Pre-Spring stab at the 2025 Depth Chart

[Quint]

The hardest choices are definitely OL. Any ordering right now has difficulties. In this one 1) Lutovsky sits his last year on the team? 2) If Evans goes back to center now, Sledge likely doesn't get a chance until his senior year or Evans gets moved going into his senior year. However, yours does take care of the Corcoran problem, the potential issue of making Gottula second string after he started most of a season, and Sledge's lack of actual game experience

I would say RT 1) Luto, 2) Gottula, and Gottula moving to RT starter his last two years. LG - Evans stays, C - Sledge is promoted. I'd say Maciejczack backing up Sledge, Knaak backing up Spindler, and Evans backed up by Corcoran/Taumau. I say this mainly because it appears to set up more than next season, but your guess is clearly just as reasonable as mine. And where does Brix go? Maybe another back-up RG possibility.

Regardless of how this turns out on the OL, I am encouraged because we actually have more pieces to play with than we have had in the recent past. There are some young guys who appear to have potential we haven't mentioned who could emerge in the future as well.

On OL, the pieces are there, IMO. Keep as many healthy going into fall as possible and play the best players. I understand Corcoran has won hearts and minds on staff, but if he’s not better than (Insert player name here) he sits, or should.

I do like that we’re able to sit guys like Brix and not have to play them out of need. Seems like it’s been a minute since that was the case.

 

[Quint]

I feel great about OL. DL we need to find answers in a hurry this spring and first few games. While we did well in the portal at OL, DL leaves a ton to be desired, especially after the George injury.

I think most of us felt like we’d see some noticeable step back with Robinson and Hutmatcher leaving. I do think we can be serviceable at minimum inside with RVP/Juedy at Nose, but I’m not sure what we’re looked at with the DE group. Lots of long, athletic guys, but who steps up?

 

[Stan Raymond]

On OL, the pieces are there, IMO. Keep as many healthy going into fall as possible and play the best players. I understand Corcoran has won hearts and minds on staff, but if he’s not better than (Insert player name here) he sits, or should.

I do like that we’re able to sit guys like Brix and not have to play them out of need. Seems like it’s been a minute since that was the case.

Not just not have to start players that aren't ready, but we should have quality backups ready if needed. If someone gets injured we have a quality replacement instead of a Freshman that isn't ready or playing a player out of position. The depth on the OL has greatly improved from the real mess that Frost left.

 

[Lionsfan93]

Yep. Corcoran is bad as well.

I'm not so sure about that. Corc was solid at LT last year until he got hurt. He was bad his first few years for sure. But Donnie seems to be actually developing guys and people improve under him.

 

[Huskerscoop]

I feel great about OL. DL we need to find answers in a hurry this spring and first few games. While we did well in the portal at OL, DL leaves a ton to be desired, especially after the George injury.

I thought Callahan said is the week Stewart was announced was his first order of business would be to find 1-2 DL in the portal in his tunnel talk.

 

[ShortSideOption]

I think most of us felt like we’d see some noticeable step back with Robinson and Hutmatcher leaving. I do think we can be serviceable at minimum inside with RVP/Juedy at Nose, but I’m not sure what we’re looked at with the DE group. Lots of long, athletic guys, but who steps up?

I really like RVP, I think we will get Hutmacher production from him. Jeudy is going to be our other starter most likely and he has underwhelmed me but was also dealing with personal stuff. I'm actually excited to see if Cam can take a jump, he was a freshman all-american and then kind of had a sophomore slump season, can he be on Jimari Butlers level?

 

[ShortSideOption]

I thought Callahan said is the week Stewart was announced was his first order of business would be to find 1-2 DL in the portal in his tunnel talk.

Maybe, I hadn't heard that. I would say that's a must, at least one productive guy.

 

[Quint]

I really like RVP, I think we will get Hutmacher production from him. Jeudy is going to be our other starter most likely and he has underwhelmed me but was also dealing with personal stuff. I'm actually excited to see if Cam can take a jump, he was a freshman all-american and then kind of had a sophomore slump season, can he be on Jimari Butlers level?

I have similar opinions of RVP and Jeudy, but sometimes things just click. I’ve already seen flashes from RVP and maybe Jeudy can have breakout year this fall. That’s still likely a step back in production and disruption from what we just lost, but improvement has to happen or the next guy better be ready.

Lenhardt’s Sophomore year really puzzled me. Didn’t show much if any flash and kind of looked a little light on effort, if I’m being honest. Maybe things did come to easy for him as a Freshman, but I’d liked to have seen more effort. If he could match Butler’s ’23 numbers, that would be ideal.

