the same time? Fidone, at 6-5, is the shortest of the foursome.
Time will tell on the depth of the Huskers’ running backs stable. They’ve got bodies, with four returning freshmen and USC transfer Markese Stepp, a fourth-year junior who needs a waiver (or the passage of a one-time transfer exception) from the NCAA to play in 2021. If a couple of reliable options emerge, Nebraska might slow the pace, yes, to put more on the shoulders of its defense, a la Wisconsin, Northwestern and Cockeye.

Which coach should be converted to special teams coordinator or get the title, even if the duties are split, since Frost doesn’t seem like he wants to hire anyone for the full-time job? — Mike V.
When Bruce Read was hired by Mike Riley, fans were upset that he devoted a full-time assistant to special teams. But now with special teams struggling, fans want a full-time special teams coach. Why do we do this to ourselves? — Brian J.
With the current setup of the coaching staff, a couple of moves could allow the Huskers to free an assistant coach to coordinate special teams. Nebraska could put defensive coordinator Erik Chinander in charge of a position, or it could merge two positions under one coach — tight ends and wide receivers, for example. Either strategy would allow an assistant coach to take over special teams. I can’t say that I see such a move as probable.
More likely, Nebraska might lose a coach to an outside job or reassign an assistant to a non-coaching role. Some shifting would still be required to allow for the addition of a full-time special-teams coordinator.
As I recall, fans during Read’s tenure at Nebraska in 2015 and ’16 grew upset not that he held a full-time position (one of nine assistant coaching spots, compared with the 10 allowed today) but that he was paid $450,000 to coach a unit that underperformed.

It seems like Frost is trying too hard to keep his players happy, with comments that he’s made about Wan’Dale Robinson, McCaffrey and Martinez. I know their programs are in different places, but Nick Saban and Ryan Day don’t go on the record in similar ways. I think Wan’Dale’s departure frees up a logjam and will give opportunities to emerging players like Zavier Betts. — Thomas T.
Robinson didn’t leave Nebraska because of anything that Frost said or didn’t say in an attempt to keep him happy. Still, it’s a fine line to walk. Frost’s comments in November, touting McCaffrey as the Huskers’ “future” at QB, may come back to haunt the coach. The availability of information and willingness by so many to transfer create a situation that’s difficult for all coaches, not just Frost.
All, that is, except for maybe Alabama’s Saban, Ohio State’s Day and one or two other coaches nationally whose rosters are so loaded with talent that the worry of losing a player rarely causes concern.

Things are bleak. Confidence in Frost is at its lowest point. What do I have to look to for optimism in 2021? Can’t seem to find any myself. — Wyatt W.
I want to bring to light some positivity. I think the defense could be one of the Big Ten’s best in 2021, with news of Ben Stille, Will Honas, Marquel Dismuke, Deontai Williams and JoJo Domann all returning. Who could be that pass rusher Nebraska so desperately needs to emerge in order to jump to an elite level? — Drew V., Kodiak, Alaska
Wyatt, meet Drew. Also, look forward to fans returning to Big Ten games next fall. I am.
Defensively, Nebraska has the players to rank among the best in the Big Ten. But some of the numbers will continue to be shaped by the pace on offense and the work of the special teams.
There’s no clear answer at pass rusher. The Huskers figure to continue to approach it by committee with outside linebackers Domann, Garrett Nelson, Caleb Tannor and Pheldarius Payne. Presumably, Nebraska will add Javin Wright to this mix as he returns from injury. At defensive end, Jordon Riley did not emerge in 2020 like some observers anticipated. He’s got the size to cause havoc.

Looking at the 2021 schedule and seeing what we have on the field, I struggle to find four wins for Nebraska. Is there reason to believe that enough is going to change to get to .500 and a bowl game? I honestly don’t see it. — Jon J., Omaha
I understand your lack of confidence, Jon. But I can’t summon the sunniness to convince you that enough will change to push the Huskers into the postseason. In fact, looking at the schedule, I come up with two games that I’m confident Nebraska will enter as a favorite. That schedule, subject to several changes, includes as many as five toss-ups as I see it today.
It magnifies special teams and the importance for Nebraska to maximize the reach of its roster by playing to the team’s strengths.

Do you expect the new WR transfer Samori Toure to replace Wan’Dale as our goal-line back? — John W.
You win the award for best question, John.

Part of the point of the recruiting process is to show the player how he will be utilized in the system. What changed for Wan’Dale, the system with a new offensive coordinator or the lack of quarterbacks able to throw a deep ball with consistency? Do you think his departure will have an impact on future skill-position recruits? — Kevin C.
I don’t think it was one thing. It’s well established that the Huskers struggled to stretch the field in the passing game. That was not Robinson’s strength, though he stood to gain from a deep threat. Imagine if Robinson had played with Stanley Morgan in 2018 or if Omar Manning had developed in 2020 as expected. How much would they have opened things on underneath routes for Robinson? Probably enough to keep him in Lincoln as a junior next season.
Recruits look at roster movement unlike fans and media. To a receiver who likes the Huskers’ recruiting pitch, Robinson’s departure creates only an added opportunity. It might limit indirectly the pool of players who want to listen to the Huskers if his absence makes them less competitive. But that remains to be seen.

In looking at the offensive players whom Frost has recruited the past two seasons, plus the additions from the transfer portal, I’ve noticed a lot of size. Bigger players than in the first three classes. In your opinion, is this a coincidence, or is Frost purposefully recruiting to usher in a change to his offensive system and philosophy. — Scott S., Windsor, Ontario
Not a coincidence. Frost and offensive coordinator Matt Lubick want more size at receiver. It doesn’t signify the makings of a new offense. But the Huskers saw a deficiency two years ago in their reliance on smaller wideouts like JD Spielman. In Betts and Manning last year, now Latrelle Neville, Shawn Hardy and Toure among the 2021 newcomers, Nebraska is making a shift that it believes will diversify and improve this offense.

After the opener against Ohio State, why do you think we didn’t see more of Martinez and McCaffrey on the field at the same time, especially as the team struggled to find big plays throughout the season? — Brian J.
Because the Huskers wanted to commit to McCaffrey as a quarterback and not as some kind of a hybrid. I wrote some about this a few days ago. It raises other questions: Why did Nebraska use McCaffrey at receiver and running back against Ohio State? Did he ask for that practice to stop after one game? I hope some of those answers still emerge because they would shed light on the Huskers’ struggles on offense in comparison with their defensive growth.

Does Frost give the worst sound bites of any Power 5 coach? He described Purdue as a “winnable game” in 2018, warned Big Ten foes that they “better get us now” ahead of his first season and asked reporters if Joe Burrow, as a transfer from Ohio State, was “better than what we’ve got.” Does that kind of stuff happen to other coaches, too? — Sam E.
All of the comments you mentioned came in Frost’s first few months on the job, when he was riding high after a 13-0 finish at UCF and still in the honeymoon phase at Nebraska. A lot of coaches and athletic directors have said worse.
Clemson’s Dabo Swinney wins, so many of his regrettable comments are quickly forgotten. Listen to Jim Harbaugh’s sound bites at Michigan, and you’ll soon be clamoring for Frost. Dial up a Kirk Ferentz news conference — if you’re interested in a discourse on detailed moments from the past 40 years in Cockeye football that jump into his razor-sharp memory.
Frost remains a young coach and somewhat inexperienced in his chair. That’s not to say fans and media should expect missteps from him. But he’s continuing to learn. In the past year, he’s grown wary of making comments about progress at practice because of the blowback it’s sometimes generated.
Let’s not discourage him from speaking his mind. It’s often the clearest window provided into the program.

Mitch, do you have any insight on what happened with Manning this year? Was it off-the-field issues, struggling with scheme, etc.? — Ryan O.
I put this aside in mid-November when it grew clear that he was not in position to help the Huskers in his first year on campus out of junior college. Manning, the newcomer at wide receiver who was touted as a candidate to transform the Huskers’ passing game, looked unprepared in playing four snaps in 2020 — all against Northwestern.
Now that the offseason is underway and the spring semester is near with Manning still on the roster, it’s worth revisiting. He started well, by all accounts, last offseason but grew disengaged after the Big Ten pulled the plug on fall football. By the time the league reversed course, Manning and others were behind. It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Almost everything for which he moved to Lincoln was taken away in the months after he arrived.
If the Huskers get him to spring practice in March and clean the slate, that’s a positive sign. Manning can add a lot of value to the offense this year, but it’s probably best that the expectations stay tempered. His issues came off the field, yes. Technically, that’s obvious, since he spent almost no time on it. Were they related directly to football? I don’t know, but it’s clear that Manning’s first few months at Nebraska presented many unique challenges, specifically for newcomers far away from home.