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

I'm not so sure about that. Corc was solid at LT last year until he got hurt. He was bad his first few years for sure. But Donnie seems to be actually developing guys and people improve under him.

I think Donnie is doing a decent job, but we can agree to disagree on Corc. I'd rather move on from him as I just don't see it.

 

[Cornicator]

I thought Callahan said is the week Stewart was announced was his first order of business would be to find 1-2 DL in the portal in his tunnel talk.

Here's an interesting possibility. He just jumped into the portal last week:

https://247sports.com/player/ian-jeffries-46132849/college-302851/

Dude had a really solid Redshirt Freshman season at Arkansas State. Even had a sack and tackle for loss vs. Michigan.

 

[vailhusker]

Free

 

[MaxHuskers34]

Starters in Bold

X - Dane Key, Hardley Gilmore, Keelan Smith
Y- Nyziah Hunter, Demetrius Bell, Quinn Clark
Slot - Barney, Bonner, Cortez Mills
LT- Elijah Pritchett, Prochazka
LG - Turner Corcoran, Maciejczack
C- Justin Evans, Sam Sledge
RG - Rocco Spindler, Lutovsky
RT - Gunnar Gottula, Knaak
TE - Haarberg, Lindenmeyer or Nelson
RB - Emmett Johnson, Ives, Jamarion Parker
QB- Raiola, Gramstad, Davila

Some thoughts:
- I feel like Bonner will be flexed into various roles, ranging from Slot to H-Back.
- Nelson is going to 100%. I anticipate Haarberg, Lindenmeyer, and Nelson to all play a lot of snaps depending on opponent, and situation. Don't be surprised if we see Nelson also take some snaps in short yardage, much like Haarberg.
- I'm sure there are some eyerolls about Corcoran starting. Rhule just loves that kid. IMO, if Corcoran is 100%, I think he starts inside, where he should've been playing the last 5 years. IMO, he probably should be moved into a reserve role. But I will believe it when I see it.

Defense:

DE- Keona Davis, Williams Nwaneri, Malcolm Simpson
N- Riley Van Poppel, Elijah Jeudy, Sua Lefotu
DE- Cameron Lenhardt, Jaylen George, Mason Goldman
Jack - Dasan McCullough, Willis McGahee, Dawson Merritt or Maverick Noonan
MLB - Marques Watson - Trent, Javin Wright, Dylan Rogers
WLB - Vincent Shavers, Dawson Merritt or Maverick Noonan
CB - Andrew Marshall, Blye Hill, Jamir Conn
SS - Deshon Singleton, Caleb Benning, Rahmir Stewart
FS - Marques Buford, Justin Rhett, Roger Gradney
CB - Ceyair Wright, Donovan Jones, Amare Sanders
Rover - Malcolm Hartzog, Mario Buford, Jeremiah Charles

- Ideally, Nwaneri grabs that starting RDE spot and never gives it up.
- That 2-Deep in the Defensive Line is likely worrisome for many because its light on experience. That's a valid concern. Injuries happen to Defensive Linemen, and it could put Nebraska in a spot where they need some production from a true freshman. That's scary in the Big Ten. On the bright side though, I think that group has a little more quick twitch disruption potential than Nebraska had the last few seasons. While they likely won't stuff the run as much, I do believe they will cause a bit more havoc behind the line of scrimmage.
- That second level also has some depth questions, but God Damn its difficult to avoid excitement when thinking about the possibilities of Dasan, MWT, and Shavers bringing some pain from the 2nd level. I think MWT will play a lot on early downs and vs. run heavy teams. I expect they will try to protect Javin Wright and use him more in 3rd and long situations.
- Maybe I'm foolish or just an optimist. But I believe Vincent Shavers is on the verge of stardom.
- 2025 will be a big season for Willis McGahee. He needs to show more consistency and play smarter because Dawson Merritt will take that spot from him in a heartbeat.
- So many people hate Malcom Hartzog, and I get it because he gets exposed as a corner out on the boundary. He's actually damn good in space, tracking the ball, and solid in pursuit. I actually think he will be a very good Rover and probably ends up with 3 to 5 interceptions.

Pretty sure we're going to be seeing a lot more 4 man fronts with bigger bodies on the line. I'll be interested to see how that works with the talent along the edge and interior. I see Jeudy making the biggest jump this year and pushing for all BIG Honors.

 

[nja13]

Pretty sure we're going to be seeing a lot more 4 man fronts with bigger bodies on the line. I'll be interested to see how that works with the talent along the edge and interior. I see Jeudy making the biggest jump this year and pushing for all BIG Honors.

Yeah, our Jack position seems pretty stacked. I could see more four-man fronts just to get two of them on the field as rush ends, with the possiblity of Nwaneri also being a part of that.