Would you rather: Never get to eat a Runza for the rest of your life and see Nebraska play in the Rose Bowl next season or only eat at Valentino’s buffet for the next decade and see a Nebrasketball Sweet 16 team next season? (This includes San Diego and Chicago as sites for the two weekends of games.) — Matt C.
Well, Matt, I’m not wholly invested in the Huskers’ success, but I’ll play along because I do enjoy reporting from the road during non-pandemic times. All of the destinations you’ve listed fit as desirable. And I checked, San Diego and Chicago are, in fact, set to host NCAA Tournament hoops in 2022, so good job with the research.
Really, this is not a tough choice. As much I enjoy Val’s and marvel at the selection on its Grand Italian Buffet, if I ate there exclusively for a month, let alone a decade, I’d face some major health issues and wouldn’t feel much like traveling. If you’re telling me instead that I could eat at Valentino’s as my only option outside of home for 10 years in exchange for two weeks of NCAA basketball, again, no thanks.
I had a 15-cent Runza sandwich this week. Temperature Tuesday is fantastic. But I could go without. It’s not even my favorite item on the menu at Runza. I’m glad you didn’t ask me to give up Frings. The Rose Bowl is a grand event. I covered it in January 2002 and 2016. Another trip to Pasadena sounds great, especially now as I’m stuck inside, reminiscing about how I saved $3 in the drive-thru line on a bread pocket stuffed with cabbage and beef.

What’s going on with the 2022 recruiting class? Are the Huskers planning to have one? — Scott S., Windsor, Ontario
I sense sarcasm. As much as the pandemic-related recruiting restrictions hindered efforts with the 2021 recruiting class, it’s more difficult with the 2022 class, especially for a school like Nebraska that is separated by a large distance from most prospects.
Many current seniors in high school made unofficial visits in fall 2019 and participated in junior days on college campuses last year at this time. No such luck for the next class. Expect the pace of commitments to remain slow until the NCAA loosens restrictions, maybe in the summer.

Do you anticipate Nebraska bringing in more players from the transfer portal? If so, what positions do you think it targets? — Dylan L., Ralston, Neb.
Frost said Wednesday on Husker Sports Network radio that it has room for two more newcomers, either through the transfer portal or in the February signing period. This number does not include linebacker Wynden Ho’ohuli, committed to sign next month as a high school prospect out of Hawaii.
Considering the transfers who’ve left from the 2020 signing class, I could see the Huskers looking at a defensive back. But it will largely depend on who’s available and if Nebraska suffers any more losses from its roster to the portal.

Tennessee and Nebraska seem linked. Both were elite programs in the 1990s but have struggled to compete at a high level despite having money, conference affiliation and infrastructure to compete. Which will win a conference title first? — Brian J.
The schools are linked, too, in that Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman, who hired Frost’s former boss Danny White as AD Thursday from UCF, worked at Nebraska for nine years, most recently in 2019 as executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. And Kevin Steele, the Vols’ interim coach while White searches to replace fired Jeremy Pruitt, worked at Nebraska for Tom Osborne as linebackers coach from 1989 to 1994 — a significant time in the program’s history. Steele recruited standout QB Tommie Frazier to Lincoln.
To win a conference title, Tennessee must top Alabama. For that reason alone, I’ll take the Huskers.

 

[SoCal_Corn]

Nebraska projected depth chart: Amended offense looks to reverse negative trends​

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska on offense after three years in the Scott Frost system has discovered the fountain of youth.
And it’s not necessarily a welcomed find.

As 2021 begins, the Huskers’ offensive roster includes just six scholarship players who’ve spent more than two seasons in the program. Since the end of Frost’s second season, 16 of the 25 scholarship players to enter the transfer portal played on the offensive side — including six of seven since the 2020 season ended.
This week brought news on the departures of quarterback Luke McCaffrey, who started two games last season, veteran wide receiver Kade Warner and backup offensive lineman Will Farniok.
It’s an ominous sign for an offensive unit that’s bidding to reverse two-year declines in scoring and yards per play.
The Huskers are young and getting younger, in particular at running back and receiver, where the only five players not listed as freshmen — after the 2020 NCAA eligibility freeze — transferred into the program over the past eight months.

Nebraska didn’t publish a depth chart in 2020. It’s not likely to produce an official document during the offseason to come.
Nevertheless, here’s an early forecast for the projected 2021 starting lineup and top backups on offense.

​

Quarterback​

Starter: Adrian Martinez
Backup: Logan Smothers
Others on scholarship: Heinrich Haarberg
With a shot to become the first three-time yearlong captain in Nebraska’s storied history, Martinez heads toward next season as the clear leader to retain the starting position he’s held for 27 of Frost’s 32 games in charge of the Huskers. Martinez joins Desmond Ridder of Cincinnati, Miami’s D’Eriq King and Malik Cunningham of Louisville as returning FBS quarterbacks with 5,000 career passing and 1,500 rushing yards.
Martinez ranked second to Alabama’s Mac Jones among Power 5 QBs in 2020 with a 71.5 percent completion rate, a single-season Nebraska record. But his yards per passing attempt dropped to a career-low 7.0, as did his 9.8 yards per completion.
Martinez’s touchdown passes dipped from 17 as a freshman to 10 in 2019 and four last season. And he was benched after two games last fall, regaining the job when McCaffrey committed four turnovers in an embarrassing loss against Illinois.
Most troubling for Martinez? When he threw a pass that traveled more than 10 yards in the air last season, he was 18-of-38 for 404 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Smothers will get a look in the spring. He was a dynamic dual-threat QB at Muscle Shoals (Ala.) High School in 2019 and enrolled in January 2020, spending his first year on campus stuck inside to stay healthy and to study up.
Can he push Martinez, whose struggles with turnovers continued late into his third season? Maybe. Regardless, the Huskers need Smothers to get ready. Martinez has dealt with injuries since his junior year of high school. And Haarberg, coming from Class C-2 Kearney (Neb.) Catholic, requires time to adjust to the college level.
Their progress in the spring and the health of all three quarterbacks will factor in Nebraska’s decision to stand pat or pursue another QB through the transfer portal.

​

Running back​

Starter: Markese Stepp
Backups: Rahmir Johnson, Sevion Morrison, Marvin Scott III, Ronald Thompkins
Others on scholarship: Gabe Ervin Jr.
Nebraska’s four returning backs on scholarship combined to rush for 116 yards and one score on 37 carries. Dedrick Mills is gone to pursue the NFL, and Wan’Dale Robinson, a receiver who played extensively at running back over the past two seasons, transferred this month to Kentucky.
Enter Stepp, a four-star back in the 2018 recruiting cycle out of Indianapolis with offers from Notre Dame, Tennessee, Michigan, Wisconsin and Miami. He went to USC and rushed in 2019 for 307 yards on 48 carries. But an ankle injury cut short his season, and he lost playing time to two other backs in 2020. Stepp finished with 165 yards on 45 carries in five games and transferred to Nebraska in January.
At 6-foot and 235 pounds, he looks like a candidate to carry a big load for the Huskers, a scenario that’s worked favorably when used under Frost with Mills and Devine Ozigbo.
Of the second- and third-year backs, Johnson and Scott have put the most on film. But they were underused last year. Scott brings a hard-nosed style in the mold of Mills; Johnson is best with space to operate. Morrison and Thompkins, well-rounded backs when healthy, both missed most of last season with health issues. Thompkins’ injuries appear chronic.
With Ervin, a 6-1, 190-pound freshman in Lincoln for spring practice, running backs coach Ryan Held must develop a playing order and rotation. Even then, it’s unlikely that six backs on scholarship will remain at the end of 2021. But to build a ground game, important for this team to preserve its quarterbacks and benefit from the best defense of the Frost era, the Huskers need to identify roles in the backfield.

​

Wide receiver​

Starters: Oliver Martin, Samori Toure, Zavier Betts
Backups: Chris Hickman, Alante Brown, Levi Falck
Others on scholarship: Omar Manning, Latrell Neville, Will Nixon, Shawn Hardy, Kamonte Grimes, Demariyon Houston, Jamie Nance
Nebraska has never had a receiving corps with more size or less FBS experience. Just 37 receptions return. Gone prematurely are Robinson, after he led Nebraska with 51 catches for 461 yards, and the co-captain Warner.
Toure brings four years of work at the FCS level, recording 155 catches for 2,488 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was an All-American in 2019 and stands 6-3. Toure joins the sixth-year senior Falck at 6-2, 6-2 Betts, 6-6 Hickman and 6-1 Martin to form a top tier of pass catchers who can rise to catch balls over defensive backs unlike any group with which Martinez has worked in Lincoln.
Martin, formerly at Cockeye and Michigan, played well in starting the final four games in 2020 and combined with Betts as a true freshman and the grad transfer Falck to catch 30 balls. Brown was slow to get comfortable in his first year, but the Huskers remain high on the former high school QB.
Until Manning shows his talent on the Big Ten stage, no predictions about the 6-4 specimen, picked last year at this time to transform the passing game as a top signee out of junior college. He played four snaps in his first year.
Nixon will be back after a knee injury derailed his first season. And there’s more size among the backups, notably with a group of freshmen that includes the 6-4 Neville, 6-3 Hardy and 6-3 Grimes. Walk-on Wyatt Liewer, who played a big role in 2020, is also 6-3. And look for 6-2 Ty Hahn to begin his push for playing time.


Tight end
Starter: Austin Allen
Backup: Travis Vokolek, Thomas Fidone
Others on scholarship: Kurt Rafdal, James Carnie, AJ Rollins
The reality is that Allen, with 18 catches for 236 yards and one touchdown in 2020, is Nebraska’s returning leader in all three categories. Despite the modest numbers, his fourth season in Lincoln marked something of a breakout. He served as the Huskers’ top downfield threat and developed good chemistry with Martinez. Expect the role of the 6-8 former basketball star to increase and take on mentoring responsibilities, alongside Vokolek, for the three true freshmen at tight end.
Vokolek caught nine passes for 91 yards. He’s a strong blocker and has spent four years in the Big Ten. Of all the first-year freshmen on offense, Fidone appears most likely to receive ample opportunities to play. He’s on campus this winter and already taking action to maximize his long-term potential.
Fidone is Nebraska’s third-highest-rated signee under Frost. He’ll likely grow into his job at tight end, working first as a hybrid receiver with the ability and athleticism to test defenses as a matchup problem from the slot or a wideout spot. He’s a big-play threat that the Huskers need.

​

Offensive line​

Starters: Turner Corcoran, Ethan Piper, Cameron Jurgens, Broc Bando, Bryce Benhart
Backups: Brant Banks, Nouredin Nouili, Trent Hixson, Matt Sichterman, Ezra Miller
Others on scholarship: Jimmy Fritzsche, Michael Lynn, Alex Conn, Henry Lutovsky, Teddy Prochazka, Branson Yager
Four spots look set up front, led by the veteran Jurgens, positioned to start for a third year at center in his fourth season at Nebraska. Is this the time for him to stay healthy and move past the snapping issues that have plagued him over the past two seasons?
If so, Jurgens is a solid anchor. Corcoran and Benhart, former four-star signees in their second and third seasons in the program, give the Huskers a strong pair of tackles. Nebraska’s top-rated 2020 signee, Corcoran filled in nicely for the departed Brenden Jaimes against Rutgers last month to help produce a 620-yard offensive night in the season finale. He looks like an emerging leader.
Piper is back as a good fit at guard. He started the final seven of eight games on the left side in 2020. At right guard, the choice here is Bando, entering his fifth year in the program. Offensive line coach Greg Austin could as easily go with Hixson, the starter at left guard in 2019. But Hixson, after the transfers of Will Farniok and Boe Wilson and the graduation of Matt Farniok, is perhaps more valuable as a backup at all three interior positions. Somebody needs to be ready to step in at center if needed.
Nouili, the Colorado State transfer via Norris High School and Frankfurt, Germany, is another candidate for interior time. He started seven games at guard for CSU in 2019. Sichterman has trained at guard and tackle in his four seasons. And Miller, an intriguing 2020 addition, came to Nebraska last summer as a walk-on from Cockeye, where he landed as a four-star prospect in the 2019 class.

 

[SoCal_Corn]

Nebraska projected depth chart: Defense may need to carry Huskers to wins​

By Mitch Sherman Jan 29, 2021

5

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska achieved its best defensive marks of the Scott Frost coaching era last season in yards per play and yards per rushing attempt allowed. Its touchdown percentage surrendered in the red zone skyrocketed from a ranking nationally of 109 in 2019 to 15.
But some indicators of progress lagged in a 3-5 Big Ten season. The Huskers’ yards per passing attempt allowed in 2020 hit a three-year high under defensive coordinator Erik Chinander. And Nebraska forced just seven turnovers, the fewest nationally among Power 5 teams to play eight or more games.
Here’s a figure about which the value is not open to debate: 130. It’s the number of combined games started by Nebraska’s most experienced 15 returning defenders, including five sixth-year seniors who turned down opportunities to pursue the NFL this spring.

In contrast to a young offense hit hard by transfers, the Blackshirts are old. And it’s a good thing for Nebraska, which may have to rely on its defense to win games in 2021.
At the open of the spring semester, 48 scholarships are reserved this year for defensive players, though the five returning seniors won’t count against the NCAA’s 85-player limit per the rules connected to the 2020 eligibility freeze.

Here’s an early forecast for the projected 2021 starting lineup and top backups on defense and special teams.

​

Defensive line​

Starters: Ty Robinson, Damion Daniels, Ben Stille
Backups: Casey Rogers, Jordon Riley, Deontre Thomas
Others on scholarship: Tate Wildeman, Nash Hutmacher, Jamin Graham, Mosai Newsom, Marquis Black, Chris Walker, Ru’Quan Buckley, Jailen Weaver
The trio up front deserves most of the credit for Nebraska’s sound run defense, which held opponents to 4.17 yards per carry, a big improvement over the 4.82 allowed two years ago. The Huskers held Cockeye to 129 yards on the ground and kept Purdue to minus-2 yards rushing, the first time since 2013 that a Nebraska foe lost more yards rushing than it gained.
Robinson, Rogers and Daniels emerged as linemen who matched well physically in the trenches with Big Ten blockers. Entering their third, fourth and fifth years, respectively, in the program, they look set to take another step alongside Stille, back for a second run at his senior year after he led the linemen with 27 tackles.
Health issues limited Riley and Thomas. Depth remains a question, raising the level of importance this spring to identify candidates for game reps among the four linemen who’ve been at Nebraska for two years or less in addition to Buckley, an early enrollee.
Walk-on Colton Feist was on the travel roster for all of the Huskers’ five trips last fall.

​

Inside linebacker​

Starters: Will Honas, Luke Reimer
Backups: Nick Henrich, Chris Kolarevic
Others on scholarship: Garrett Snodgrass, Jackson Hannah, Eteva Mauga-Clements, Mikai Gbayor, Randolph Kpai, Seth Malcom
No group at Nebraska answered more questions in 2020 than Barrett Ruud’s inside linebackers.
Honas emerged as a defensive leader and top tackler, ranking second on the team with 57 stops. And Reimer, in an injury-shortened season, made 40 tackles and showed signs of stardom. Reimer recorded 11 solo tackles against Cockeye, the most by a Nebraska defender since Lavonte David’s 14 at Michigan in 2011.
And with Reimer out in the season finale, Henrich stepped in and collected 12 tackles against Rutgers. Henrich, entering his third year on campus, is another budding star with the skills to play inside and outside.
Nebraska added Kolarevic this month as a transfer from Northern Cockeye, where he made 144 tackles in 2018 and ‘19. Much like Samori Toure and Markese Stepp on offense, Kolarevic didn’t join the Huskers to wait for his time to play. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds with two seasons eligibility, he sees the NFL in his future.
Behind the top group, Mauga-Clements used last year to adjust from junior college, and Snodgrass jumped in readiness after his redshirt season. Kpai, a 6-3, 185-pound freshman, arrives as a versatile linebacker in the mold of Henrich.
Zach Schlager, a fourth-year walk-on out of McCook, Neb., who transferred from Colorado State in 2019, waits his turn, too.

Outside linebacker​

Starters: JoJo Domann, Garrett Nelson
Backups: Pheldarius Payne, Caleb Tannor
Others on scholarship: Niko Cooper, Javin Wright, Damian Jackson, Blaise Gunnerson, Jimari Butler, David Alston, Wynden Ho’ohuli
As with the inside linebackers, Nebraska’s improvement outside in 2020 was notable under Mike Dawson. Domann, after posting 11 tackles for loss to rank second on the team in 2019, led the Huskers with 58 tackles and thrived in a disruptive role while playing with more discipline. He was the first of the seniors to announce his return for a sixth year.
Nelson emerged as a playmaker, especially late in the season, and Tannor, in his third year, started four games as Nebraska opened in nickel alignments with three outside linebackers.
Payne was solid in a pass-rushing role in his first season out of junior college. Cooper showed explosiveness on special teams that can translate to defense in 2021. And Wright, the son of ex-Husker defender Toby Wright, will shadow Domann as an ex-defensive back after missing last year with a knee injury.
Jackson, the former Navy SEAL now on scholarship, is 28, still with two years to play. He’s a respected leader. Ho’ohuli is set to sign next week out of Hawaii as the 20th member of the 2021 recruiting class.

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Secondary​

Starters: Cam Taylor-Britt, Marquel Dismuke, Deontai Williams, Quinton Newsome
Backups: Braxton Clark, Myles Farmer, Isaac Gifford, Tamon Lynum
Others on scholarship: Noa Pola-Gates, Nadab Joseph, Koby Bretz, Marques Buford, Malik Williams
Nebraska opponents threw for 217 yards per game to rank the Huskers 44th nationally in pass defense. Improvement is available on the 63.1-percent completion rate allowed and five interceptions in 241 pass attempts recorded by a secondary that featured more talent than any position group on the roster in 2020.
All of the key players return, except 33-game starter Dicaprio Bootle at cornerback. Newsome, a promising third-year player, is set to compete with Clark to fill Bootle’s spot. Clark looked last offseason like the No. 3 corner before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury before preseason camp in October.
Taylor-Britt, second-team All-Big Ten in 2020 as a third-year junior, is a headliner who turned down an NFL opportunity to return. Dismuke and Williams did the same, coming back for sixth years after starting throughout last season.
Farmer, who recorded two interceptions in his lone start, suffered a serious ankle injury during pregame drills at Purdue. He’s set to return, but if he experiences a setback, Pola-Gates, as a third-year player, appears ready. Among the newcomers, the Huskers are high on the athleticism and versatility of Bretz, the true freshman out of Omaha Westside who could grow into an outside linebacker like Domann and Wright.

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Special teams​

Kicker
Starter: Connor Culp
Backups: Tyler Crawford, Chase Contreraz, Gabe Heins, Kelen Meyer
Culp returns as a sixth-year senior after his first-team All-Big Ten debut season at Nebraska. The grad transfer from LSU hit 13 of 15 field goal attempts and all 20 extra points, bringing much-needed stability after a rough experience for Nebraska kickers in 2019.
Culp showed a strong leg, hitting from 49 yards against Purdue in December.
Nebraska managed 12 touchbacks on 30 kickoffs and surrendered 22.6 yards per return to rank 87th nationally. Meyer, a strong-legged true freshman walk-on from Ord, Neb., will compete to win the kickoff job.
Punter
Starter: Daniel Cerni
Backups: William Przystup, Tyler Crawford
Cerni suffered an injury during practice early in the fall and missed all of his first season. Awarded a scholarship out of Canberra, Australia, he is expected back this year and figures to make an immediate impact. His rugby style and precision should help factor in field position.
Przystup, as a first-year starter in Lincoln, averaged 41.3 yards on 24 punts. Crawford averaged 39.1 on seven punts. And don’t forget about Adrian Martinez, whose lone pooch of the season traveled 45 yards and was downed at the 2-yard line.
Return specialists
Cam Taylor-Britt, Oliver Martin, Levi Falck, Alante Brown, Rahmir Johnson, Brody Belt
The Huskers’ special teams play did not meet the standard last year of Frost, who fired Jonathan Rutledge as senior special teams analyst after one season. Nebraska plans to hire for the same position, again leaving the coordination of special teams to a staff member prohibited from coaching individual players at practice.
The Huskers ranked 94th nationally in kickoff returns and 14th in punt returns last year on the strength of Taylor-Britt’s work and a 39-yard return against Purdue by Falck. Falck and Martin are sure-handed. Brown struggled to get comfortable on kickoff returns, but the Huskers like his speed.
A focus on coverage and blocking, perhaps bolstered by Nebraska’s ability to play top-unit defenders on special teams as a result of improved depth, ought to aid progress.

 

[Jim14510]

Jamin Graham,

At d end? Thought he was an OLB?

 

[SoCal_Corn]

At d end? Thought he was an OLB?

I dunno, I just C&P the story

 

[BBTown Bomber]

TL....Almost died before I read.

😢

.

 

[BushAK]

At d end? Thought he was an OLB?

I think the reads at OLB were a little too complicated. I’m pretty sure I read that he’s got a legit learning disability. Hope it works out for him on the line.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

I think the reads at OLB were a little too complicated. I’m pretty sure I read that he’s got a legit learning disability. Hope it works out for him on the line.

Would a learning disability make that difficult?